Copake Falls to Ancramdale
Description: Southeast Columbia County. 23 miles, gentle-to-moderate hilliness, (1050 vertical feet) or a gentler 11-mile version -- or less than 8 miles nearly flat lots of pretty farms on quiet roads with a delightful food stop in a little village in the middle. Shorter easier variations and bicycle rentals for family and friends, including a wide paved trail mostly off-road. Near the start point are a classic swimming hole and a hike to the prettiest waterfall around.
Shorter easier versions: less than 8 miles if turn around and come back on Rail Trail 10 miles with Variation B (but miss Ancramdale + Copake) 11 miles with Variation C (but miss Ancramdale)
Characteristics: Mostly quiet roads, and the few high-traffic sections mostly have a rather wide paved shoulder. A long section on a mostly-off-road paved rail trail, and a short section on dirt. Gentle-to-moderate hilliness, with no hills real steep, though a couple are long-ish.
Hill climbs: Toughest hill is at the south end of East Ancram Rd -- about 130 vertical feet of climbing at 5% grade.
Traffic: 1.5 miles on high-speed road (but these sections mostly have rather wide paved shoulders), 0.7 mile on moderate traffic volume, 3.6 miles on mostly-off-road rail trail closed to normal motor vehicle traffic, and the remainder is on low traffic volume roads.
Directions
By car from the South: Taconic State Parkway exit to Rt 44 East to Amenia, Rt 22 North thru Millerton into Columbia County, turn right on Rt 344 for 0.3 mile into Copake Falls, right on Rt 344 East for 0.2 mile to intersection with paved Rail Trail path.
Fom the North: Taconic State Parkway exit to Rt 23 East to Hillsdale, at traffic light take Rt 22 South, turn left on Rt 344 for 0.3 mile into Copake Falls, left on Rt 344 East for 0.2 mile to intersection with paved Rail Trail path.
Alternate starts: Copake, Ancramdale, Under Mountain Rd
Rent a bicycle at the start point, Bash Bish Bicycles in Copake Falls -- has bicycles for rent
