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Traffic -- on Trail: Trail is mostly off-road, but it crosses some driveways -- so special care is required in detecting, approaching, and crossing those. Also, there can be lots of non-motorized users on the path: walkers, runners, skaters, bicyclists, etc -- sometimes at high speeds, sometimes oblivious to other users, sometimes not following rules or the directions of signs. Need to take seriously the risk of interactions and collisions with them. Hilliness: No hills, but it slopes gently downhill in the east-ward direction. So if you use the normal start point at the west end, you will enjoy this gentle downhill on your way out -- but keep in mind that it will be slightly uphill on the way back west-ward, at a grade less than 1%. (If you use the "alternate" start point (see below), you get to choose your slope start-finish preferences.
Some trails, roads, intersections might be different since then, or closed. Or some directions or maps might be incorrect. So be prepared to find alternatives -- a good reason to carry a detailed map. Other people may have more recent experiences with some changes which could help prepare: see the Reports page linked below.
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From the New York Thruway or New Paltz: Take NY Thruway exit 18 (Poughkeepsie / New Paltz). From traffic light at the end of the exit, turn Right onto Route 299 East and go 2.3 miles. Turn Right onto New Paltz Road and go 0.7 miles. Turn Left onto South River Side Rd, and after 0.1 mile turn Right into Tony Williams Park and park to the left by the start of the Rail Trail. From the Mid-Hudson Bridge or Route 9W: After passing by the toll booths for the Bridge, bear Right and merge onto Route 9W North and go 2.4 miles. Turn Left onto Rt 299 West (toward New Paltz) and go 1.2 miles. Turn Left onto South Riverside Rd and go 1 mile, then turn Left into Tony Williams Park and park to the left by the start of the Rail Trail. GPS latitude-longitude = N41.7365,W74.0013 = 41.7365,-74.0013 [on Google Maps]
From the New York Thruway or New Paltz: Take NY Thruway exit 18 (Poughkeepsie / New Paltz). From traffic light at the end of the exit, turn Right onto Route 299 East and go about 4.4 miles. Turn Right onto S Chodikee Lake Road and go 0.8 miles. At T-intersection turn Right onto (unsigned) New Paltz Rd, and in less than 0.1 mile turn Left into into a parking area alongside the Rail Trail. (From this starting point, going right on the Rail Trail is slightly uphill, and going to the left is slightly downhill). From the Mid-Hudson Bridge or Route 9W: After passing by the toll booths for the Bridge, bear Right and merge onto Route 9W North and go 2.4 miles. Turn Left onto Rt 299 West (toward New Paltz) and go 0.7 miles. Turn Left onto S Chodikee Lake Road and go 0.8 miles. At T-intersection turn Right onto (unsigned) New Paltz Rd, and in less than 0.1 mile turn Left into into a parking area alongside the Rail Trail. (From this starting point, going right on the Rail Trail is slightly uphill, and going to the left is slightly downhill). [ Map ] GPS latitude-longitude = N41.7332,W73.9739 = 41.7332,-73.9739 [on Google Maps]
The paved section ends in Highland near the intersection of Phillips / Commercial Ave with Lincoln Ave. Continues southeast on dirt about another 0.1 mile at a driveway near the intersection of Phillips / Commercial Ave with Meadow St (as of 2009) The original railroad continued to the old railroad bridge across the Hudson River, which is now the Walkway over the Hudson, and on into Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County.
with Walkway + Poughkeepsie? As of 2009, there is no off-road connection between this rail trail and the Walkway over the Hudson. But for a possible connection using public roads with motor vehicle traffic, the connect New Paltz to Poughkeepsie route goes next to the "alternate start" in the middle of this rail trail, and also next to the driveway at the east end of the this Lloyd - Highland rail trail (with dirt section). New Paltz: For a possible connection using public roads with motor vehicle traffic, the connect New Paltz to Poughkeepsie route goes next to the "alternate start" in the middle of this rail trail. more . . .
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