Visit nature by exploring local, state, national parks
Cait Brewster is a freelance photographer who enjoys driving from her home in Kingston down to the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park to walk around and take photos of the beautiful landscape.
“I love the mountains around here and all of the woods,” said the Kingston resident. “It’s a beautiful area.”
The Hudson Valley has several national and state parks that not only provide great scenery for photographers, such as Brewster, but also provide trails for walkers, hikers and bikers of all ages and fitness levels. Many Hudson Valley residents utilize these parks to keep in shape.
Edward Garafola doesn’t have a gym membership, so when he needs to get out and get some much-needed exercise, he heads over to the Franklin D. Roosevelt estate, also in Hyde Park.
“It’s free to walk around on the property and the landscape and scenery is much better than being on a treadmill inside of a gym,” the Town of Poughkeepsie resident said.
Garafola said this year he hopes to explore even more of the parks now that the weather is getting warmer.
“I like walking on my own, but I also thought about trying some of the more organized activities that the parks have,” he said.
He’s also been to the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in Columbia County and walked on the Lindenwald Wayside Trail, a three-quarter mile loop trail around the grounds. Hikers and walkers also can enjoy the Dutch Farming Heritage Trail, which runs from the back of the Van Alen House property, owned by Columbia County Historical Society, to the parking lot of the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site.
In Ulster County, Minnewaska State Park provides 50 miles of footpaths on which to bike, walk and hike. Rock climbing and cross-country ski trails also are available. There are several hikes planned in April at the park, including an Explore the Peter’s Kill Area of Minnewaska at 10 a.m., April 15 to explore the footpaths of the Peter’s Kill Area of Minnewaska. Hikes may be up to a-mile-and-a-half long. A 4-mile hike will take place April 16that will be held on a mostly flat route that follows along the edges of the Peter’s Kill, a mountain stream that cuts through white quartz conglomerate rock.
According to Scott Rector, chief of interpretation at the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, there are visitors hiking and walking on the property all the time and events throughout the year.
“We have 18 miles of hiking trails that consist of five different trails through the FDR Historic Site, the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park and the Vanderbilt Mansion, also in Hyde Park. These trails all connect to one another,” he said.
At 1 p.m., April 16, the Hyde Park Trail kicks off the “Walkabout,” the 25th year of Hyde Park Trails with a guided hike on the original 3-mile section of Hyde Park Trail from the Vanderbilt Mansion to the home of FDR.
“Anyone who wants to participate should know that the trails are relatively flat to moderate hills,” he said.
An End-2-End hike takes place June 4 at the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. Participants run, hike or walk the Hyde Park Trail from Top Cottage to Vanderbilt Mansion, and earn their 2016 walkabout trail patch.
“It’s a 9-mile day of hiking,” Rector said.
The Walkway Over the Hudson is a historic state park in Poughkeepsie that also has a variety of walking activities. The Hand In Hand 5K Run/Walk Over The Hudson takes place at 8:30 a.m. April 10 that begins on the Highland side of the rail trail. The 5K will proceed over the Walkway and back.
The National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and there are books and movies to honor the centennial.
“Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears” by Heather Hansen tells the accessible tale of the history and characters of the National Park Service. Brand USA partnered with MacGillivray Freeman Films to launch “National Parks Adventure,” a giant-format film narrated by Robert Redford. The film is set to show in a select number of theaters in the U.S. and is currently playing in New York City at the American Museum of Natural History.
Most national parks are free to those who want to walk or hike the property, but they charge an additional fee to tour the historic sites. Keep in mind, however, that most New York state parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility.
• Poets’ Walk Park: Nearly 2 miles of trails — some gravel-surfaced, others hard-packed dirt — through meadows and woods; 
• Walkway Loop Trail: Poughkeepsie, Town of Lloyd. This 4.5-mile trail links Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park and the Mid-Hudson Bridge with cultural and recreational sites (as well as shops and restaurants) in Poughkeepsie and Lloyd. Spur trails lead to Franny Reese State Park and Bob Shepard Highland Landing Park; https://walkway.org/
• Lighthouse Park: A trail connects the park to Scenic Hudson’s adjacent Esopus Meadows Preserve, which features 2 miles of hiking trails. For inquiries, contact the Town of Esopus at 845-331-0676.
• Harrier Hill Park: The 2-mile Stockport-Greenport Trail, which traverses a dramatic ravine, connects with additional hiking opportunities in the Greenport Conservation Area; 
National parks events
• National Park Week: April 16-24. Free admission to all 400-plus national parks;
• Film: Narrated by Robert Redford, “National Parks Adventure” is filmmaker Greg MacGillivray’s ambitious giant-screen film that offers a sweeping overview of the national parks’ history;
• Book: “Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears” by award-winning journalist Heather Hansen; : @travel2parks.com