This past weekend the family and I all went on a hike to Hubbard Lodge Trail. Joe and the kids had been there before and they have been dying to show me the sites.
It starts out at a beautiful lodge owned by Clarence Fahnestock State Park with a butterfly garden attached out back. Once you go through the butterfly garden it brings you to the main trails. You can follow the white or blue markers. The white trail is very easy while meandering by gorgeous flowing streams with magnificent foliage. The trees were still full of yellow, orange, and red leaves which created a wonderful backdrop for our hike.
There are many ruins along the way such as an old stone farm foundation with milk drums and an old plow left in what was once a field now overgrown. To some old pillars which marked the beginning of the farm house I imagine. We did not venture up that path as the grass was a bit tall and we feared ticks so we stayed on the trail and continued on our way.
As you hike up the trails you can see the enormous amount of stonework that was done to build the walls to keep animals in grazing lots. They are really a site to see. At the time of our hike that we decided to turn around and head back down we saw an old farm house very far up on the trail that was quite old and dilapidated. We poked around and saw that the stone basement was dug out and an old style metal bed frame lying around the yard and determined the house was from early 19th century. Probably built after the farm was started as we gathered but of course we are only guessing on the appearance of the house.
We followed the same trail back down to the Hubbard Lodge and used their outdoor patio complete with picnic tables to have our lunch by the butterfly garden. The weather was cool but sunny and we had a great time together spending the day.
The hike up to the farm house took us about 2 hours and then back down so a total of 3-1/2 to 4 hours complete. Not a hard hike at all but very enjoyable. Can’t wait to go back.
Clarence Fahnestock State Park
2920 Rt 9
Cold Spring, NY 10516
2920 Rt 9
Cold Spring, NY 10516
http://www.fofhh.org/
Hubbard Lodge is just north of the intersection of Rt 301 and US 9.
Google map link to the trail head:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=215720277486328110519.00046dc23439a8db6db0f&ll=41.444435,-73.914599&spn=0.001938,0.004823&t=h&z=18&iwloc=00046dc23ed5c0e80c7eeWarm regards and love,
Erin
