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TRAIN TO TRAIL / WESTCHESTER

Old Croton Aqueduct: Tarrytown to Ossining

A forgiving station-to-station walk on the historic Old Croton Aqueduct, with Hudson Valley villages, leafy trail, and a train waiting at both ends.

BeginnerDay HikeNYC & Hudson Valley
DistanceAbout 7 miles, plus station connectors
Time3–4 hours
GainMinimal; gently rolling
SeasonYear-round; avoid very muddy conditions

What this adventure is about

The Old Croton Aqueduct is a 26-mile linear state historic park built over New York City’s original water-supply route. A Tarrytown-to-Ossining segment makes a near-perfect first point-to-point adventure: long enough to feel like a journey, technically easy, and threaded through communities rather than remote backcountry.

Highlights

  • Historic aqueduct infrastructure
  • Hudson Valley village scenery
  • Station-to-station logistics
  • A first lesson in point-to-point hiking without backpacking complexity
Route stylePoint-to-point on the Old Croton Aqueduct
Group styleBeginner-friendly endurance walk with easy bail-out options

What you’ll carry

  • Walking or trail shoes
  • Water
  • Snacks or lunch
  • Light weather layer
  • Offline trail map

What sleeping outside looks like

No camping. The route passes through developed communities and is meant as a day hike.

Fuel the day, then the next one

Carry water and snacks, but this is one of the rare hikes where towns and businesses can be part of the day rather than emergency backup.

Prepare for the actual demands

Build toward two to three hours of continuous walking. This is a useful first test of time on feet before adding steep climbing.

The practical stuff

Metro-North’s Hudson Line serves both Tarrytown and Ossining, making a station-to-station itinerary possible from New York City. The state park crosses many local streets, so final routing should use the current official Old Croton Aqueduct map and current train schedules.

Plans change when conditions do

This is not wilderness, but the trail crosses streets and can become muddy or icy. Pay attention at road crossings and avoid treating an easy grade as permission to stop navigating.

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