So it was FINALLY above 60 degrees and sunny this past weekend. I figured it was a perfect day for a short hike with the pups, and so did a whole lot of other people! Being that it is close by, I decided to go to Croton Gorge Park and enjoy the beautiful Croton Dam and Reservoir. The day was warm, the sun was shining and luckily, the trail had mostly dried out. Since I didn’t want too long of a walk, I did my favorite loop here and took the river hike. If you have never done this hike before, it is a great length and fairly easy stroll. My GPS kept losing the signal, so I am not sure of the exact distance, but I would say maybe around 1.5-2 miles if you start out on top of the dam and end up back where you started. I tried to take some pics so you would know where to go if you have not been there before. Happy Strolls!
About Croton Gorge Park:
Croton Gorge Park is a park in Cortlandt, New York owned and operated by Westchester County. It consists of 97 acres at the base of New Croton Dam. The park is a popular venue for fishing, picnicking, sledding, and cross country skiing. The park is a popular spot for fishing, picnicking and hiking, with direct trail access to New York State’s Old Croton Aqueduct, which begins here.The Croton River also begins here. The bridge that spans the Croton River and affords the best view of the spectacular spillway is once again open to the public after a repair project.
The Old Croton Dam, built to supply New York City with water, was the first large masonry dam in the United States. Completed in 1842, it was the prototype for many municipal water supply dams in the east during the mid-nineteenth century. The city’s needs, however, soon outgrew the Croton Dam water supply. Consequently, work began on the New Croton Dam, also called the Cornell Dam because of its location on land purchased from A.B. Cornell, in 1893. Completed in 1907, the Cornell Dam stands over 200 feet high. The Croton Reservoir has a capacity of about 34 billion gallons of water with a watershed covering 177 square miles.
Parking fees: $5 with Park Pass, $10 without Park Pass — Fri., Sat., & Sun., May through September only; County park pass is not required for admission.
Directions: Route 129, Cortlandt, NY • (35 Yorktown Rd, Cortlandt, NY 10520 using online maps)
Park hours: Open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to dusk, year-round.
Phone: (914) 827-9568
Dogs must be leashed. Service animals welcome.
(Courtesy of Westchester Parks Dept.)
