Taconic State Park facts for kids
Taconic State Park is a fun place to visit in New York. It's located in Columbia and Dutchess County, New York counties, right next to Massachusetts and Connecticut. The park is nestled in the beautiful Taconic Mountains. You can find it off New York State Route 344, about 110 miles (177 km) north of New York City. This state park offers lots of cool activities like camping, hiking, biking, and even cross-country skiing in winter!
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What Makes Taconic State Park Special?
This park is part of a huge, unbroken forest. It's one of the biggest protected natural areas between Virginia and Maine. This amazing space covers 14,400 acres (5,800 hectares) across three states! The Nature Conservancy even calls it one of America's "Last Great Places."
Two cool trails go through the park:
- The South Taconic Trail is about 21.3 miles (34.3 km) long.
- The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is about 15 miles (24 km) long.
You can also easily reach Bash Bish Falls, a famous waterfall in Massachusetts, from a short path in the park.
Where is Taconic State Park?
Taconic State Park is made up of three separate areas.
- The Copake Falls Area is the most northern part, in Copake Falls.
- The Rudd Pond Area is the most southern part, in the town of North East.
- There's also a middle section in Ancram, New York.
The park is part of a much larger protected area. This big area includes places like Mount Everett State Reservation and Bash Bish Falls State Park. It's a huge 14,400-acre (5,800 ha) space. This protected land stretches across southwest Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut, and parts of New York.
The park areas are on the western side of the Taconic Mountains. They include the tops of Brace Mountain and the western slopes of Alander Mountain.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Both the Copake Falls and Rudd Pond areas are great for camping and swimming.
- You can rent cabins.
- There are lifeguards during swimming season.
- The park offers special programs to learn about nature.
- You can also go hunting during certain times of the year.
There are many places to start your adventures on the trails. These include Rudd Pond Road and Quarry Hill Road in North East. You can also find trailheads on Undermountain Road in Ancram. In Copake Falls, trails start on Falls Road, Valley Road, and Sunset Rocks Road.
Biking on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail
The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is a paved path for bikes and walkers. It's still being built, but it will be about 46 miles (74 km) long when finished. About 15 miles (24 km) of the trail are already open. You can get on the trail from the Copake Falls Area and Undermountain Road in Ancram.
Hiking the South Taconic Trail
The South Taconic Trail follows the western ridge of the Taconic Mountains. It runs parallel to the Appalachian Trail. This trail has open, grassy areas with amazing views of the Hudson River Valley. It goes along the eastern side of the park, right at the state border. The trail also goes down to Bash Bish Falls.
The Appalachian Trail is about 4 miles (6 km) east of the Copake Falls Area. Mount Frissell, the highest point in Connecticut, can be reached from the Ancram trailhead. Other trails like the Alander Mountain Trail connect to the Copake Falls Campground.
Copake Falls Area
This part of Taconic State Park is on New York State Route 344. It has many cool things for visitors to enjoy. The park is open all year, from sunrise to sunset, but hours can change with the weather.
The campground is open from May to December. However, the cabins are open all year, giving you access to nearby skiing in winter.
The Copake Falls area offers many attractions:
- A beach for swimming.
- A wading pool.
- Cabins and camping sites.
- Hiking trails.
- The Iron Works Museum.
- A visitor center.
- Picnic tables and scenic overlooks.
- Snowmobiling trails.
- Waterfalls.
- Biking trails.
- Playground equipment.
- Fishing and hunting.
- A pavilion for parties.
- Winter activities like cross-country skiing.
The main swimming spot is a 40-foot (12 m) deep flooded ore pit. The nearby village of Copake Falls used to be a center for mining iron in the 1800s. The paved bike path here used to be a railroad track. It now winds through forests and farms.
Rudd Pond Area
The Rudd Pond area is in the northeast corner of Dutchess County, New York. It's in the town of North East, close to the Connecticut border. This area offers:
- A beach.
- Picnic tables and a playground.
- Hiking and deer hunting.
- Fishing and a boat launch.
- A campground with tent and trailer sites.
- Ice skating in winter.
See Also
- Bash Bish Falls
- Copake Iron Works Historic District
- List of New York state parks
