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Old Croton Aqueduct Trail

New York

16 Reviews

States: New York

Counties: Bronx, Westchester

Length: 26.five miles

Trail end points: Lawton St., 150 feet northwest of Hancock Ave. (Yonkers) and Croton Dam Route at the New Croton Dam (Yorktown)

Trail surfaces: Crushed Stone, Dirt, Grass, Gravel

Trail category: Greenway/Non-RT

ID: 6032215

At offset glance, at that place'southward no prove that an channel ever existed along the Quondam Croton Aqueduct Trail. The trail is often a singletrack dirt pathway that winds through communities and trees and provides an haven of green just north of the Bronx. But take a closer look and the trail begins to hint at a history that spans more than 175 years.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the One-time Croton Channel was completed in 1842, when water starting time flowed from the Croton River due south into the Bronx, providing clean h2o to a city with a rising population that badly needed it. The aqueduct rapidly grew obsolete as New York City'southward population connected to boom, and a New Croton Aqueduct, three times the size, was congenital in 1890.

The Old Croton Channel Trail gives visitors a lesson in New York history, starting from the north at the New Croton Dam. It begins to the correct of the dam, and as y'all head due south, you'll quickly pass the outset of 21 remaining ventilators, 10- to 14-foot-loftier structures that were placed at roughly one-mile intervals to allow fresh air to attain the water in the channel.

Later on about 3 miles, you'll attain the boondocks of Crotonville, ane of several pocket-size towns along the trail. Another 2 miles further is Ossining. This northern tip of the trail up to Ossining will exist the most comfy for horseback riders. The trail crosses many public streets along its 26 miles. Drivers tend to yield to trail users, but use caution at these crossings, which get more numerous as the trail continues southward and enters urban areas.

Walkers tin can savour the trail's entire length; cyclists and other trail users may use the path as well but may find some sections difficult to traverse. Cyclists volition need to be comfortable biking on the sidewalks and roadways of several streets of varying traffic volumes and speeds. Travelers should particularly use caution in the section of the trail following Albany Post Road, which has no sidewalks or shoulders, for about 0.iii mile south of Scarborough. Here walkers and casual cyclists will want to follow a 0.viii-mile detour, which goes right on Scarborough Station Road, left on River Road, and left on Creighton Road back to the trail.

Follow the trail some other 3 miles to the town of Sleepy Hollow, which is much quainter than its legend of the Headless Horseman suggests; this is another section of the trail that equestrians may enjoy. Rockefeller Country Park Preserve, which offers a bridle path, is besides nearby (though equestrians must accept a permit).

Trail users get views of the newly constructed Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (formerly known as the Tappan Zee Bridge) near 2.5 miles south of Sleepy Hollow. A new shared-use path runs along the bridge and provides a nonmotorized crossing of the Hudson River. Well-nigh 0.5 mile due south of the bridge, the trail crosses through Lyndhurst, the site of a Gothic Revival mansion where cyclists are asked to dismount and walk through the park. Take the time to walk through Lyndhurst and savor its well-manicured landscaping.

Signage is infrequent on the Old Croton Channel Trail, an intentional effort by the trail's developers to maintain its rural nature. Four miles south of Lyndhurst, trail users will notice it like shooting fish in a barrel to locate the historical Keeper's Firm and park headquarters, worth a end to admire a slice of the trail's history. To stay on the trail, exist on the lookout for the stones imprinted with OCA at many street crossings, as well as the wayfinding signs installed in summer 2018 at several areas that are difficult to navigate.

The balance of the trail headed due south is best suited for walkers, as the trail surface is occasionally rocky and winds through and around public streets in Yonkers. The southern finish of the trail lies near the intersection of Lawton Street and Hancock Avenue in Yonkers, while the Old Croton Aqueduct continues south into the Bronx. There is no formal trailhead at the trail's southern terminus, and those reaching the trail by car tin can wait for on-street parking nearby.

Parking and Trail Access

To attain the southern terminus from I-87 S, take Exit one toward Hall Pl./McLean Ave. Merge onto Central Park Ave., get 0.five mile, and turn right onto Forest Ave. Travel 0.2 mile, where Forest Ave. turns right and becomes Hancock Ave. Travel another 0.ii mile to the southern terminus near the intersection of Hancock Ave. and Lawton St.

