Mid Hudson Bridge Walkway Over the Hudson Loop
Where: Poughkeepsie, NY and Highland, NY and the Hudson River between them.
Description: 4 miles, gentle hilliness, substantial motor traffic on some sections, but more is off-road or on roads which normally get less motor traffic.
Distances to Various Locations (approximate):
* across Hudson River on Walkway: 1.5 miles
* connect west side from Walkway to MHB sidewalk: 0.5 mile
* across Hudson River on MHB sidewalk: 0.75 mile
* connect east side from MHB sidewalk to Walkway: 1.4 miles
* connect Poughkeepsie train station to Walkway: 1.1 mile
Mid-Hudson Bridge is also on these longer routes
* Poughkeepsie - New Paltz connection
* Poughkeepsie -Salt Point connection
* Mid-Hudson / Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge loop
* Newburgh-Beacon / Mid-Hudson Bridge loop
Characteristics: Big views of the Hudson River and its shores and the bridges. At the bridges opening in 1930 it was the 6th longest suspension bridge in the world.
Walkway over the Hudson: Wide and smooth surface. Sometimes gets lots of walkers and runners and bicyclists and other users, especially on nice weekends and holidays which might sometimes make bicycle riding difficult. The Walkway is normally closed for all or part of night-time hours see official website.
Sidewalk on north side of Mid-Hudson Bridge: mostly smooth surface as of, but kind of narrow. Would need to have fairly good steering and balance control to be able to ride a bicycle on it -- I remember seeing signs there advising bicyclists to walk. If did attempt to ride bicycle on it, there's not much room to pass walkers or other bicycles, so likely have to stop and make sure other users had enough comfortable space to get past. (I remember seeing a sign that bicyclists are required to yield to pedestrians). The times I've used this sidewalk on weekends, I've seen very few other users.
Hill climbs: No steep hills, though there are two or three gentle-to-moderate uphill sections. But starting at the Poughkeepsie train station has a short steep-ish hill. And making a side-trip to the Poughkeepsie waterfront has a longer steep hill.
Traffic: About half the riding is on off-road paths or sidewalks, the rest on public roads with motor vehicle traffic. A couple of the sections on public roads get substantial motor traffic, and some crossings of roads which get substantial motor traffic, but more of the distance is on roads which normally get less motor traffic.
Updates on the Loop visit Walkway Loop Trail
Directions to Start:
61 Parker Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
By train: This loop route goes near the Poughkeepsie station (Metro North and Amtrak).
Exit the upper level thru the main waiting room, immediately turn Right and go south alongside flat driveway to its end. Left on Main St walk a short ways up steep-ish hill (steeper than anything on the loop route). At first traffic light turn Left on Clover St (going north) to join the final section of the loop route.
By car: Go to Poughkeepsie (basic idea is to get to Poughkeepsie, then take rt 9 to rt 9G to the Walkway access).
From the New York State Thruway, take exit 18 for Poughkeepsie. After going thru toll plaza, Right on route 299 East about 4.5 miles, Right on route 9W South about 2 miles, then exit Right and follow signs to cross the Mid-Hudson Bridge over the Hudson River about 1.5 miles to Poughkeepsie.
Coming off the bridge in Poughkeepsie, follow signs to get on Route 9 North for about 1 mile, look for signs for route 9G, turn Right at traffic light. Soon turn Right again (should be sign for 9G) and go south of Washington St about 0.5 mile. Just after going under railroad bridge turn Left on Parker Av (9G), soon after about 0.2 mile see access to Walkway on left side, with signs for parking.
From the Taconic State Parkway, exit onto Rt 44 West or Rt 55 West and follow either route west to the Mid-Hudson Bridge. Just before reaching the bridge follow signs to get on Route 9 North. Then follow directions in previous paragraph for "Coming off the bridge"
By car: Highland - (basic idea is get on rt 9W toward the Mid-Hudson Bridge, and at the traffic light just north of the bridge approach, go east on Haviland Rd to the Walkway access.)
From the New York State Thruway, take exit 18 for Poughkeepsie. After going thru toll plaza, Right on route 299 East about 4.5 miles, Right on route 9W South about 2 miles. At traffic light just before exit for Mid-Hudson Bridge, Left on Haviland Rd and in 0.5 mile see access to Walkway on left, with signs for parking.