Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

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 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, daily.

• Walkway Hours of Operation:
  Open 7:00am - Sunset
  
  
  May 4 - Delayed opening  Alphawin Hudson Valley Marathon  (open to the public at 11:00AM)
  July 4 - Early closure  City of Poughkeepsie fireworks  (close at 4:00PM)
  September 28 - Delayed opening  Dutchess County Class Marathon  (open to the public at 11:00AM)
  October 12 - Delayed opening  BikeNY Event  (open to the public at 11:00AM)
• Assorted Tours: Given by our Friends Group. Call (845) 454-9649 to schedule.
  
  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 park closure beginning on April 4th. The elevator will be open 7 days a week beginning on May 24th - November 30th.
  
  
  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
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Maps

• Walkway Loop Trail Brochure (pdf)
• Walkway State Park - Poughkeepsie Area Map (pdf)
• Trail Map (pdf)

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.