


- Address:
- HOURS:
Dawn to Dusk
Activities




Amenities

Overview
A fitting tribute to an inspirational woman.
HIGHLAND, Ulster County (251 acres) — It makes perfect sense we named this preserve after Scenic Hudson’s guiding spirit, Frances “Franny” Reese (1917-2003), who dedicated much of her life to protecting the Hudson Valley’s natural and historic treasures. After all, we conserved this magnificent bluff-top forest to prevent a massive residential development from destroying it.
Scenic Hudson conserved, created and manages Franny Reese State Park, which is owned by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Trails follow a historic carriage road that passes ruins of a 19th-century estate, while an overlook affords superb views of the Mid-Hudson Bridge and Walkway Over the Hudson. A link connects the park to the Walkway Loop Trail.
Free and open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
The health and safety of park visitors is a top priority. Please check individual park pages to stay up-to-date with alerts for each location. For more information about our park rules, check out our Visitor Guide for Scenic Hudson Parks.
Activities
- Walkway Loop Trail link
Legend
- Entrance
- Gazebo
- Information Kiosk
- Parking Area
- Pavilion
- Restroom
- Viewing Deck
Explore
Reap the bounty at one of the myriad u-pick farms in Highland and surrounding communities. Across the river in Poughkeepsie, attractions include Locust Grove, the 200-acre estate of telegraph inventor Samuel Morse, and a superb collection of Hudson River School paintings at Vassar College’s art museum.
Click to view guide.
All special events and group outings must be pre-approved. To apply for a permit, please fill out this form for special events or this one for group outings, and our team will be in touch. If you have any questions, email Anthony Coneski, Senior Community Projects Manager, at aconeski@scenichudson.org.