Pollepel Island — Local services in Town of Fishkill

I went on this tour yesterday. It was a great time and worth the 6 hour drive each way from Ontario. There was bad weather so when your ticket says that the tour runs rain or shine they are not lying. Everyone was so professional with how they handled the quick changes in weather.

I wrote to them before the tour to get information about parking but no one wrote me back. This was pretty stressful since this was a day trip so I wanted to let others know that parking is free without a permit right on site at the Metro North Train Station so it is super easy. It's free on Saturday and Sunday as well as select holidays.

There isn't a permanent structure that they operate out of at the dock so don't show up without a ticket since there will be no way to buy one. Adam was our tour guide and they were fantastic. They shared so much knowledge about the island and were very welcoming. The trails were short and you can easily do all of them in the time allotted. You can buy snacks on the island but not on the boat like the ticket says. There are no food service stands in walking distance of the train either so be aware of that when planning your meals.

The washrooms on the island are...

An extremely interesting place to visit!! Pollepel Island is one of those things you have to visit before it disappears altogether. The incredible history behind Pollepel Island is so rich with fascinating stories, historical accounts, and facts. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable on the history of Pollepel Island and, at times, very funny! The tour included a lovely boat ride on the Hudson River and a guided tour of Pollepel Island and Bannerman's Castle. Unfortunately, we could not enter Bannerman's Castle due to the current fragile state of the castle. Bannerman's Castle is gradually deteriorating due to severe weather conditions. I highly suggest going soon because who knows what will be left of Bannerman's Castle in ten to twenty...

Pollepel Island was discovered by the Europeans during the first navigation of the Hudson River by early Dutch settlers in the Province of New York, at the "Northern Gate" of the Hudson Highlands. During the Revolutionary War, patriots attempted to prevent the British from passing upriver by emplacing 106 chevaux de frise (upright logs tipped with iron points) between the island and Plum Point across the river (see Hudson River Chains). Caissons from several chevaux de frise still rest at the river bottom. Still, these obstructions did not stop a British flotilla from burning Kingston in 1777. General George Washington later signed a plan to use the island as a military prison; however, there is no evidence that a prison was ever...