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The carriage trails of Rockefeller State Park are one of the running highlights of Westchester County. The 1771-acre former country estates of John D. Rockefeller family and William Rockefeller have 45 miles of wide, crushed stone carriage trails that are great for running. The mainly wooded trails through a hardwood forest of oak, tulip poplar, maple, and beech trees include features such as Swan Lake, the Pocantico River with its wood and stone bridges, streams, colonial stone walls and rock outcroppings. Note: especially beautiful in autumn.
This excellent trail map has all sorts of options for loops, which you’ll have to combine in various ways to make for a longer run. The trails are generally well marked. The park is divided into four sections. Among the highlights are Swan Lake (1.1 mile Brothers Path around the lake), Buttermilk Hill, the 13 Bridges Loop in the Pocantico River area, and the gorgeously landscaped, Olmsted-designed Rockwood Hall area (across Rt. 9), where you’ll enjoy grand vistas of the Hudson River and Palisades Cliffs, spacious fields, magnificent specimen trees, and massive rock walls and terraces.
Add-Ons:Â Additional trails in Pocantico Hills, just east of the Park. The North County Trailway is just east of there. The Old Croton Aqueduct trail runs through the western side of the park. Tarrytown Lakes Park is 1 mile south of the southern gate of Rockefeller SP (use Lake Rd., no sidewalk).
Google Street View
- 45 miles of trails. You'll have to combine them to make for a longer run
- Options for flatter or hilly runs
- Depends on trails chosen. Preserve entrance off Rt. 117.
- Preserve entrance off Rt. 117. There's also a separate parking area for Rockwood Hall. There are other gates for pedestrian access
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