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Walkway Over The Hudson

Walk, bike, or skate the Walkway Over the Hudson, the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge. The 1.28-mile span connecting Poughkeepsie to Highland is also 212 feet above the Hudson River, offering amazing valley views. Visit walkway.org for more information.

About

The Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, spanning 1.2 miles a full 212 feet above the Hudson River. The city of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County is connected to the town of Lloyd in Ulster County through the park. A non-profit organization with the name Walkway Over the Hudson converted the abandoned Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad bridge into the park. A fire left the railroad bridge abandoned since 1974. Walkway Over the Hudson formed a partnership with private corporations, other non-profit groups, the federal government, and the State of New York. This partnership opened the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in October of 2009 to hikers, cyclists, and runners.

Things to Do

There is a constant supply of entertainment atop the Walkway Over the Hudson. The non-profit organization dedicated to the Walkway’s success sponsors frequent events. You can catch a flick by the river at Movie Nights Under the Walkway, or attend any number of the Walkway festivals and concerts. Traditions like the First Day Hike every New Year’s Day create a strong community around the Walkway Over the Hudson. For the more competitive visitor, the Walkway Marathon Race Series is in its second year. Nearly 4,000 runners compete in 5Ks, half-marathons, and/or full marathons, all while enjoying the scenic Hudson River Valley. During any visit, you can enjoy the massive glass elevator, a new addition to the Walkway. In the Autumn months, the Walkway Over the Hudson is the perfect spot to enjoy the colorful Fall foliage that the region is known for.

The Greater Walkway Experience

Digital resources are available to enhance the experiences of guests to the Walkway. “Talkway Over the Hudson”, a cell phone audio tour, guides walkers through 21 informational stops. The online audio tour “Walkway Past, Present, and Future” offers details on historical sites, influential people, and local species in English, Spanish, Italian, and Mandarin. The “Greater Walkway Experience” is a colorful interactive map of the areas the Walkway Over the Hudson connects to. These “Discover Zones” include Little Italy, the Historic Union Street Neighborhood, City Downtown, the Southside Historic District, and the Poughkeepsie Waterfront on the Dutchess side. The Ulster side features the Highland Hamlet and the Highland Landing. A 4.4-mile route called the “loop trail” winds through both Poughkeepsie and Lloyd and over the Walkway and the Mid-Hudson bridge. The Walkway Over the Hudson also attaches to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail and the Dutchess County Rail Trail.

Learn more about the Greater Walkway Experience through New York by Rail. Click here to read about a day-trip to the Walkway and how to best enjoy all it has to offer.

Walkway At Night

Visit the Walkway at night on May 21, 2021, at 8:45-10:15 p.m. At Walkway At Night, you can walk over the Walkway Over the Hudson, overlooking the lights of the Mid-Hudson Bridge. Accompanying the Mid-Hudson Bridge is the moon hanging high, accompanied by a starry sky. This moon-lit walk is the first of the season in which you can walk the bridge during late-night hours. For only $5, non-members can purchase tickets to the event here. These tickets depend on the entrance of the Walkway, so be sure to confirm if your ticket correlates with the Poughkeepsie or Highland entrance prior to arrival.