Rest Plaus O&W Rail Trail - Stone Ridge, NY
Rest Plaus O&W Rail Trail: A Dog-Friendly Park in Stone Ridge, New York
The Rest Plaus O&W Rail Trail in Stone Ridge, NY, is a pet-friendly oasis perfect for dog owners looking for beautiful, scenic walks with their furry friends. Known for its easy-to-navigate, tree-lined paths and bubbling creek, this historic rail trail offers ample opportunity for dog-friendly hiking and relaxation in nature. Dog walkers frequently praise the trail for its natural shade, peaceful ambiance, and well-maintained conditions thanks to a dedicated volunteer team. The trail’s flat terrain and scenic stone structures make it just as inviting for gentle strolls as for more adventurous biking or running.
While not a traditional fenced dog park, the O&W Rail Trail welcomes leashed dogs and boasts amenities like a newly redone parking area, shaded routes, and beautiful picnic spots. The easy parking and relatively quiet atmosphere make it a standout destination for those seeking a dog park in Stone Ridge, New York, that blends accessibility with local charm. Whether you’re starting your visit off at the lovely parking lot or heading down the trail for a longer adventure, this location is ideal for pet-friendly outings in the Hudson Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed on the O&W Rail Trail? Yes, dogs are welcome and frequently seen on the trail as long as they are leashed.
- Is there parking available at the trail? Yes, a recently renovated parking lot offers easy access to the trail.
- Are there shaded areas on the trail? Yes, much of the trail is lined with trees, providing plenty of shade for a comfortable walk.
- Is the park regularly maintained? Yes, the trail is kept clean and well cared for by a dedicated group of volunteers.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the trail connects to other routes, including Empire State Trail and Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? Some areas may be rough or uneven, particularly after rain, with roots and gravel, so plan accordingly.
- Are there benches or seating areas for picnics? There are picnic spots and a pavilion area for resting or enjoying lunch.
Reviews
Nice trail, surprised with the nice scenes along the way, expected a more boring trail but it was a great little hike and appreciated the nice parking area
Nice trail, surprised with the nice scenes along the way, expected a more boring trail but it was a great little hike and appreciated the nice parking area
Fairly rough trail with lots of tree roots and uneven gravel. Good for walking or mountain biking but not so much for getting somewhere. There are also some missing bridges where you have to scramble down and up some steep embankments, so be prepared for that.
Fairly rough trail with lots of tree roots and uneven gravel. Good for walking or mountain biking but not so much for getting somewhere. There are also some missing bridges where you have to scramble down and up some steep embankments, so be prepared for that.
They just redid the parking lot at this entrance so it’s very pleasant to use. When I went it was super quiet, not a single person out there. For the most part it’s completely shady making it a lovely walk.
They just redid the parking lot at this entrance so it’s very pleasant to use. When I went it was super quiet, not a single person out there. For the most part it’s completely shady making it a lovely walk.
Maintaining this section of rail trail has been a labor of love for a small and committed group of volunteers.
The result is a stretch is a very pleasant linear Park for walking, biking, and horseback riding.
The terrain here is very level and easy-to-navigate. The trail takes visitors along the banks of a bubbling creek, past an old stone-house Mill with its water wheel still intact, and through a series of impressive stone shelves blasted out of the bedrock for the construction of the original o&w.
Maintaining this section of rail trail has been a labor of love for a small and committed group of volunteers.
The result is a stretch is a very pleasant linear Park for walking, biking, and horseback riding.
The terrain here is very level and easy-to-navigate. The trail takes visitors along the banks of a bubbling creek, past an old stone-house Mill with its water wheel still intact, and through a series of impressive stone shelves blasted out of the bedrock for the construction of the original o&w.
The O&W Rail Trail crosses over Rest Plaus Road thanks to the herculean efforts by Michael Warren and Carl Pezzino back in 2014, when they completed the Hiking, Biking, Pedestrian bridge which opened up the trail further to the south. Then they built the bridge over the Kripplebush Creek to extend the trail even further. It may be a while, but people like them will connect the Lucas Avenue end to Rochester Town Park in Accord so we can travel even further south down to the Kerhonksen firehouse and route 44/55. Beyond that will be anyone’s guess, but the old rail right of way is there hidden somewhere waiting to be revitalized. My friends and I have ridden down there from Washington Avenue in Kingston many times now that those two bridges make it possible. That is about a 20 mile cruise.
The O&W Rail Trail crosses over Rest Plaus Road thanks to the herculean efforts by Michael Warren and Carl Pezzino back in 2014, when they completed the Hiking, Biking, Pedestrian bridge which opened up the trail further to the south. Then they built the bridge over the Kripplebush Creek to extend the trail even further. It may be a while, but people like them will connect the Lucas Avenue end to Rochester Town Park in Accord so we can travel even further south down to the Kerhonksen firehouse and route 44/55. Beyond that will be anyone’s guess, but the old rail right of way is there hidden somewhere waiting to be revitalized. My friends and I have ridden down there from Washington Avenue in Kingston many times now that those two bridges make it possible. That is about a 20 mile cruise.