HYDE PARK TRAILS
Hyde Park Trails in Hyde Park, New York
Winnakee Nature Preserve is part of the larger Hyde Park Trail network consisting of 14 miles of trails within the Town of Hyde Park. These trails run throughout the Town’s parks, nature preserves and are contiguous to the Heritage Greenway, incorporating an east-west connection linking the FDR National Historic Site and the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site known as “Val-Kill”. The Town and volunteer members of the Hyde Park Trail Partnership have worked for several decades constructing and maintaining these trails in conjunction with the Dutchess County Department of Health. Winnakee holds conservation easements on a little over 300 acres within this network.
The Hyde Park Healthy Trails Walkabout Program developed in partnership with the Dutchess County Health Department, encourages people to walk and hike for health and wellness, and use a variety of different trails throughout the year. Participants who complete at least five trails in a given year and fill out a checklist earn a free, themed trail patch. The Hyde Park Trail Committee creates a new patch each year, featuring a natural or historical feature that relates to Hyde Park Trails. The Walkabout is typically launched each year with a guided hike in April, during Earth Day week (which is also National Park Week).