Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
Address: 15 Walnut Street
Phone: (914) 693-0529
The Old Croton Aqueduct, built in the 1840s, runs through Dobbs Ferry, where hikers will pass the maintenance barn and the recently restored house of the Aqueduct overseer, built in 1845. Spectacular views of the Hudson River and Palisades also can be seen through this stretch. Owned and managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the trailway offers a scenic walk from northern Westchester County into New York City, or vice versa, following the path of the aqueduct that was once used to bring fresh water from the Croton River to Manhattan. The trail traverses most of the Historic Hudson River Towns and, while mostly a walking path, it does have some sections suitable for horseback riding. No motorized vehicles are permitted anywhere along the trailway. Many points of access make it easy to walk sections of the trail. Train stations and bus stops are within walking distance, or a quick taxi ride, from almost any place along the path. And although much of the path is easy to find, with trails identified by Taconic Region markers, walkers interested in traversing longer sections of the trailway are encouraged to call or write for a map which details the route, offering specific directions for some of the more difficult areas of the trail. The trail begins on the south side of the Croton Dam, farthest away from the spillway. Along the way walkers will see old ventilator shafts as well as a weir chamber, used to spill off waste water during floods. Various parts of the trail offer spectacular Hudson River views.