Kennedy Dells County Park

July 16, 2022 – New Metropolis, NY

Issue: Simple

Size: Roughly 2.4 miles

Max elevation: 269 ft.– complete elevation achieve roughly 138 ft.

Route sort: Circuit

Free Net Map: Kennedy Dells Park Map 2021

Trailhead parking: 19 Zukor Rd, New City, NY 10956

Ample parking is offered – Restrooms on website

The park is open year-round, from 8am to sundown.

Park Overview:

Kennedy Dells County Park consists of 179 Acres of flat rolling topography. The acute westerly portion is closely wooded consisting of Hemlock, White Pine, Beech, Maple, Black and Crimson Oak, White Ash, and Black Locust. Alongside the western boundary of the park is the scenic Crum Creek, paralleled by a path. An outdated highway leads all the way down to the ruins of a stone dam, stone arches that when supported a bridge over the creek, and a stone pumphouse. The park is owned, operated and managed by the Rockland County Park System.

Kennedy Dells County Park

Facilities embrace climbing trails, a health path, horse corral, nature research, soccer, baseball, cross nation snowboarding, picnic tables, pavilion, and farming demonstrations. Restrooms and handicapped services can be found.

Historical past:

Owned within the early a part of the century by the well-known film producer Adolph Zukor. New Metropolis was at one time to be the Hollywood of the east. Rockland County acquired 80 acres in 1969 with a further buy of 97 acres in 1975. Stays of the stone bridge throughout Crum Creek nonetheless exist.

Trails Overview:

There are two main trails within the park, the 1.4-mile white-blazed Bridle Path, and the 1.4-mile yellow-blazed Health Path. These trails will be mixed to make a 2.4-mile loop hike across the perimeter of the park. Though the Bridle Path is open to equestrian use, it’s primarily frequented by canines (accompanied by the homeowners and different relations).

Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

A piece of the Bridle Path parallels scenic Crum Creek, the western boundary of the park, and an outdated highway leads all the way down to the stays of a stone dam (now breached), a highway bridge over the creek (all that is still are the stone-arch abutments) and a stone pumphouse (with ruins of the equipment nonetheless inside). The park options almost degree topography, so the hikes are all straightforward.

cascade & stone bridge ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park

Pump House ruins - Kennedy Dells County Park

Pump Home ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park

Hike Overview:

I visited Kennedy Dells County Park in 2014 and determined to pay it a return go to. I used to be seeking to do a simple stroll on a late Saturday morning and this park was the best place. There may be loads of parking and there are restrooms out there on website. Since there was a lightweight drizzle throughout our time there, there weren’t many individuals on the paths.

This hike loops counterclockwise across the perimeter of the park using the Bridle Path and the Health Path.

Kennedy Dells County Park Loop Hike

As proven within the elevation graph, it’s a largely degree hike.

elevation profile – Kennedy Dells County Park

The Hike:

From the north finish of the primary parking space, proceed west and proceed on a tough paved highway, passing soccer fields on either side. Go round a gate and proceed on the highway because it bears proper and climbs a little bit.

Kennedy Dells County Park

Because the highway bends to the left, a white blaze on a tree to the best marks the beginning of the Bridle Path. Flip proper and observe this white-blazed path, coated with wooden chips for a part of the way in which, which heads by means of a wooded space. Though open to equestrian use, it’s extra closely utilized by walkers with their canines.

flip proper on Bridle Path

Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

After passing a discipline to the left, the path bends left and reaches the Eleanor Burlingham Tree Nursery. Right here, it turns proper, then heads left and begins to run alongside a golf course, which borders the park to the north. When a dust highway is available in from the left, bear proper and proceed to observe the park boundary, with an outdated stone wall to the left.

Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

Quickly, you’ll attain a cul-de-sac on the finish of a residential avenue. Right here, the path turns left and begins to run alongside an outdated paved highway, with the again yards of properties to the best. After a brief distance, the highway turns left and proceeds by means of a hemlock forest, paralleling Crum Creek, in a ravine under to the best.

Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

In a couple of minutes, you’ll attain a fork. The white-blazed Bridle Path bears left, however it’s best to proceed to observe the paved highway, which bears proper and descends in the direction of the creek, the place it ends abruptly. Steps on the left lead all the way down to a viewpoint over a stone dam, which has been breached. On the alternative facet of the creek, stone arches are all that stay from a bridge that previously carried the paved highway over the creek. To the best, on the east facet of the creek, a stone constructing accommodates the remnants of outdated pumping tools.

veer proper to stay on paved highway

paved highway to Crum Creek

cascade & stone bridge ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park

Crum Creek cascade – Kennedy Dells County Park

stone bridge ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park

Crum Creek – Kennedy Dells County Park

Pump Home ruins – Kennedy Dells County Park

Crum Creek cascade – Kennedy Dells County Park

After taking on this scenic and historic website, return as much as the fork and switch sharply proper to proceed on the white-blazed Bridle Path. The path continues to parallel the stream, now seen to the best. Two climbing trails, blazed blue and orange, go off to the left, however it’s best to proceed forward on the white-blazed path.

Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

Ultimately, the path reaches the extent of the creek, with properties clearly seen on the alternative facet. A brief distance past, you’ll attain a T-intersection, the place the Bridle Path ends. Flip left onto a gravel highway, and in about 150 ft, flip left once more onto a stone-lined dust path. That is the Health Path, and also you’ll move quite a lot of health stations alongside the way in which.

terminus of Bridle Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

Fitness Trail - Kennedy Dells County Park

Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

Buck on the Fitness Trail - Kennedy Dells County Park

Buck on the Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

The Health Path bends to the best and shortly reaches a T-intersection with a dust highway. Flip proper, passing a discipline to the best. On the subsequent four-way intersection, flip left to proceed on the stone-lined Health Path, which passes a discipline to the left and houses to the best. After crossing a stream on a picket bridge, it bends proper, turns left and passes one other discipline. It then turns left and descends on a protracted switchback. After once more operating alongside the park boundary for a brief distance, it turns left, goes by a soccer discipline and ends on the parking space the place the hike started.

Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

terminus of Fitness Trail - Kennedy Dells County Park

terminus of Health Path – Kennedy Dells County Park

Evaluate:

A very nice park that’s good for a brief straightforward stroll with the potential of seeing completely different sorts of wildlife. The small waterfall/cascade and stone ruins are value testing. Though surrounded by personal property, it provides you the sensation that you’re extra faraway from civilization.

Execs:

Simple stroll within the woods, cascades on Crum Creek, stone ruins, loads of parking.

Cons:

Canine park on website and you may even see some unleashed canines on the paths.

Take a Hike!