Hike to Croton Dam, Croton-on-Hudson, NY, 8 Miles

Sing-Sing Village, oil by Hugh Reinagle 1830.
We walked from Ossining Metro North Station to the Old Croton Dam and Sing-Sing museum, then along the Old Croton Aqueduct to the Croton Dam, and back to Metro North Railroad at the closest station, Croton-Harmon Station. This hike has an optional extension from the Dam to Teatown Lake Reservation. This beautiful lake walk through one of the largest bird and wildlife preserve in NY leads to an information/nature center and shop. The more miles, the better to build bone density and help with our constant struggle for weight control. This is a great map locating the area south of the Croton Dam and detailed trail maps with a printable version.

Our walk started at the Ossining Metro North Station up and away from the tracks and the coiled barbed wire of Sing Sing Prison, eastward through town to 95 Broadway, the Caputo Community Center and museum. We loved the informative displays about SingSing Prison and the Old and New Croton Dam and Aqueduct.

In the showcases, plaques and prints explained the history of the area. The Sint Sinck Indians (origin of the name Sing Sing), sold the land now included in the village of Ossining to Frederick Philipse in 1685. Sometime within the next two centuries, large prisons were built to replace the old penal system of stocks and pillaries. Ossining became home to Sing Sing Correctional Facility, just "up the river" from NYC.

You can look, but do not sit!!
In 1888, New York State abolished hanging and substituted electrocution. Electric chairs were installed in Auburn, Sing Sing, and Clinton Prisons. 614 prisoners were electrocuted at Sing Sing between 1890 and 1965, the year New York State abolished the death penalty.


Watch out for dangerous types lurking behind the bars when you walk by this cell block.

The Old Croton Aqueduct: Just outside the visitors' center, we picked up the trail of the OCA (click for exact walking directions.) and the hike continued.

Our leader knew each leg of the surprising walk along the aqueduct. Some of us expected to see water or pipe-works, but all is hidden below a series of dirt paths, populated streets, wooded lanes, and paved roads. BTW, many hike leaders are in their 80s and are still going strong. Hiking may be a way to live a longer life, no?

Nature sprouted spring surprises at every turn.


Someone guessed J. Gould, one of the area financeers might own this stone mansion.








This was the first of three air ventilators, spaced 1 mile apart, we were supposed to pass on our way to the dam. The aqueduct system draws air down from these vents to keep the water flowing toward its destination, while allowing excess air pressure to escape before problems develop. This engineering technique is borrowed from the old Roman aqueducts.



We were an easy-going group, so when someone said he was hungry, we found some rocks and sat for lunch. It was a welcome break in a long walk. We allow ourselves the high calories of a peanut butter sandwich for energy.


Then, it was back on the trail. In the unusual heat of the 90 degree April day, we would have traded some of the beautiful new buds for the darker green of mature shade-providing leaves.

We marked the second ventilator.

These high-perched homes on our right must offer beautiful views. Off to the left, we could hear and sometimes see the roar of the river below in the gorge.

One of our group spotted this geode, right there in situ!

Ah, the 3rd ventilator we've passed on the OCA. The Croton Dam can't be far.

This bridge is the end of the trail. Wait 'til you see paydirt:

We looked north at the huge reservoir.

And at the engineering feat that created it.


Then we looked south from the bridge and understood how the water is led to its destination.



Excited by these impressive views, we began the walk back and over toward the Croton-Harmon Metro North Station. (On another hike here, we took the extension to Teatown [see link under first photo at top] right from this spot.)

There was one steep incline and a trunk straddle to get passed a felled tree.

Then it was back to civilization through the streets of Croton-on-Hudson. We still had hopes of catching the 3:30 express train back to GCS.

But it left without us...

Happy to find a bench, we waited for the 4:00 local. Good to have time to reflect and recover, all with the satisfaction that, according to our pedometers, we had surpassed by far our daily goal of 10,000 steps. Hope the next bone density test reflects this.

Walk from Phillipse Manor to Rockwood Hall Ruins and Scarborough along the OCA Trail

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/59/details.aspxWe decided to join one of our favorite hike leaders for our first walk out of the city this season. We met at 11:10 at the Phillipse Manor Metro North train station for a leisurely stroll of about 4 miles through Rockwood Hall State Park, a rolling section of The Rockefeller State Park Preserve, with its sweeping views of the Hudson and old, stately trees, and the ruins of Olmstead designed Rockwood Hall, a 220-room estate, former home of William Rockefeller.
We continued north on The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail to the Scarborough station just in time to catch the 3:06 train back to the city.



We met the group at the historic Phillipse Manor Station.


We walked north from the station on Riverside Drive and passed Lake Fremont.


As we continued, Riverside Drive became Pokahoe Drive, which turns into Hemlock Drive.


Along the way, we saw the first signs of spring. This tree seemed to sprout crystals hanging from a chandelier.

This is that precious green seen only in early spring, as on this weeping something tree.

Is this new growth, or hardy survivors of the last season?

These snowdrops are the new harbingers of spring. They appear even before the crocuses.

We continued on Hemlock Drive to North Broadway, where we turned left.

The next left was onto Hospital Access Road.

Hungry yet? We made a right into Phelps Hospital and had a 45 minute lunch break in the cafeteria. Thanks to the facilities, no one had an emergency for the rest of the day.


We went back out to Hospital Access Road to Rockwood Road, which took us right into Rockwood State Park. This link has a great trail map of the area.

Here was a good spot to tighten boot laces.

Our group loved the view of the Hudson River on the left as we walked north through the park.



Trees can be most beautiful when they are still revealing their pure poetry.




This is all that remains of Rockwood Hall,the once grand Rockefeller Estate.


We took the path out of the park and followed the Old Croton Aqueduct trail. The aqueduct actually is buried beneath the trail.

If these dogs were supposed to be guarding, why were they wagging their tails? There were houses on either side of the aqueduct.

This is ventilation tower #10 on the OCA at Briarcliff Manor The vents are placed one mile apart.f


We followed the OCA until we hit Long Hill Road, where we made a left to Scarborough Road.

Some of the houses had great views of the Hudson.

One of the tramps takes a breather.

We made a left on Scarborough Road on the way to the train station.

At the Scarborough Station Park, we were greeted by some local animal life.

We hope the temperature is warm enough for us so we can go into the woods next week.