Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park

Once a vital rail link, now a people-pleasing riverfront destination.

BEACON, Dutchess County (19 acres) — Few traces remain of Long Dock’s hard-working past, a peninsula created in the 1800s as a terminal for ferrying rail cars across the river. More recently, it was home to an oil terminal, salt-storage facility and junkyard. Thanks to a massive cleanup and reimagining, it’s now a super-popular place to launch kayaks, picnic, stroll through rehabilitated wetlands and meadows, drop a fishing line, explore an intriguing sculpture by renowned artist George Trakas, or just sit and admire the river. The park’s restored 19th-century red barn — the only historic holdover — is now Scenic Hudson’s River Center, which hosts arts and environmental-education activities.

Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available through Mountain Tops Outfitters (845-831-1997) and bicycle rentals (Thursday-Sunday) from Cold Spring Bike Rental & Tours.

Activities

Access via train
Accessible opportunity
Biking
Dog walking on leash
Fishing
Kayaking & canoeing
Picnicking
Walking
Wildlife watching
X-country skiing & snowshoeing
Bike rack

Single Park Map
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More to explore

Check out the shops and eateries along Beacon’s vibrant Main Street and Dia:Beacon, a world-class museum featuring late-20th-century art housed in a former factory. Learn more about the remarkable life of Catheryna “Madam” Brett, Beacon’s first European settler, by visiting her 1709 house.