Harlem Valley Rail Trail
The Harlem Valley Rail Trail follows the old New York and Harlem Railroad bed through Dutchess and Columbia counties. It is complete from Wassaic, at the southern end, to Taconic State Park in Copake Falls, and a separate section runs from Black Grocery Road to the hamlet of Hillsdale. The trail is open dawn to dusk to walkers, cyclists and skaters; horses and motor vehicles are not allowed. From Lake Taghkanic, the Copake Falls end is the closest.
The Trail at a Glance
The Open Sections, South to North
From the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association's brochure, published on the State Parks website:
- Wassaic hamlet to the MetroNorth station: a short link that makes Wassaic the trail's southern end and connects rail passengers to the trail.
- MetroNorth station to Millerton: nearly 11 miles through historic Amenia and Coleman Station, with views of farmland, streams and hills.
- Millerton to Boston Corners: eight miles, finished in 2020, through wetlands below the Taconic Mountains near where Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York meet.
- Boston Corners to Copake Falls: into Taconic State Park, past the Copake Iron Works and near the trail to Bash Bish Falls.
- Black Grocery Road to Hillsdale hamlet: built by the association in 2017.
A one-mile gap north of the park at Orphan Farm Meadow, with a planned bridge over Route 22, separates Copake Falls from the Hillsdale section. The brochure, dated 2023, gave construction as 2023–24; check hvrt.org for its current status.
The Bigger Plan
The idea of a 46-mile trail on the abandoned rail bed between Wassaic and Chatham dates from the mid-1980s. Sections from Hillsdale north to Craryville, Philmont and Chatham are still in planning or design.
Trail Rules
- Carry in, carry out.
- No horses or motorized vehicles.
- Bikes and skaters yield to walkers. Keep right and call out when passing.
- Stop at all road crossings.
- Keep pets leashed and clean up after them.
- No camping, fires or hunting on the trail.
- Stay on the trail and keep quiet near homes.
- Open dawn to dusk.
Starting From Taconic State Park
State Parks lists a Harlem Valley Rail Trail trailhead on Black Grocery Road on its Taconic State Park page, and runs guided walks on the paved trail from Copake Falls. Taconic State Park charges an $8 vehicle fee in season. See Taconic State Park.
History Along the Way
The brochure ties the route to the region's past: Amenia's iron and steel work for the Revolution and the founding of the NAACP there in 1916; dairy farms that shipped milk to New York City once the railroad arrived in 1852; Millerton, founded when the railroad reached it in 1851; and Hillsdale, established in 1788, whose hamlet is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who Runs It
The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association is a nonprofit membership group that advocates for the trail, raises grants and recruits volunteers. Its office is at 1 John Street, Millerton, (518) 789-9591.
From Lake Taghkanic
Lake Taghkanic and Taconic State Park are both in the State Parks Taconic Region, and State Parks lists Taconic State Park within a 45-minute drive. Campers at Lake Taghkanic can make a day of it: ride or walk the rail trail from Copake Falls, then cool off in the Ore Pit.
Harlem Valley Rail Trail FAQ
How long is the Harlem Valley Rail Trail?
The completed trail runs from Wassaic to Copake Falls, with sections of nearly 11 miles (MetroNorth to Millerton) and 8 miles (Millerton to Boston Corners) along the way. A separate section runs from Black Grocery Road to Hillsdale.
Is the Harlem Valley Rail Trail paved?
State Parks describes it as a relatively flat paved trail at Copake Falls.
Are dogs allowed on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail?
Yes, on a leash. Clean up after them.
Are horses or motor vehicles allowed on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail?
Horses and motorized vehicles are not allowed, according to the trail association's guidelines.