- Rhinebeck - Bard - Red Hook -- 19 miles, gentle
hills. A visit to
Bard College and the village of Red Hook, with pleasant riding on tree-lined roads and country estates
along the way. 700 vertical feet, hill
index 2.2. Start points Rhinebeck, Red Hook. [
Description | Map
]
- Rhinebeck to Tivoli -- 34 miles, gentle to
moderate hilliness. A visit to the villages of Tivoli and Rhinecliff, Bard
College, with tree-lined roads, the river, and country estates -- and return
through farm country. 1500 vertical feet, hill
index 2.5. Start points
Rhinebeck, Rhinecliff, Tivoli, Red Hook. [ Description
| Map ]
- Harlem Valley Wandering
-- 29 miles, moderate hills (shorter variations). Rolling quiet roads with
beautiful farms in Dutchess county and Connecticut, and a section on
the nicest off-road "rail trail" around. A tour
through a
different world -- but reachable by train from Manhattan. Start points Amenia,
Wassaic train station, Millerton, Sharon CT. 1600 vertical feet, hill index
3.3 [ Description
| Map |
Photos
]
- Copake Falls + Ancramdale to Wassaic one-way --
46 miles, moderate hilliness (with gentler variations of 25, 31, 43 miles). Immersion in beautiful farm country of Columbia and Dutchess counties on quiet roads
with good pavement. Food stops in two interesting hamlets -- Ancramdale and Millerton. Option to sample the prettiest paved
"rail trail" around. 2500 vertical feet,
hill index 3.1 [ Description
| Map
]
- Quaker Ridge -- 45 miles, hilly. Lots of
beautiful scenes on quiet back roads -- in southeast Dutchess County and Connecticut.
3300 vertical feet, hill
index 4.2. Start points Pawling, Dover Plains, Brewster, Kent CT.
[ Description | Map ]
- Farms of East Dutchess -- 54 miles, hilly.
Many farms, some with animals, much on pleasant roads with less traffic,
some rewarding downhills -- reachable by train from Manhattan. Start points Dover
Plains train station, Millbrook, Amenia. 4100 vertical feet, hill index
4.7 [ Description
| Map + GPS
| Cue sheet
]
- Harlem Valley Rail to Trail to Falls -- 59 miles,
moderate hilliness (shorter and longer variations). Endless rolling quiet roads with
beautiful farms in Dutchess and Columbia counties. Climb to the
biggest views from a Dutchess county road. Lunch at the two
bakeries of Ancramdale. Ride sections on
the nicest paved "rail trail" around. Start points: Wassaic train station, Amenia, Millerton, Copake Falls, Sharon CT. 3900 vertical feet, hill index
3.8 [ Description
| Map
]
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- Livingston Orchards and Farms -- 13 miles (also
21 or 24 mile variations), gentle-to-moderate hilliness. An immersion
in quiet farm country, with sweeping views of fields and orchards
and the Catskill mountains in the distance. 700 vertical feet, hill
index 2.4. Start point: Livingston. [
Description | Map
]
- Copake Falls to Ancramdale -- 23 miles, gentle-to-moderate hilliness.
Lots of pretty farms on quiet roads with a delightful food stop in a little
village in the middle -- one of our favorite riding areas. Shorter
easier variations and bicycle rentals for family and friends, including a wide
paved trail mostly-off-road. Start points
Copake Falls, Copake, Ancramdale. 1050 vertical feet, hill index
2.6. [ Description
| Map
]
- Copake Falls + Ancramdale to Wassaic one-way --
46 miles, moderate hilliness (with gentler variations of 25, 31, 43 miles). Immersion in beautiful farm country of Columbia and Dutchess counties on quiet roads
with good pavement. Food stops in two interesting hamlets -- Ancramdale and Millerton. Option to sample the prettiest paved
"rail trail" around. 2500 vertical feet,
hill index 3.1 [ Description
| Map
]
- Wandering Northwest Columbia -- 38 miles, moderate
hilliness. Miles of quiet farm country in the west, beautiful hilltop
views and long downhill cruising in the east, and several historic
sites. Start points: Ghent, Chatham, Kinderhook, Schodack,
Philmont.
2300 vertical feet, hill index
3.6 [ Description
| Map
]
- Tour de Columbia - West -- 49 miles, moderate
hilliness. Embraces the variety of western Columbia County.
From corn fields and dirt roads to the streets of Columbia's
biggest city. From horses
and orchards to the Athens lighthouse out in the Hudson River -- and several big views of the Catskills.
Optional side trips to the famous Olana artist's view and mansion,
or cross the Rip Van Winkle bridge and wetlands. Start points:
West Taghkanic, Hudson, Claverack,
Catskill. 2600 vertical feet, hill index
3.1 [ Description
| Map
]
- Harlem Valley Rail to Trail to Falls -- 59 miles,
moderate hilliness (shorter and longer variations). Endless rolling quiet roads with
beautiful farms in Dutchess and Columbia counties. Climb to the
biggest views from a Dutchess county road. Lunch at the two
bakeries of Ancramdale. Ride sections on
the nicest paved "rail trail" around. Start points: Wassaic train station, Amenia, Millerton, Copake Falls, Sharon CT. 3900 vertical feet, hill index
3.8 [ Description
| Map
]
- Roeliff Janssen Kill -- 71 miles or 80 miles, hilly.
Lots of beautiful farm country and woods, sweeping views, and a great descent.
5200 vertical feet, hill
index 4.3. Start points Livingston, Elizaville, Philmont,
Hillsdale, Copake. [ Diagram
| Map ]
- Grand Tour of Columbia County -- 79 miles, hilly.
Sweeping views, old houses, farms and lots of quiet roads, a waterfall or
two -- and a long, beautiful downhill run. (Also a 58-mile
variation). Start points
Lake Taghkanic State Park, Livingston, Hudson, Kinderhook, Hillsdale, Copake Falls.
5000 vertical feet, hill
index 4.3. [ Description
| Map ]
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- Circle around Mt Greylock -- 46 miles,
somewhat hilly. Views of Mt Greylock, the highest
point in Massachusetts, pretty
farms, and two historic towns. Three nice downhills, including the
long, long descent down the Hoosic river valley. 2700 vertical feet, hill
index 3.6. (Or 66 miles and very
hilly, if you add on the climb and descent of Mt Greylock.)
Start points: Hancock MA, Williamstown MA, North Adams MA, Pittsfield,
MA, or Stephentown, NY.
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