Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

In 2009, the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge re-opened as the world’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway. The Walkway over the Hudson spans the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, New York, on the east bank and Highland, New York, on the west bank.

Originally built in the late 1800s, the railroad bridge was the only Hudson River crossing between NYC and Albany until the Bear Mountain bridge opened in 1924. It was the largest cantilever-truss bridge in the world at the time.

The bridge provided a valuable connection between Northeast industry and supplies from the Midwest. It operated continuously up until 1974 when a fire damaged the Poughkeepsie side of the bridge. Abandoned, it fell into disrepair.

In the 1990’s, the non-profit organization Walkway Over The Hudson obtained the deed to the bridge in order to turn it into a linear recreational park.

The group solicited donations from NY State, the federal government and private donors, restored the bridge and built the walkway. In October 2009, New York designated the site a State Historic Park.

Later, the park added rail trails at either end of the bridge to extend the trails. On the Highland side, the rail trail extends five miles west of the bridge. Free, but limited parking is available at the Highland Station entrance to the rail trail.

There are volunteer ambassadors stationed at either side of the bridge in kiosks. I was able to purchase a collectible pin at the western kiosk.

The trail is completely accessible…I saw a man in a wheelchair crossing the bridge.

Pets and  bicycles are allowed.

The bridge is 1.28 miles long and there was a nice breeze coming off the river on the hot day that I visited.

The Walkway Over the Hudson runs parallel to the nearby Mid-Hudson bridge.

Location: 87 Haviland Rd, Highland, New York
Designation: State Historic Park
Date designated/established: October 3, 2009
Date of my visit: September 3, 2018