Old Croton Aqueduct Weir Tour, starting with walk from Scarborough to Ossining

Meet: Monday, December 22, 2025.
Time: Meet at Grand Central Station at 8:55 a.m., to catch the 9:14 a.m. train to Scarborough. Walk starts in Scarborough at 10:15 a.m., return from Ossining at around 3:30 p.m.; total distance about 4–4.5 miles; moderate pace (the duration of the walk will be about 5 hours, including about 90 minutes for the weir tour).
Location: Grand Central Station in NYC or outside the Scarborough train station.
Bring: Water, hat, sunscreen, hiking poles in case of snow, insect repellent, lunch/snacks.

Details
Join us for a tour of the Old Croton Aqueduct weir in Ossining, starting with a scenic walk from Scarborough to the Ossining weir chamber.

Take the 9:14 a.m. train out of Grand Central on the Hudson line, to arrive in Scarborough at 10:13 a.m. You can buy a round-trip ticket, since the fares from Grand Central to Scarborough and back to Grand Central from Ossining are the same (one way $11.25; $7.50 senior).

From the train station, we’ll take a brief detour to Scarborough Park to enjoy the beautiful views of the Hudson River. Then, we’ll walk up the hill along Scarborough Station Rd to the Old Croton Aqueduct trail, continuing along the trail to the downtown Ossining Historic District. After about 2+ miles, we’ll stop in Nelson Park for lunch and restrooms before heading to the weir chamber for our tour at 1 p.m.

After the tour, we’ll stop at the Joseph Caputo Community Center to use the restrooms. Then, we’ll head down the ramp to the Sing Sing Kill Greenway and walk to the Ossining train station. The walkway is flat, running along the Sing Sing Kill gorge, featuring steep hills, a brook, and views of Ossining’s famous Double Arches.

For the return to NYC, trains from Ossining to Grand Central depart frequently, typically 10 minutes or a couple of minutes before or after the hour or half-hour. Our arrival time at the station will depend on how much time we spend after the tour, walking and taking pictures along the short but scenic Sing Sing Kill Greenway.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

• Please use the restrooms on the train, as there aren’t any at the Scarborough train station. The closest restroom (porta potty) will be available about 2 miles into the walk.
• Easy to moderate difficulty. The route is a mix of paved road, uneven dirt paths on the OCA stretch, and sidewalks; relatively flat, with an uphill climb at the start, and stairs inside the weir and coming off the Sing Sing Kill Greenway towards the end of the walk.
• Please dress according to the weather and wear weather-appropriate shoes, as snow is common in the area during December.
• Poles could be useful if there is snow; we will send an update closer to the date.
• There could still be some ticks lurking in fallen leaves, so consider using bug spray.
• Severe rain or other unpleasant weather will postpone the walk, but we will walk in light rain or snow.
• Please alter your RSVP as soon as you know your plans have changed.

What is a weir?
The weirs along the Old Croton Aqueduct were small structures that were built right over or next to the aqueduct, allowing the weir tender to have direct access to the aqueduct tunnel. The weirs had secondary tunnels that could direct water from the main aqueduct channel into nearby streams if the water flow was too high. The weir we will be visiting is the original 1842 brick water tunnel, a then new construction to improve functionality, allowing the aqueduct to be shut off in sections for easier maintenance. It is 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 30 feet high.

Hike leaders:
Brigitte (646-651-3911); Laura (917-658-6779); Maureen (718-954-1581), on day of walk only.