Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park — Attraction in Town of Greenburgh

This trail is frustrating. Incredibly frustrating. Just to get it out the way, this is supposedly a 26 mile mountain biking/gravel trail that runs through several towns in the hudson valley, close to the Hudson river. And when it delivers on this promise, it definitely delivers. You'll have to navigate some lightly technical sections (I'm talking roots and rocks, here, some dips and uphills here and there), and a few honestly kinda fun single track sections. You'll have the time of your life....for about .5 miles. Then you'll have to go into traffic, hope you don't get hit by a car, to get back into that fun. To go for another mile and have to do that again. And on and on it goes while you start to question every decision you, and humanity as a whole, have ever made.

I decided to go on a day trip, and the weather was right in the middle of "Just OK for cycling", so I took a 5L seat bag with me to hold a sweater and pants in case it got a little more chilly. I also took a small frame bag to hold my lunch, and my flat repair kit, hand pump and multi tool. This has nothing to do with the trail, just wanted to describe my loadout and what I anticipated from my day out. The plan was to do the whole trail and back, considering I leave near the southern starting point.

Well, I did complete it, but I sure as hell won't do it again. I knew looking at the trail map that there would be consistent street traffic to overcome, but I didn't expect it to be. SO. Numerous. I'm talking every .5 miles or so here. I don't think I covered more than maybe a mile and a half of real off road trailing at any give distance until nearing the end, where there's a good portion.

This is closer to a series of single track, double track, and hiking paths, than it is a true continuous off road biking trail.

All that said, go, try it out for yourself. Seriously. Even a bad day on a bike is a good day. Just bring extra reflectors and a maybe a spare...

I understand that this trail is built all the way from Croton Dam to High Bridge in Bronx. Now, many part of the trails are severed by recent land development. So It is hard to track those original trails. However, I took it from Yonkers to Tarry Town Station, probably 9 and half miles walk? the friendly locals helped me and I finished the route. Walking through right in the middle of Mercy Colledge , Lyndhurst Estate? It is interesting but refreshing. Maybe bicycling does fit for this particular route. But it gave me a kind of serenity and piece of mind. I recommend it when you are in Westchester...

The Old Croton Trailway runs about 26 miles in Westchester county, running mostly directly over the Old Croton Aqueduct. The OCA, built around 1840, was one of the great engineering feats of its time and the supply of good water it brought to New York City was a major factor in the city's growth. The trail itself has numerous fascinating views and things to see. The Keepers House museum in Dobbs Ferry, currently open on weekends, has exhibits, maps, and a friendly staff ready to answer questions about the trail and...