Taconic-Hereford Multiple Use Area
Park Overview:
Multiple Use Area with trails mostly on logging roads and open to a wide variety of trail users.
Park Description:
This is the largest multiple-use area in Dutchess County, actively managed for timber, but with a dense network of trails. The easy trails and woods roads meander through dense chestnut oak and hickory forests, interspersed with younger growth full of dappled light. Frequent stone walls attest to the area's farming days.
Hunting is permitted in season.
Trails Overview:
The trail network is mostly on logging roads and is open to most types of non-motorized users -- 22.7 miles of mixed use trails and 4.4 miles on roads. One orange-blazed woods road of 5.25 miles is open to snowmobiling. Use the Web Map link on this site to view a DEC trail map.
Park Acreage:
917.00 acresMunicipality:
Pleasant ValleyMultiple Use Area with trails mostly on logging roads and open to a wide variety of trail users.
This is the largest multiple-use area in Dutchess County, actively managed for timber, but with a dense network of trails. The easy trails and woods roads meander through dense chestnut oak and hickory forests, interspersed with younger growth full of dappled light. Frequent stone walls attest to the area's farming days.
Hunting is permitted in season.
The 909 is an awesome place for a hike, but might be better for cross-country skiing or mountain biking. Most of the park is wider dirt roads that get very muddy throughout the year.
The park has a lot of different areas. The front section near the Taconic is wider trails, some covered in huge pieces of gravel (it hurt to walk on). The back woods have a lot of singletrack that is nice for a hike or a somebody with a lot of confidence on a bike. The middle are is some old structures and campsites.
Lot's of animals frequent this area. Last time I was here a red fox ran out in front of me on the trail and stared at me for a few minutes before running back into the woods. There are some wetland areas and creeks as well that are nice to walk through.
The very back of the park was my least favorite area. Some of the trails are clearly used by ATV's and jeeps and it looks like a lot of the people that visit leave their trash and break bottles, I wouldn't bring the dog or bike in this area.