Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park

Rising 212 feet above the Hudson River, the Walkway Over the Hudson transforms a former railroad bridge into the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Spanning 1.28 miles between Poughkeepsie and Highland, this 17-acre state historic site offers an experience unlike anything else in New York — a sky-high promenade with sweeping views of the Hudson Valley, the Catskill Mountains, and the Mid-Hudson Bridge.

The bridge originally opened in 1889 as the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge and carried freight trains for nearly a century before a 1974 fire shut it down. After decades of abandonment, it reopened in 2009 as a public walkway, giving visitors the rare chance to walk across a piece of industrial history suspended high above one of America’s most storied rivers.

The main activity here is the walk itself — a flat, accessible path perfect for strolling, jogging, or cycling. On clear days, visibility stretches for miles in every direction. The eastern approach connects to the nearby Dutchess Rail Trail, while the western side links to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, creating a combined network of over 30 miles of car-free paths.

No camping is available at the park. Fall is the standout season, when the Hudson Valley’s foliage puts on one of the Northeast’s best shows from a vantage point few places can match. Spring and summer evenings are equally rewarding, with golden-hour light painting the river below.

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