The 10 best places to bike in the mid-Hudson Valley

Whether you want to glide on pavement, pedal through sand or roll over gravel and dirt, the mid-Hudson Valley has a dazzling array of bike rides that get you off the road and into the outdoor splendor.

1) Walkway Over the Hudson/Rail Trail connections

It offers magnificent vistas as you bike over the Hudson River. For bikers, one of the best aspects of the Walkway is that it is now connected to other linear paths.

The Dutchess Rail Trail runs 13.4 miles from Poughkeepsie to East Fishkill, with a variety of stops, including City of Poughkeepsie businesses and the Hopewell Depot, a restored train station. In between these points, bikers traverse various bridges, ride on "Veterans Memorial Mile" and are treated to a spectacular view of Lake Walton.

The Ulster County connection to the Walkway is the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, which runs for about 4 miles, and bikers can easily get off and enjoy the restaurants and historic sites in the hamlet of Highland. This trail also features a depot and is the site of many community-oriented events.

2) Harlem Valley Rail Trail

This trail has two sections totaling 15 paved miles in Dutchess and Columbia counties. In Dutchess, the trail extends 10.7 miles north from Metro-North's Harlem Valley commuter line at Wassaic to the Village of Millerton. Along the way, bikers get to take in the small towns of eastern Dutchess and the true beauty of the area, including forests, wetlands and some magnificent farmland.

3) Wallkill Valley Rail Trail

This trail extends for 24 miles from the southern border of Gardiner to south of Kingston at Rockwell Lane and Route 32. It passes through woods, open fields and farmland offering views of the Shawangunk Ridge and the Wallkill River and links the hamlet of Gardiner with downtown New Paltz up to Rosendale. From there, bikers get a glorious view from the Rosendale Trestle, which spans 150 feet above Rondout Creek.

4) The O&W Rail Trail/D&H Heritage Corridor

One segment of this old rail line runs for about 12 miles and connects the Hurley and Marbletown rail trails. This segment is mostly dirt and gravel, but there is a slightly more than two-mile portion in Hurley that is paved. As riders head into the woods, they come upon a large bog where it is not uncommon to see blue herons.

5) Minnewaska State Park Preserve

There are plenty of bike trails in this park, including the Castle Point Carriage Road Loop (8.5 miles), which offers a chance to see both Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting, along with dramatic views of ledges, ridges and ravines. This ride is more intense than a rail trail ride and includes twists, turns and elevation. At Castle Point, bikers can enjoy panoramic views, and the ride down back to the parking lot near Lake Minnewaska is exhilarating.

6) Mohonk Preserve

The preserve has more than 30 miles of carriage roads, including links to bike routes in the adjacent Minnewaska State Park Preserve and the Mohonk Mountain House resort. One of the most popular bike rides is the Undercliff/Overcliff Carriage Road Loop (5 miles). This is also a popular place for hikers and rock climbers, so the terrain and elevation are different than what bikers experience on rail trails.

7) Stewart State Forest

With about 6,700 acres, the forest has diverse uses. For bikers, it is known for its miles of "single-track" trail. As the name suggests, these are narrow trails, wide enough for only one biker at a time, and they typically are much more technical rides than either rail trails or carriageways. Here, bikers need bursts of speed to power up hills and go over tree roots and other obstacles. The forest also has wider gravel roads.

8) Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area

The area includes some challenging bike paths, with numerous single-track trails, mostly rolling hills and some steep slopes. There are some broader trails as well on these dirt and gravel roads.

9) Mount Beacon

One of the most challenging peaks in the Hudson Valley. You are ascending 1,500 feet in less than 3 miles, which makes for a tough climb. At the top, you are rewarded with a spectacular 360-degree view of the Hudson Valley. The downhill is very rewarding but extremely challenging. There are several single tracks that branch out off the main carriage trails that will take you down the mountain.

10) Jockey Hill in Kingston

The majority of the trails at Jockey Hill are single track, and they are not for the faint of heart, nor the technically inexperienced. Depending on the trail, riders go over tree roots and logs, and the area holds a lot of water, keeping the paths muddy.