To reach the southern terminus from I-87 Northward, take Exit xiv toward McLean Ave. Merge onto Jerome Ave., go 0.ii mile, and plow left onto McLean Ave. Make an immediate left onto Forest Ave. Travel 0.2 mile, where Forest Ave. turns right and becomes Hancock Ave. Travel another 0.2 mile to the southern terminus near the intersection of Hancock Ave. and Lawton St.

To achieve the northern terminus from I-287 W, take Leave six, and turn left onto Orchard St. Go 0.2 mile, and continue onto Cemetery Route. From I-287 Due east, take Leave 6, and plough left onto NY 22. Immediately plough left onto Cemetery Route. In 0.3 mile plow right onto Bronx River Pkwy., and get ane.seven miles. At Kensico Cir., take the 2d go out onto Taconic Country Pkwy. Go 13.9 miles, and take Exit 13 for Underhill Ave./Croton-on-Hudson/Yorktown Heights. Caput southwest on Underhill Ave. Travel 0.eight mile on Underhill Ave., and turn right onto NY 129 W/Croton Lake Road. After iii miles, turn left onto Croton Dam Road. Parking is bachelor at the New Croton Dam in 0.2 mile on the correct.

Nosotros've been walking this trail for years. If y'all enter at the corner of Cedar and Dobbs, and walk to Paulding, through that gated patch where you pass over the small bridge, which is what we most often do, information technology's about 7.5 miles and takes ~2.v hours at a decent pace. Today we walked from Dows Lane to that gate by the cottage and dorsum around. An hour and fifteen. And if y'all want a snack or drinks, you can detour down Master St, Irvington. Nosotros similar to walk to MP Taverna.

Celebrated trail with varied terrain and beautiful scenery. We parked in Rockland County and rode over the Tappan Zee Bridge and made am easy connection to the trail.

September 2021 petersem

Historic trail with varied terrain and beautiful scenery. We parked in Rockland County and rode over the Tappan Zee Span and made am like shooting fish in a barrel connectedness to the trail.

As described, this trail varies from a wide gravel path to a single rail dirt track with grass. We started in Tarrytown and went south. This is not a trail for a route bike just y'all are ok on a gravel bike as long every bit you are comfy with rough spots and roots. The trail has lots of road crossings and they vary from neighborhoods where the cars have stop signs to steep hills where no 1 stops. Almost all have large granite curbs that you have to dismount to elevator your bicycle over. As long every bit you are cautious yous are ok. We fabricated it to Yonkers when we turned effectually due to a raccoon which was blocking the trail and threatening to assail. Others on the trail kept going and one group was going all the fashion to NYC. We rode a chip of the River Walk as well which looks like it connects the southern part of this trail with the northern.

There is a bathroom at the Keepers House along with a museum and lovely docents who had lots of fascinating information nearly the channel.

This was a fun outing to endeavour something new but volition likely not be on our listing of gravel trails we love to ride and go to frequently.

Dirt Trail With Lots of On Road Sections

April 2021 c.landara2

This trail will take you all the way from Van Cortland Park up to the Croton Dam. I separate it into 2 rides with the halfway point being the Cuomo bridge in Tarrytown. There are lots of street crossings with loftier curbs and a few spots that are so steep you will have to walk the bike. The dam at the end is the reward only be conscientious with the on route sections. Route bikes are non advisable as the path is only paved through Ossining. It hooks up with the Briarcliff-Peakskill Trail upwards at the dam if y'all're feeling your oats and want to extend the day. Bring a map for this one.

Accordion

This is not really a one long trail but a serial of segmented trails. While the beginning of each segment is marked with an "OCA" post, at the terminate of most segments at that place is no indication virtually where to find the next thread of the trail. Frequently you have to go through busy suburban streets to make the connection, some of which are quite dangerous. Other reviews recommended using GPS on your telephone, but Google maps merely indicates where the various trail segments are and it is difficult to notice out how they connect. My friend & I attempted to do the northern half of the trail from Tarrytown upwardly to the Old Croton reservoir. When yous get to the Clearview School in Scarborough, you accept to ride on a very decorated Rt. ix, which has no shoulder, until you tin can take upwards the trail on Scarborough Rd. When we got to Ossining, the trail ended with no indication how to continue, and so we again had to ride on Rt. 9. And then my friend hit a broken drainage grate on the side of the street, which was covered with leaves then that she could not see the gap in the pavement. Information technology threw her head-first onto the asphalt. She was knocked out for several minutes, had a concussion, was haemorrhage profusely and nearly bankrupt her neck. I called an EMT which took her to a hospital, where she stayed for ii days and had stitches to her face and several tests. She was lucky she was not paralyzed (thanks to wearing a helmet). Exercise Dandy caution if you lot have the Ossining role of the trail. Some of the other segments are O.K. only some of them are merely like riding through peoples' backyards.

