10 secret autumn walks in the mid-Hudson Valley

This year's peak fall foliage season is starting a bit later than last year. And that means you have plenty of time to enjoy the seemingly endless opportunities for fall outings.

With that in mind, I've reached out to local scientists, preservationists and other folks who get out a lot.

My goal: Get them to give up their favorite spots, particularly the lesser known ones.

Here is a list (with limited directions due to space) that should appeal to all corners of Dutchess and Ulster counties:

John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary, Floyd Ackert Road, West Park: This spot made my list last year, and remains a tucked-away favorite of many.

Imagine 200 acres of deep forest, rocky ledges and rolling landscapes. Imagine a gorgeous lake with a little peninsula that cries out for a picnic.

And, oh by the way, there's Burroughs' cabin, Slabsides. Although the cabin is open only in conjunction with select events, you can peer through the windows and imagine what it must have been like to be one of the world's best-known naturalists in the days when texts were more often exchanged via libraries than data plans.

There is no lot, but you can park on Burroughs Drive or Floyd Ackert Road.

Thompson Pond and Stissing Mountain, Lake Road, Pine Plains: I received lots of votes for Stissing Mountain, where a fire tower offers stress-melting panoramic views from more than 1,400 feet above the surrounding valley.

But make sure to swing by the nearby Thompson Pond Preserve. The pond, according to The Nature Conservancy, was carved more than 15,000 years ago when a melting ice chunk created a depression and three interconnected water bodies, including Thompson Pond.

The Conservancy says the basin's pond, cattail marsh, swamp and upland forest "support a wondrously diverse array of wildlife."  There are several trails around the pond and a recently constructed bog bridge allows one to complete a loop.

Sam's Point, 400 Sam’s Point Road, Cragsmoor: Love the Shawangunk Ridge, but not the crowds it draws?

Well, head to the Town of Wawarsing to enjoy this preserve located off of Route 52. The preserve was conveyed earlier this year from The Nature Conservancy to the state and is now part of Minnewaska State Park Preserve.

Rare ecosystems? Check. Jaw-dropping views? Check. Ice caves? You bet.

The Ice Caves Trail "contains ice flows, water, narrow crevices, low rock ceilings, darker areas, ladders and boardwalks," according to the state parks office.

"I hate to miss the Sam’s Point Loop Road when the huckleberry bushes are ablaze in the late afternoon," said Cara Lee of The Nature Conservancy. "The pitch pines are a lustrous green, the bedrock is stunningly white and the huckleberries are intensely red."

Sold!

Red Wing Recreational Area, Route 82, Billings: Not every autumn hike has to be an epic journey, right?

If your idea of Homer is more cartoon than Greek poet, you might consider this lovely jaunt found off of Route 82, two-tenths of a mile north of the intersection with Route 55 in the Town of LaGrange.

The trail bears the name of the sand and gravel company that owns the property and has provided support for other local recreational areas.

John Conrad, a Poughkeepsie-based hydrogeologist, says the 2-mile loop is well worth the 1-hour round-trip hike.

"There's a wooden bench at the summit," he said, "and a view down ... and far beyond. Wow!"

Park at the entrance along the shoulder of Route 82, or go two-tenths of a mile north of the entrance and park in the lot on the north side of the fire station there.

Nyquist-Harcourt Wildlife Sanctuary, 140 Huguenot St., New Paltz: Back for a second year on this list, the easy, flat walk is a stone's throw from the stone houses of historic Huguenot Street and not far from New Paltz's array of restaurants.

If you've ever wondered what an oxbow is, come here. Best place to park is the park-and-ride on North Chestnut Street/Route 32, across from Stewart's.

Drayton Grant Park at Burger Hill, 3137 Route 9G, Rhinebeck: Scenic Hudson protected this land in the 1990s and donated it to the Winnikee Land Trust in 2005.

Picture rolling farmland, with wide, mowed trails leading to a summit from which you can glimpse the Hudson River and surrounding countryside.

If you think this makes a good place to sled in the winter — well, you're right.

Dennings Point, Dennings Avenue, Beacon: Another repeat from last year's list. While the rest of the world is fighting for space along Breakneck Ridge, why not try this far-less-visited piece of Hudson Highlands State Park?

Here's a flat, mile-long loop that sweeps along the Hudson River and is connected to Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park by the Klara Sauer Trail. The trail is easily accessed from the parking lot at the end of Dennings Avenue.

"The south end of the park probably has one of the best views in the Hudson Valley, if not the country," says Alan Flynn of Chazen Industries, who adds that he lived and hiked in Colorado for six years.

Stewart State Forest, Ridge Road, New Windsor: We're highlighting this Orange County spot not just because of its 700 acres of wetlands, fields and forest, or its 18 miles of gravel roads and 22 miles of trails — but because of recently opened improvements to one section.

In August, the state opened two 400-foot sections of boardwalk spanning the Great Swamp, along with a new trail.

The best way to access the trail is to park in the lot at the end of Ridge Road, off of Route 17K, just south of Interstate 84. The lot closes after Oct. 1, but you can still park at the end of Ridge Road.

From there, hang a left on Maple Avenue and continue on after it turns right, toward the south. After about 1.4 miles, there will be a sign on the right for the Great Swamp walkway. Turn right and continue a half-mile to the boardwalk.

Franny Reese State Park, Macks Lane, Highland: This is one of Scenic Hudson's preserves, named after the group's "guiding spirit."

Its 251 acres offer 2.5 miles of trails through rolling forest, views across the Hudson River and a great, head-on overlook of the Mid-Hudson Bridge. But the thing that got me were the ruins of the 19th century estate once owned by Dr. Charles H. Roberts, a Poughkeepsie dentist.

Roberts developed a way to deaden the pain when doing dental work, but made his big money investing in railroads. Life with family was not so pain-free, however.

His daughter attempted to seize control of his affairs by having him legally declared incompetent. A fascinating tale, especially when you are standing before the walls of his former estate.

Poet's Walk, 776 River Rd., Town of Red Hook: This one screams romance. The Scenic Hudson park has 2 miles of trails on 120 acres of woods and rolling meadows, highlighted by a rustic pavilion.

"It’s a nice, gradual hike to a pavilion and seating with views of the Catskill Mountains," said Dan Raugalis of Chazen Industries. "The (missus) and I take a picnic basket and make an afternoon out of it."

Here are some other fall foliage hikes to consider:

Hudson Valley hikes offer views of fall foliage

"Out There" appears every other week in My Valley. Reach John Ferro at 845-437-4816; jferro@poughkeepsiejournal.com; Twitter: @PoJoEnviro