Fahnestock State Park
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park is a delight for outdoor enthusiasts. This 15,000-acre park, covering land in Putnam and Dutchess counties, boasts hiking trails, picnic areas, scenic campground, and abundant opportunities for boating, hunting, fishing, and birding.
Activities in Fahnestock State Park
Fishing by boat is permitted at Stillwater and Canopus Lakes. Fishing at both lakes and four ponds is excellent in all seasons for anglers seeking bass, pickerel, perch or brook and rainbow trout. Please note that all freshwater fishing requires a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The scenic campground, formed along the park's natural rock ridges, provides alcoves of privacy and tranquility for campers. Each of the 80 campsites has a picnic table, charcoal grill, and fire ring. Additionally, there is an area for RV camping. Although there are no hookups available or dump station, restroom and shower facilities are centrally located to all RV and tent sites. The campground's nature center houses environmental displays and a variety of touch boxes.
Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve
The Hudson Highlands and Hudson River provide spectacular backdrops for the many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed here, such as hiking, boating, fishing, and birding. The park's extensive hiking trail network includes terrain that varies from easy to the iconic and challenging Breakneck Ridge. The Park Preserve protects a mosaic of special habitats from the estuarine shore of the Hudson River, through young deciduous forest, to the rocky ridges and summits towering above the surrounding area, providing a haven for many plants and animals just 50 miles north of New York City.
Activities in Hudson Highlands State Park
Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve is a highly popular destination for world-class hiking, fishing, birding, wildlife viewing, and seasonal boating. The Park is best known for its 70 miles of trails, including the famous Breakneck Ridge Trail, a steep, strenuous rock scramble offering panoramic views of the river and Storm King Mountain. Other popular hikes include Mt. Beacon, Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus) and the Anthony's Nose trail, which overlooks the Bear Mountain Bridge.
Other activities include
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Boating and fishing, primarily along the park’s waterfront areas;
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Sightseeing on Bannerman Island, the ruins of a Scottish-inspired castle that previously housed an military arsenal;
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Big game and small game hunting (by permit); and
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Nature photography and birding in varied terrain from estuarine shorelines and deciduous forests to towering rocky summits.