Our Walking & Bicycling System
Harlem Valley Rail Trail, Amenia, New York
Walking and bicycling facilities play a vital role in our transportation system. They provide a healthy, economical, and pollution-free alternative to driving and help create walkable, bikeable places that are vibrant and attractive to residents and visitors.
See the Map Viewer for locations of walking and bicycling facilities in the county.
Sidewalks & Shared-Use Paths
There are approximately 573 linear miles of sidewalks in Dutchess County. This includes public and private sidewalks ranging from traditional systems in cities and villages, to campus sidewalks at colleges and office parks, and storefront sidewalks at commercial locations. About 325 of these miles lie along a road, with the remaining 248 miles providing internal circulation at a destination. About half of the sidewalks (272 miles) are in the county’s pedestrian-oriented, higher-density cities and villages, with another 243 miles in our urbanized towns. The City of Poughkeepsie alone accounts for nearly 23 percent of all sidewalks in the county – about 130 miles.
The county is also home to an expanding set of rail trails, which serve both transportation and recreational purposes. The William R Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail runs 13 miles from Hopewell Junction northwest to Poughkeepsie, where it connects with the Walkway Over the Hudson pedestrian/bicycle bridge to Ulster County. In 2020, the Maybrook Trailway was constructed from Hopewell Junction south through Beekman and into Putnam County as part of the statewide Empire State Trail initiative. In the county’s northeast, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail extends more than 19 miles from the Wassaic hamlet to the county line, and continues north into Columbia County. In 2023, the Northside Line opened in Poughkeepsie. This trail connects the Dutchess Rail Trail with the city’s northside neighborhood, Marist College, and other destinations. The trail has lighting, security, and winter maintenance for 24/7 usability.
The county is home to shorter shared-use paths as well, including the Beacon-Newburgh Bridge path and the Wilbur Boulevard path in Poughkeepsie. Dutchess County also has many scenic hiking trails that can be explored through the Dutchess County Parks and Trails website.
THE BEACON-HOPEWELL RAIL TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY
In 2025, we completed a feasibility study of a rail trail between Beacon and Hopewell Junction. The trail would use a 13-mile corridor abandoned by the MTA and would connect the Beacon train station along the Hudson River to the Empire State Trail in Hopewell.
The study determined that converting the corridor to a rail trail was feasible, though a project sponsor and significant funding would be needed. See our Publications Page for the study, appendices, and fact sheet.
Bicycle Paths & Routes
In addition to the rail trails and other shared-use paths described above, there is an on-road segment of the Empire State Trail in northern Dutchess, which crosses from Ulster County on the Kingston/Rhinecliff Bridge and travels north through Red Hook and Tivoli to Columbia County. The route includes signs and traffic calming measures.
Dutchess County also has five NYSDOT-signed State Bicycle Routes, primarily following Routes 9, 9D, 22, 199, and 308. These routes accommodate bicyclists on shared travel lanes and/or shoulders and are intended for experienced adult bicyclists. Some municipalities have also identified local bicycle routes.
There are currently no bicycle lanes in the county except for some very short segments on Route 9.
Dedicated bicycle parking is an essential, and often overlooked, part of good bicycle infrastructure. Our online Bike Dutchess identifies bike parking locations in Dutchess County as well as shared-use paths, bicycle routes and sites of interest.
What We Heard
“I am able to bicycle to work in Poughkeepsie while living in Hopewell via the rail trail. The rail trail has been extremely helpful as both a route of transportation as well as a place to walk, bike, etc. in my free time.”
– Moving Dutchess Forward survey