5 /5 Jenna-lee Garrett: This is an absolutely gorgeous "hidden" gem right in Red Hook! On the day I visited, the sky was bright blue above, the verdant meadows bright green all around, and the Hudson dark blue and flowing below.
The trails are wide enough to walk two or even three across and there were enough other visitors that, while it was possible to be "alone" enough for good pix, there was usually another pair of walkers coming around the bend. We passed probably 14-16 people and about half had dogs on leashes and a few had strollers. The paths were grassy and it was clear theyd be quite muddy in the rain so, while you wouldnt necessarily need an "off-road" stroller, something a bit hardier than what youd use at a mall or walking along sidewalks is advised. There are 2.2 miles of trails and we walked maybe one mile. We were scouting locations to take my siblings who are coming to visit next week; were still newish to the area so there are a lot of areas Ive been wanting to check out before taking visitors to them and this was one of them.
The entire area is picturesque, parking is ample and easy-to-use, there is a lot of information posted at the entrance to the trails, and there are QR codes on signs along the trails for park maps or to participate in sharing your pix. The only negative is that those little signs are sitting in the bright sun so the map QR code was far too faded to be useful and wasnt readable, unfortunately, but the one that invites you to share your pix worked great! Visible signs are posted before you even pull in to the parking lot, as well as in the parking lot, that the gate closes promptly at 8:30pm so if you havent moved your car by then, youll have only yourself to blame.
A bonus for me was discovering, via the information board at the beginning of the trails, that the park is open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter! I was hoping to find a good spot for cross country skiing and it was so awesome to learn that this beautiful park hosts these activities and is so close to my home (about a 15 minute drive from my house right at the border of Elizaville in Red Hook).
The park - especially the meadows and the rustic wooden pavilion - would be a gorgeous site for engagement and/or wedding pix. It IS nature, of course, so bringing a blanket or something for the bride to stand on to keep her dress clean (and something to wipe down wedding shoes, just in case - bride *and* groom!) is highly recommended but there is so much open space that even an extra large wedding party could easily be accommodated there. Check beforehand to be sure a permit isnt needed, of course.
I highly recommend this park for picnics, easy hikes/walks in nature, and winter activities!
