Page 39 - Dutchess Tourism 2024

MASTER IT
IN MILLBROOK
At Orvis Sandanona, master fly fishing or wingshooting from skilled instructors at their renowned schools. Enjoy a round of sporting clays or upland hunting at the oldest permitted shotgun-shooting club in the country. Four hundred acres of lush landscape and placid casting ponds invite novice and skilled anglers alike.
Ferncliff Forest Fire Tower, Rhinebeck
Quiet Cove Riverfront Park, Poughkeepsie
“In the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail, there’s a tree called the Keffer Oak with a sign that reads ‘largest oak in the South.’ You know why that says largest ‘in the South’?
Because we have the biggest one”
here in Dutchess County, the Dover Oak.
© ALEXIS HOLZMANN
— Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hiker and Poughkeepsie native Alexis Holzmann. For more of her favorites, visit dutchesstourism.com/ATalexis
On pg. 5, learn more about Zen Finder, our check-in challenge where you can win prizes.
HUDSON VALLEY HIKES PERFECT FOR ALL ABILITIES
EASY:
Tivoli Bays — Explore two miles into this large intertidal marsh via woodland trails and boardwalks.
Madam Brett Park — Experience the crossroads of stunning natural beauty and history via this short boardwalk trail, which brushes past the historic 1879 Tioranda Hatworks and native wildlife in Beacon. Dover Stone Church — A calm stroll through the woods reveals a breathtaking cathedral- shaped entrance to a cave, complete with a waterfall and a “natural skylight.” During The Pequot War in the 1600s, Chief Sassacus and his warriors hid inside.
MEDIUM:
Ferncliff Forest Fire Tower — This woodsy preserve in Rhinebeck spans 200 acres and draws campers, fishers and hikers with 12 miles of trails. The fire tower rewards intrepid climbers with a dramatic panoramic view.
Cat Rocks — The Pawling destination
on the AT provides novice and moderate hikers with a pulse-quickening ascent to a gorgeous overlook.
Poets’ Walk Park — Celebrate the connection between landscape and poetry with miles of rustic pavilions, bridges and benches in Red Hook. It was designed around 1850 as a series of “outdoor rooms” between two nearby estates.
CHALLENGING:
Brace Mountain — Millerton’s majestic Brace Mountain holds the title of tallest peak in Dutchess County (2,300 feet above sea level), presenting a challenging hike with a rewarding finish.
Stissing Mountain — Hike to the top
of Stissing Mountain in Pine Plains and climb the fire tower’s stairs for views of five surrounding states.
Mount Beacon — Sitting at over 1,500 feet above sea level, the summit at Mount Beacon provides views of Beacon, the Hudson River and the surrounding Hudson Highlands.
Discover more: ADA Accessible Trails including Woodland Trail at Stony Kill Farm, Walkway Over the Hudson, Harlem Valley Rail Trail, William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail and more. dutchesstourism.com/accessible-travel
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