Check out the Dutchess County Rail Trail, which is great for pedestrians who wish to hike, jog, stroll, bike and basically just enjoy the stretch of paved land between Hopewell Junction and the city of Poughkeepsie. It's 12 miles of trail that's very scenic and lovely any time of the year. Currently the towns are planning to link the trail with the Walkway Over the Hudson, which is a bridge that was once used as part of the railway system, as well as Westchester County's other walking path, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. For other "rail trails" in the area, visit Putnam County's Harlem Valley Rail Trail. These trails are great ways of preserving the state's history as the railroad was incredibly important towards the area's industry for shipping items from there to here and back again. Businesses depended on it. Today you can still enjoy the same path that the trains traveled and appreciate the tri-county area in all its natural splendor.
