A Beautiful Fall Walk Over The Hudson

HARRISON, NY—As the weather cools there are less days left to sample the gorgeous seasonal colors of the Hudson Valley. One great day trip for those who prize a beautiful view is strolling along The Walkway Over The Hudson. The walkway offers an inspiring location for exercise with its stunning unobstructed views of the Hudson River and surrounding foliage. Fall may be the most picturesque time for a visit.

The bridge-turned-walkway was built in 1889 to transport raw materials between Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County and the hamlet of Highland in Ulster County. The bridge was also used for passenger trains that connected upstate New York with Boston, New York, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Baltimore. It was such a popular route that at one time 3,500 cars crossed the bridge daily. The train tracks burned in 1974 and the bridge saw little traffic for decades. Then a group of friends built the walkway and re-opened the bridge in 2009, as the Walkway Over The Hudson State Historic Park.

Today, the bridge is a desirable destination for walkers and leaf peepers. The walkway is open from 7 a.m. to sunset, weather permitting. Pets on a leash are allowed. To get to the bridge, there's a 21-story ADA-compliant elevator on the Poughkeepsie waterfront at Upper Landing Park. It operates from 9 a.m. until one hour before closing time. You can call 845 834-3641 for current elevator status.

Enjoy the view!

Photo by Michael Woyton for Patch