Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
The Walkway parking lot located at 61 Parker Avenue in Poughkeepsie will be closed until January 2026 as construction of a new maintenance building has begun. Walkway parking is available at Pulaski Park, located at 170 Washington Street or on Brookside Avenue. Parking in the Town of Lloyd remains available.
Highland Entrance:
87 Haviland Road
Highland, NY 12528
Poughkeepsie Entrance:
61 Parker Avenue
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
In October 2009, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park opened as a legacy project of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial. The park provides access to the Hudson River's breathtaking landscape for pedestrians, hikers, joggers and bicyclists. The bridge deck stands 212 feet above the river's surface and is 6,768 feet (1.28 miles) long, making it the longest, elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.
The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was built in the late 19th century to link New York and New England to an extensive, nationwide railway network. For decades, it was a major rail corridor for both freight and passengers.
After a fire in 1974, the bridge was abandoned and sat for decades as an orphaned relic. The park was made possible due to the unwavering commitment of the community, who, through a non-profit organization called Walkway Over the Hudson, forged a public-private partnership involving the State of New York, the federal government, neighboring municipalities, private corporations and other not for profit groups. The amazing result of this partnership is Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, one of the Hudson Valley's top attractions.
Ride the glass elevator up to the park or down to the Poughkeepsie waterfront and be treated to great views of the surrounding scenery and the structure of the bridge. The elevator is located at Upper Landing Park (83 N. Water Street, Poughkeepsie, NY), a short walk from the Poughkeepsie Train Station. While there is no vehicular parking at Upper Landing, parking can be found in the surrounding area. Visit http://upperlanding.org/parking/ for details. Although leashed pets are allowed on the Walkway, only service animals are permitted on the elevator. Bicycles can be brought on the elevator.
The park offers interpretive signs and a Talkway Over the Walkway cell phone tour. There is also an audio tour available online in English, Spanish and Mandarin at https://walkway.org/walkway-audio-tours.
Reminders:
- Check the Hours of Operation tab to find opening and closing times.
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The Golden Park Pass does not apply at this park.
There are access points to the park on both sides of the Hudson River:
East side of the River (Dutchess County) 61 Parker Avenue Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Directions:
By train: Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is located just 4 blocks north of the Metro North and Amtrak station in Poughkeepsie. If the elevator is open, exit the station via the Water Street exit and walk north for five minutes to Upper Landing Park, on the left. Otherwise, take a 15-minute walk to Washington Street to climb the staircase up to the bridge.
By car: take Route 9 to Route 9G north (Marist Drive). Bear right onto Washington Street. Proceed on Washington Street for 0.5 miles. Turn left on Route 9G/Parker Avenue. Walkway's parking lot is on the left side.
West side of the River (Ulster County) 87 Haviland Rd. Highland, NY 12528
Directions:
Located just north of the Mid-Hudson Bridge Take Route 9W to Haviland Road. Accessible parking (permit only) is provided in a small parking lot (on left, approx. 0.5 miles). All other parking is along the north side of Haviland Road.
Don't miss these popular destinations and attractions within or near this historic park!
- Sojourner Truth Statue- located on the Ulster County side of the park, the statue honors the life and legacy of one of nation's leading voices for abolition and universal suffrage in the nineteenth century
- Dutchess County Rail Trail- continuing on from the Walkway and through the parking lot, it is located on the east side of the Hudson River
- Hudson Valley Rail Trail- continuing on from the Walkway and past the Park Office, it is located on the west side of the Hudson River
- Mid-Hudson Children's Museum- located in Poughkeepsie, the museum boasts hands-on exhibits and interesting programs for the whole family. The museum is located at 75 N. Water Street in Poughkeepsie, next to Upper Landing Park and the Walkway elevator.
Household pets only on the Walkway; must be on a leash not more than 6 feet long. Only service animals are permitted on the elevator.
87 Haviland Road, Highland, NY 12528
Hours of Operation
- Park is open year-round, conditions permitting,from dawn to dusk.
*Normal operational hours can change in accordance with the weather.
Office is open 8:00 - 4:30 pm, daily. - 2024 Walkway Hours of Operation:1/1 - 2/4 7:00am - 5:00pm2/5 - 2/28 7:00am - 5:30pm2/29 - 3/9 7:00am - 6:00pm3/10 - 3/27 7:00am - 7:00pm3/28 - 4/21 7:00am - 7:30pm4/22 - 5/22 7:00am - 8:00pm5/23 - 7/31 7:00am - 8:30pm8/1 - 8/25 7:00am - 8:00pm8/26 - 9/8 7:00am - 7:30pm9/9 - 9/25 7:00am - 7:00pm9/26 - 10/14 7:00am - 6:30pm10/15 - 11/2 7:00am - 6:00pm11/3 - 12/31 7:00am - 5:00pm
- Assorted Tours: Given by our Friends Group. Call (845) 454-9649 to schedule.
Walkway Overview
Guided bird walk
Hudson River Ecology Tour
Bridge/Walkway Engineering Tour
Regional History Tour
Educational Programs: Year-round by appointment.
Public Programs: Call for schedule.
Special Events: Many throughout the year, call for current schedule.
Special Activities by Permit: Weddings, private parties, sporting events, fund-raising events. Fees vary according to date/time and scope of event. Call 845-834-2867 for schedule and information. - Elevator: Elevator is currently open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 90 minutes prior to Walkway closing. The elevator will be open 7 days a week beginning on 5/24. Hours of operation will be 9:00am to 90 minutes prior to Walkway closing.In the event of inclement weather including heavy rain, high winds, and thunderstorms, the elevator may close temporarily. To check operational status, call the Elevator Hotline at 845-834-3641.
Fees & Rates
Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.
The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.
- Bus
- Bus: $35
- Educational Programs
- Fees are determined by the Friends of the Walkway
- Vehicle Entrance Fee
- Poughkeepsie parking available at 61 Parker Ave. $7 for 4 hours paid at pay station with cash or card. Highland parking available in the Hudson Valley Rail Trail parking lot located ¼ mile west of park entrance. There is currently no fee to park. However, town of Lloyd will be implementing paid parking in the near future.
Maps
A Brief History
- 1868 - An article in the Poughkeepsie Journal introduced the idea of building a railroad bridge across the Hudson.
- 1871 - The Poughkeepsie railroad bridge was chartered.
- 1873 - The first cornerstone of the bridge was laid.
- 1888 - The bridge opened in December and was considered a technological wonder. 1889 - Trains started crossing and at that time it was the longest bridge in the world.World War II - through the war, the bridge carried troops to be shipped overseas. At it's height, 3,500 train cars crossed the bridge on a daily basis.
- 1974 - Fire severely damaged the tracks, ending almost a century of continuous use.
- 1992 - Walkway Over the Hudson began its efforts to provide public access to the bridge and link rail trails on both sides of the Hudson.
- 1998 - Walkway Over the Hudson assumed ownership of the bridge.
- 2007 - Walkway Over the Hudson partnered with the Dyson Foundation to access public and private funding in order to transform the bridge into the world's largest pedestrian park.
- 2008 - After a groundbreaking held in May, construction work began to transform the bridge into a pedestrian park.
- October 3, 2009 - Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park opened to the public.
- August 14, 2014 - A grand opening is held for an elevator connecting the Walkway to the Poughkeepsie waterfront. The new glass elevator is located at Upper Landing Park and is just a short walk from Waryas Park, fine dining and the Poughkeepsie Train Station.
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
Sunday, January 19, 2025 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
Amenities Information
- Amenities
- Biking
- Hiking
- Tours (Accessible)