Poets' Walk is located in Red Hook, New York, United States on the River Road. It is intended to celebrate the connection between landscape and poetry. The classic wooden vistas, sunlit fields and thick forest were the main focus of landscape architect Hans Jacob Ehlers' vision for the property in 1849.
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This is an absolutely gorgeous "hidden" gem right in Red Hook! On the day I visited, the sky was bright blue above, the verdant meadows bright green all around, and the Hudson dark blue and flowing below.
The trails are wide enough to walk two or even three across and there were enough other visitors that, while it was possible to be "alone" enough for good pix, there was usually another pair of walkers coming around the bend. We passed probably 14-16 people and about half had dogs on leashes and a few had strollers. The paths were grassy and it was clear they'd be quite muddy in the rain so, while you wouldn't necessarily need an "off-road" stroller, something a bit hardier than what you'd use at a mall or walking along sidewalks is advised. There are 2.2 miles of trails and we walked maybe one mile. We were scouting locations to take my siblings who are coming to visit next week; we're still newish to the area so there are a lot of areas I've been wanting to check out before taking visitors to them and this was one of them.
The entire area is picturesque, parking is ample and easy-to-use, there is a lot of information posted at the entrance to the trails, and there are QR codes on signs along the trails for park maps or to participate in sharing your pix. The only negative is that those little signs are sitting in the bright sun so the map QR code was far too faded to be useful and wasn't readable, unfortunately, but the one that invites you to share your pix worked great! Visible signs are posted before you even pull in to the parking lot, as well as in the parking lot, that the gate closes promptly at 8:30pm so if you haven't moved your car by then, you'll have only yourself to blame.
A bonus for me was discovering, via the information board at the beginning of the trails, that the park is open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter! I was hoping to find a good spot for cross country skiing and it was so awesome to learn that this beautiful park hosts these activities and is so close to my home (about a 15 minute drive from my house right at the border of Elizaville in Red Hook).
The park - especially the meadows and the rustic wooden pavilion - would be a gorgeous site for engagement and/or wedding pix. It IS nature, of course, so bringing a blanket or something for the bride to stand on to keep her dress clean (and something to wipe down wedding shoes, just in case - bride and groom!) is highly recommended but there is so much open space that even an extra large wedding party could easily be accommodated there. Check beforehand to be sure a permit isn't needed, of course.
I highly recommend this park for picnics, easy hikes/walks in nature, and...
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Beautiful walk the first 1.5 miles to the Handcrafted Wooden Gazebo with scenic views of the changing tree colors and the Hudson River...... Theeennnn, the trail slopes down into the woods heading down towards the river, but gets a little tricky, rocky, lots of roots, then built in rock steps steps towards a wooden bridge where erosion knocked out part of the trail...... They improvised around that, but trail can get pretty challenging as you head back up the hill with many rocks but trees to hang onto as you ascend........ For anyone with walking challenges or balance issues, bring a large stick from the woods...... You head towards a blue stone bridge over a creek, then up another steep rocky part of the trail....... You fork to the right, to the left is 'The Summer House' with more beautiful views of the river; but we kept on the right fork heading back towards the clearing with handmade wooden benches and the large gazebo with views of the Hudson River again....... Then headed back on the paved trail towards the parking lot after passing meadows on the right....... Absolutely delightful hike through the woods then flatter trail in the grassy meadow-type areas....... Beautiful scenery all the way with the changing of the leaves...... Nothing like Autumn in the Hudson Valley along the River........ Highly recommend this Poet's Walk Park! Just do it!...
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I’ve been to Poet’s Walk a few times but this was my first time walking all of the paths. My wife and I walked three miles with some back tracking. It’s about a two mile walk doing the larger loop. This is one of the many great Scenic Hudson parks. The parking lot gets busy and I’m sure on many weekends it’s full but people come and go often. The main paths are in great shape and easy to walk on. Wheelchairs would work on this path.
It’s a short walk to the “Lookout” and you have an amazing view of the Catskills and Hudson River. Benches are all the way around the cider tree gazebo. Beyond the Lookout there is an intersection that allows you to walk down to Parkers Place on two different trails. One is still an easy walking path and the other is a hiking trail with rocks, roots and stairs that's not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers but both end up at Parker's Place. The map of the park shows the Accessible Trail which goes to the Lookout (0.66 miles).
Parker’s Place has a gazebo and great views of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. We were lucky to be there without anyone else to sit and enjoy the view.
The park closes and the gate is locked at different times throughout the year. The park closes at 6:00 PM in the winter, 7:30 for Spring and Fall and 8:30 in the summer so you can watch the sunset before the gate is locked. The park is dog friendly...
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