Some nice sections and some challenges

September 2020 SPanny

Nosotros rode from Sleepy Hollow High Schoolhouse to the Croton Dam and back on ix 26 20, total 22 miles round trip.

This is quite a varied trail experience. First, in that location are several on-road segments that connect the trail sections. The trail itself was by and large hard packed dirt, with some gravel...you need a trail cycle or a mountain bike. Basically apartment, but some of the route crossings had ups and downs and there were a few slightly hilly areas too.
It's a complicated route, y'all definitely need a map or a Ride With GPS route or something similar….trail has signs but not always marked clearly. Old Croton Channel.org has a lot of info.
The kickoff department, from Sleepy Hollow High School to Scarborough was all off road. Once in Scarborough, nosotros took a detour downwardly River Road, to Creighton, to Scarborough Station Road to avoid a section right along Road 9. Crossing Route nine at Scarborough Road, y'all ride on-road upwards a small colina to Long Colina Street, where yous option the trail up once again. This section ends in the parking lot of an apartment building You lot'll demand to cantankerous Route 9 and brand your style diagonally through Nelson Park and Nelson Sitting Park to Spring Street in Ossining. After a couple of blocks we took a right on Maple Street and then on the left y'all'll run into the trail keep between buildings…sort of like a walkway. This "walkway" continues through Ossining, over a nice high span and eventually ends up out past the Northside burn down house, where yous pick upwards the trail again. The side by side large cue will be crossing Route nine once more at Audubon Street, you ride on route upward to Piping Rock, take a left, and option up the trail shortly on the right, finally coming out on Ogden drive. Turn left, ride on road to Old Albany Post Road, turn right, laissez passer under the highway, and then you accept the choice of turning correct on Shady Lane Farm Road and picking up the trail to go around the GE property (this was very rough, hilly, and difficult) or staying on route, riding uphill and turning right on Hillcrest Road. Both options take you out to Indian Brook Service Road, where yous'll again option up the trail and follow information technology to the Croton Dam, passing over Quaker Ridge Street a number of times.
The expanse through Rockefeller Park and Scarborough is really nice, including that off route detour in Scarborough where you tin see the river behind some nice houses. The section next to Rockefeller park is really cute, y'all can see the hiking trails of the park from the Aqueduct. And the department immediately before you accomplish the dam is prissy as well, pretty wide, dainty tree-lined stretch. I accept to say though that the section to go to that (around the GE offices) is crude. And yous accept to ride through downtown Ossining, not hard but not of course a real trail, and in that location'southward one section where you have to walk your bike up and over some steps. And so, all in all – sort of a mixed review, some actually nice sections and views but exist aware that in that location are some challenging sections and on route sections likewise. And please note that there's a whole other section south of here that goes all the way to NYC.

We only walked a pocket-size section of the trail starting in Dobbs Ferry. The OAC is lined with trees and has enough of shade. Information technology's broad plenty to keep social distancing (important these days). There are beautiful homes to look at along the walk. Great for city people who just want to brand a day trip.

The trail offers the opportunity to ride in the green and without cars for near stretches, merely its views are limited.

The first office through Yonkers is very uninspiring, it looks more like a landfill than a nice trail, then I would definitely skip that part adjacent time. Coming through those Hudson villages is prissy, but information technology too creates the necessity to cantankerous a lot of streets. That wouldn't have been much of a problem if the trail was designed for information technology, but the mode it is now you need to dismount your bike because the curbs are only as well high to bike over, and so that definitely takes the flow out of the ride.

Signage is poor at some places equally well, I would recommend a GPS unit to ride the whole trail. There are too a couple of unbikeably steep sections that likewise require you to dismount. The final destination, Croton dam, is impressive to see and the highlight of the route.

All in all a very mediocre biking trail, just options are very limited anyhow, parting from NYC. I recall I won't be riding it over again.

