Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, New York
Just 90 minutes from the Big Apple, the
21-mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail winds
through apple country in eastern New York’s
Ulster County. The trail follows the route of
the old Wallkill Valley Railroad, which, in the
late 1800s, carried produce from the county’s
farms to New York City.
The region’s apple season, typically running
September through October, coincides nicely
with autumn colors, making for a splendid
outing featuring a crisp fall trail ride and apple
picking. The best vantage point for leaf peeping
is the trail’s Rosendale Trestle, which rises 150
feet above Rondout Creek. The bridge, span-
ning 940 feet, is more than 100 years old and
has been beautifully restored. Savor the bird’s-
eye view of the creek as well as the surrounding
wooded hills.
New Paltz, centrally located on the trail,
makes for a good starting point, allowing trav-
elers to head south to the trail’s end in Gardiner
or north toward Kingston. New Paltz itself is
quite charming; the trail is paved in town (the
remainder is packed cinder and gravel) and
runs adjacent to Huguenot Street, a National
Historic Landmark District lined with histori-
cal buildings and archaeological sites from
the community’s settlement by Europeans in
the 17th century.
Eric Reischl photography
katy silsberger
You can provide a healthy and safe future for
American trails by naming RTC as a beneficiary in
your will, trust or IRA. These gifts are non-binding,
and your assets remain with you.
John Ellicot is leaving a legacy for future
generations with a generous bequest to
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
By designating a portion of his IRA to RTC,
John will ensure that his grandchildren and
others will enjoy a healthier, safer future on the
pathways he cherishes.
Learn more about how you can include RTC in your legacy plans.
Contact:
Orhan Belding – 202.974.5118
railstotrails.org/heritagecircle
ALegacy
That Connects Us All
rails
to
trails
u
fall.15
23
