Rail trails

Rail trails — linear parks for bicyclists, inline skaters, runners and walkers —  are great for family bicycle outings. The trails offer generally flat or easy grades, although some of the uphills are long. Westchester County offers the North and South County Trailways, connecting to the Putnam Trailway, which follow the route of the former Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad. There’s also the Bronx River Pathway, which is incomplete, with several paved sections within the Bronx River Reservation that surrounds the 13.2-mile Parkway. The South County Trailway starts at the Bronx border; there are still some incomplete sections. The North County Trailway,  22.1 miles, all paved (short stretch along Route 100), begins in Eastview and continues north to the Putnam County border at Baldwin Place, where the Putnam County Trailway begins and continues another six miles to Carmel Village. Construction of a final section, which will loop over to Brewster Village, has begun, with a bridge over Seminary Hill Road completed. There are parking areas along the trails, shown on trail maps available online.

Details

For information on the Westchester rail trails, call 914-864-PARK or visit www.westchestergov.com/Parks/Trailways.htm. For Dutchess County, visit dutchesscountytrails.com.