Yonkers to Tarrytown

March 2019 zanicca

This is a trail for mountain bikes or route bikes with fatter tires. The trail comes in short sections, and in some parts the continuation isn't clearly marked so I did some wrong turns and had to double dorsum. Scenic in some areas. Just beware - there's plenty of bigger rocks, tree roots jutting out, branches on the ground!

The OCA trail offers a rich multifariousness of surfaces and environment. I rode a commuter bike with 38mm slicks and did just fine, even through the muddy sections. I picked the trail up in Yonkers off the Southward County with a bit of street riding. This initial section runs through some rough spots in Yonkers and includes some on-street sections. After reaching the northern neighborhoods of Yonkers, it all starts to experience European with back-to-dorsum posh villages, mansions, and views of the Hudson. There are even some interesting rock ruins, not to mention the Lyndhurst Mansion grounds.

The trail comes and goes a bit further northward and you'll find yourself on the route more than yous may like, but there are some deeply wooded sections and a fun climb to a bridge over Phelps Way. There is an aqueduct museum forth the way and many clear signs of former channel works.

I highly recommend this trail and shall return to it many times.

From Sleepy Hollow to Croton Dam

Jan 2017 slipsoup

My friend and I rode the OCA on January 22, 2017. We started from the parking lot of Sleepy Hollow high school. The trail is free of snow and ice, with a few dirty patches. The section presently after is hilly. There are a few breaks in the trail that require riding on the road. 1 of these is at River Route in Briarcliff Manor. Ii in Ossining are located from the Highview Terrace Apartments parking lot and some other at Ogden Rd. nearly the GE complex. These road connections aren't marked so brand sure you take an OCA map or GPS. There are numerous road crossings, most not heavily trafficked. There is ane very steep road crossing in Ossining. Unless you're a seasoned mountain biker, I'd recommended walking your bike up and down. In that location is besides a fairly steep hill along the fence at the GE complex. Considering the surface of the trail changes from grass to dirt and can exist uneven in spots, hybrid tires, at a minimum, are recommended. There are historical markers, ventilators, and weirs along the way. Brand certain to ride atop the dam.

From the Metal Bridge , East of the Taconic.....

February 2016 stkelner

...Have parked but off Route 129, pedaled over the metal bridge simply a bit east of the Taconic over the Croton Reservoir and rode alongside the reservoir upwardly to the Quondam Croton Dam and downwards the unpaved, only very rideable path, down to Route 9A and downwardly to Croton Harmon Metro-Due north station, passing over the height of the Croton River emptying into the Hudson. Then rode over the bridge over the Metro-North tracks and west to the Hudson River.....Beautiful. About 18 miles roundtrip !

Westchester Trails Running Site

Nov 2005 Anonymous

I describe this trail with pictures on wetschestertrails.com This is an unpaved trail; yous cannot in-line skate on it.

"It'south been over a year since I posted my last review of this trail, so I thought that an update might exist in society.

Of all the trails I've biked in the past yr, this ane nevertheless remains my favorite.

I rode the segment from Tarrytown to Yonkers two days ago. It'due south a nice level ride although there are many street crossings to deal with. Once y'all go into Yonkers, be aware of broken glass in the more than populated areas of the Metropolis.

I biked the segement from Sleepy Hollow north to the Croton Dam today. In that location are fewer street crossings on this segment, but you must deal with off trail street detours in several spots. The ride was well worth it though; views from the height of the New Croton Dam were spectacular.

This trail should not exist missed past any serious off-road bikers.

Eastward-mail me if you're in the area and want more details.

Safe riding . . . "

"A bang-up trail for those who enjoy long distance, fast moving off-road biking.

Detours via metropolis streets in Yonkers, Tarrytown, Northward Tarrytown, and Ossning but otherwise a nicely maintained dirt & gravel trek from NYC to the Old Croton Dam.

Trail doesn't get very much use except only due south of the Tappan Zee Bridge in Irvington & Hastings-on-Hudson.

A adept starting signal is the Sleepy Hollow Loftier School in North Tarrytown. From this point, head northward for the most breathtaking and crowd-free trail portions.

No facilities in place on trail. Bring your ain water & food. Maps are available from the Friends of the One-time Croton Aqueduct. Get one; they're keen.

Electronic mail if in area for more details.

04/06/01"