July 16, 2022 – New Metropolis, NY
Problem: Simple
Size: Roughly 2.4 miles
Max elevation: 269 ft.– whole elevation achieve roughly 138 ft.
Route sort: Circuit
Free Net Map: Kennedy Dells Park Map 2021
Trailhead parking: 19 Zukor Rd, New Metropolis, NY 10956
Ample parking is on the market – Restrooms on web site
The park is open year-round, from 8am to sundown.
Park Overview:
Kennedy Dells County Park consists of 179 Acres of flat rolling topography. The intense westerly portion is closely wooded consisting of Hemlock, White Pine, Beech, Maple, Black and Pink Oak, White Ash, and Black Locust. Alongside the western boundary of the park is the scenic Crum Creek, paralleled by a path. An previous highway leads all the way down to the ruins of a stone dam, stone arches that after supported a bridge over the creek, and a stone pumphouse. The park is owned, operated and managed by the Rockland County Park System.
Kennedy Dells County Park
Facilities embody climbing trails, a health path, horse corral, nature research, soccer, baseball, cross nation snowboarding, picnic tables, pavilion, and farming demonstrations. Restrooms and handicapped services can be found.
Historical past:
Owned within the early a part of the century by the well-known film producer Adolph Zukor. New Metropolis was at one time to be the Hollywood of the east. Rockland County acquired 80 acres in 1969 with a further buy of 97 acres in 1975. Stays of the stone bridge throughout Crum Creek nonetheless exist.
Trails Overview:
There are two main trails within the park, the 1.4-mile white-blazed Bridle Path, and the 1.4-mile yellow-blazed Health Path. These trails might be mixed to make a 2.4-mile loop hike across the perimeter of the park. Though the Bridle Path is open to equestrian use, it’s primarily frequented by canines (accompanied by the homeowners and different members of the family).
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
A bit of the Bridle Path parallels scenic Crum Creek, the western boundary of the park, and an previous highway leads all the way down to the stays of a stone dam (now breached), a highway bridge over the creek (all that continues to be are the stone-arch abutments) and a stone pumphouse (with ruins of the equipment nonetheless inside). The park options almost stage topography, so the hikes are all simple.
cascade & stone bridge ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park
Pump Home ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park
Hike Overview:
I visited Kennedy Dells County Park in 2014 and determined to pay it a return go to. I used to be seeking to do a simple stroll on a late Saturday morning and this park was the best place. There may be loads of parking and there are restrooms out there on web site. Since there was a light-weight drizzle throughout our time there, there weren’t many individuals on the paths.
This hike loops counterclockwise across the perimeter of the park using the Bridle Path and the Health Path.
Kennedy Dells County Park Loop Hike
As proven within the elevation graph, it’s a principally stage hike.
elevation profile – Kennedy Dells County Park
The Hike:
From the north finish of the principle parking space, proceed west and proceed on a tough paved highway, passing soccer fields on either side. Go round a gate and proceed on the highway because it bears proper and climbs slightly.
Kennedy Dells County Park
Kennedy Dells County Park
Kennedy Dells County Park
Because the highway bends to the left, a white blaze on a tree to the suitable marks the beginning of the Bridle Path. Flip proper and comply with this white-blazed path, coated with wooden chips for a part of the best way, which heads by means of a wooded space. Though open to equestrian use, it’s extra closely utilized by walkers with their canines.
flip proper on Bridle Path
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
After passing a subject to the left, the path bends left and reaches the Eleanor Burlingham Tree Nursery. Right here, it turns proper, then heads left and begins to run alongside a golf course, which borders the park to the north. When a mud highway is available in from the left, bear proper and proceed to comply with the park boundary, with an previous stone wall to the left.
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Quickly, you’ll attain a cul-de-sac on the finish of a residential road. Right here, the path turns left and begins to run alongside an previous paved highway, with the again yards of properties to the suitable. After a brief distance, the highway turns left and proceeds by means of a hemlock forest, paralleling Crum Creek, in a ravine under to the suitable.
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
In a couple of minutes, you’ll attain a fork. The white-blazed Bridle Path bears left, however you need to proceed to comply with the paved highway, which bears proper and descends in direction of the creek, the place it ends abruptly. Steps on the left lead all the way down to a viewpoint over a stone dam, which has been breached. On the other facet of the creek, stone arches are all that stay from a bridge that previously carried the paved highway over the creek. To the suitable, on the east facet of the creek, a stone constructing incorporates the remnants of previous pumping gear.
veer proper to stay on paved highway
paved highway to Crum Creek
cascade & stone bridge ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park
Crum Creek cascade – Kennedy Dells County Park
stone bridge ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park
Crum Creek – Kennedy Dells County Park
Pump Home ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park
Pump Home ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park
Pump Home ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park
Crum Creek cascade – Kennedy Dells County Park
After taking on this scenic and historic web site, return as much as the fork and switch sharply proper to proceed on the white-blazed Bridle Path. The path continues to parallel the stream, now seen to the suitable. Two climbing trails, blazed blue and orange, go off to the left, however you need to proceed forward on the white-blazed path.
Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Ultimately, the path reaches the extent of the creek, with properties clearly seen on the other facet. A brief distance past, you’ll attain a T-intersection, the place the Bridle Path ends. Flip left onto a gravel highway, and in about 150 toes, flip left once more onto a stone-lined grime path. That is the Health Path, and also you’ll go numerous health stations alongside the best way.
terminus of Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Buck on the Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
The Health Path bends to the suitable and shortly reaches a T-intersection with a mud highway. Flip proper, passing a subject to the suitable. On the subsequent four-way intersection, flip left to proceed on the stone-lined Health Path, which passes a subject to the left and houses to the suitable. After crossing a stream on a picket bridge, it bends proper, turns left and passes one other subject. It then turns left and descends on a protracted switchback. After once more working alongside the park boundary for a brief distance, it turns left, goes by a soccer subject and ends on the parking space the place the hike started.
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
terminus of Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park
Overview:
A very nice park that’s good for a brief simple stroll with the potential of seeing completely different sorts of wildlife. The small waterfall/cascade and stone ruins are value testing. Though surrounded by non-public property, it provides you the sensation that you’re extra faraway from civilization.
Execs:
Simple stroll within the woods, cascades on Crum Creek, stone ruins, loads of parking.
Cons:
Canine park on web site and you might even see some unleashed canines on the paths.
Take a Hike!
Kennedy Dells County Park
Sources:
