61 Parker Avenue

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

845-834-2867

walkway@parks.ny.gov

Website

Summary

According to the Agency Website: In October 2009, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park opened as a legacy project of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial. The park provides access to the Hudson River's breathtaking landscape for pedestrians, hikers, joggers, bicyclists, and people with disabilities. The bridge deck stands 212 feet above the river's surface and is 6,768 feet (1.28 miles) long, making it the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.

The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was built in the late 19th century to link New York and New England to an extensive, nationwide railway network. For decades, it was a major rail corridor for both freight and passengers.

After a fire in 1974, the bridge was abandoned and sat for decades as an orphaned relic. The park was made possible due to the unwavering commitment of the community, who, through a non-profit organization called Walkway Over the Hudson, forged a public-private partnership involving the State of New York, the federal government, neighboring municipalities, private corporations and other not for profit groups. The amazing result of this partnership is Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, one of the Hudson Valley's top attractions.

New! Ride the glass elevator up to the park or down to the Poughkeepsie waterfront. Along the way, be treated to great views of the surrounding scenery and the structure of the bridge. The elevator is located at Upper Landing Park, a short walk from the Poughkeepsie Train Station. Call (845) 834-3641 to check the operating schedule of the elevator. The address for Upper Landing Park is 83 N. Water Street, Poughkeepsie, NY. Although there is no vehicular parking at Upper Landing, parking can be found in the surrounding area. Visit http://upperlanding.org/parking/ for details.

Please Note: The Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park waterfront elevator undergoes regularly scheduled maintenance and may be taken out of service periodically. The Walkway itself remains open during any elevator scheduled maintenance. Although leashed pets are allowed on the Walkway, only service animals are permitted on the elevator. Bicycles can be brought on the elevator.

The park offers interpretive signs and a Talkway Over the Walkway cell phone tour. There is also an audio tour available online in English, Spanish and Mandarin at https://walkway.org/walkway-audio-tours.

- See more at: http://nysparks.com/parks/178/details.aspx#sthash.c5YIOXrH.dpuf

Description

New York State Historic Park

Activities

Biking, Hiking, Interpretive Signage, Picnicking, Scenic Views, Self-Guided Tours