Taconic State Park facts for kids

Taconic State Park is a wonderful place to visit in New York! It's located in Columbia and Dutchess County, New York counties. The park sits right next to Massachusetts and Connecticut, within the beautiful Taconic Mountains. You can find it off New York State Route 344, south of Interstate 90. It's about 110 miles (177 km) north of New York City. At the park, you can enjoy camping, hiking, bicycling, and even cross-country skiing. There are many fun outdoor activities waiting for you!

Explore Taconic State Park

Taconic State Park is part of one of the largest natural forests in the eastern United States. This special area covers 14,400 acres (5,800 ha) of protected land. It stretches across three states! The Nature Conservancy calls it one of America's "Last Great Places." Two popular trails go through the park. The South Taconic Trail is 21.3 miles (34.3 km) long. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is 15 miles (24 km) long. You can also easily reach Bash Bish Falls, Massachusetts' most famous waterfall, from the park. Just follow a short trail!

Park Geography

Taconic State Park is made up of three separate areas. These are the Copake Falls Area, the Rudd Pond Area, and a central section in Ancram. The Copake Falls Area is the northernmost part. The Rudd Pond Area is the southernmost part.

This park, along with other nearby protected lands, forms a huge natural space. It covers about 14,400 acres (5,800 ha). This area is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km) wide and 11 miles (18 km) long. It connects parts of southwest Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut, and New York.

The park areas are on the western side of the South Taconic Range. They include the tops of Brace Mountain, which is 2,311 and 2,304 feet (704 and 702 m) high. They also include the western slopes of Alander Mountain, Sunset Rock, and Mount Fray.

Fun Activities at the Park

Both the Copake Falls and Rudd Pond areas offer camping and swimming. You can rent cabins and there are lifeguards during the season. The park also has special programs. Hunting is allowed in the park when it's the right season.

You can find trailheads on Rudd Pond Road and Quarry Hill Road in North East. There's also one on Undermountain Road in Ancram. In Copake Falls, trailheads are on Falls Road, Valley Road, and Sunset Rocks Road. Bash Bish Falls is in Massachusetts, but you can get there from a short path in New York.

Harlem Valley Rail Trail

The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is a paved path for bikes and walkers. When finished, it will be 46 miles (74 km) long. It will run from Wassaic to Chatham, New York. About 15 miles (24 km) of the trail are already done. You can find trailheads inside Taconic State Park. These are at the Copake Falls Area and on Undermountain Road in Ancram.

South Taconic Trail

The South Taconic Trail follows the western ridge of the South Taconic Range. It runs next to the Appalachian Trail. This trail has open, grassy areas called balds. From these spots, you can see amazing views of the Hudson River Valley. The trail runs along the park's eastern side, near the state border. It goes down to Bash Bish Falls. The Appalachian Trail is about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the Copake Falls Area.

You can reach Mount Frissell, the highest point in Connecticut, from the central park area in Ancram. The Alander Mountain Trail and Mount Frissell Trail connect to the Appalachian Trail. They also link to the Copake Falls Campground and the South Taconic Trail. The trails at Rudd Pond are not yet connected to the main system, but a connection is being planned.

Copake Falls Area

This part of Taconic State Park is on New York State Route 344. It has many attractions for visitors. The park is open all year, from sunrise to sunset. Hours might change due to weather. The campground is open from May to December. The cabin area is open all year. It's close to skiing areas in winter.

The Copake Falls area offers many fun things to do. These include a swimming beach and a wading pool. You can rent cabins or use camping sites. There are hiking and biking trails. You can visit the Iron Works Museum and a visitor center. The park has picnic tables and scenic overlooks. You can also find snowmobiling trails and waterfalls. There's playground equipment, and you can go fishing and hunting. A pavilion is available for parties and picnics. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing.

The main swimming spot is a 40-foot (12 m) deep flooded ore pit. It's on the western side of the park. The small town of Copake Falls was once a center for iron mining. Several smaller ore pits are nearby. A part of the old New York Central Railroad path goes through Copake Falls. It's now a paved bike path. It winds through forests and farms south of the town.

Rudd Pond Area

The Rudd Pond area is in the northeast part of Dutchess County, New York. This section of the park is in the town of North East. It's near the Connecticut border, north of the village of Millerton. The park has a beach and picnic tables. There's a playground, and you can go hiking. Deer hunting is allowed in season. You can also go fishing and use the boat launch. The campground has sites for tents and trailers. In winter, you can go ice skating.

Images for kids

• 

  Rudd Pond at night from Rudd Pond Road

• 

  NY 344, the entrance to this section of park

• 

  Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond Area, June 2009