Westchester County has an extensive regional trail system (see map) consisting of over 150 miles of existing trails along old rail corridors, parkway right-of-ways and scenic waterfronts as well as routes along highways. These trails provide important linkages between parks, open spaces and population centers to improve the overall quality of life in the county. The County Planning Department is working with Parks and Recreation and Public Works to implement the County's master plan for another 200 miles of hiking trails, bike paths and routes along highway corridors.
Tarrytown-Kensico Trailway/Bikeway Plan - February 2016
The newly completed Tarrytown-Kensico Trailway/Bikeway Plan prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning, proposes adding six miles of a biking and walking trailway to the 150 miles of existing trails in the county. The plan reviews potential trail routes and pinpoints a preferred route which would provide the best interconnections in the county between transportation hubs, business districts, neighborhoods, parks, schools and recreational facilities.
Current Trail Projects:
South County Trailway Yonkers - The last major section of the South County Trailway (SCT) on the Old Putnam Right-of-Way was completed in March 2012. Spanning 2 miles in the City of Yonkers, between Redmond City Park and Tuckahoe Road, this project connects two existing South County Trail sections for a total of 13.75 built trail miles. See map. In April 2012,a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Yonkers to celebrate the official opening of this section of the SCT. See map of North and South County Trailways on the former Putnam Division Railroad right-of-way.
The last "missing link" section of the South County Trailway is in Elmsford/Greenburgh from Route 119 to Warehouse Lane. Once this half mile segment is completed, there will be a 36.3 mile continuously-paved trailway the length of Westchester from the New York City border to Putnam County, with an additional 12 mile extension in Putnam County to Brewster.
Rye Playland Parkway Pathway - Preliminary design work is underway for a continuous 2.65 mile long bicycle and pedestrian route which will connect the City of Rye’s downtown district to the Rye Playland Amusement Park. This project will include roadway and sidewalk improvements, signage, pedestrian amenities, plantings, and significant upgrades to the existing pathway. See slide presentation of the proposed Playland Pathway project.
RiverWalk Tarrytown - South of Tappan Zee Bridge - In August 2010 the County celebrated the completion of a one-mile section of Westchester RiverWalk in Tarrytown, just south of the Tappan Zee Bridge. This segment passes through the historic Lyndhurst estate, Kraft Foods, Metro North and Village of Tarrytown properties, which are situated upland from the Hudson River, offering spectacular and expansive views across the widest portion of the river and of the Tappan Zee Bridge. See map
Other trail initiatives:
The Westchester RiverWalk is a planned 51.5-mile, multi-faceted pathway paralleling the Hudson River in Westchester that will link village centers, historic sites, parks and river access points via a connection of trails, esplanades and boardwalks. The Westchester RiverWalk will be developed through a series of projects constructed by the county, local municipalities and other entities.
The Colonial Greenway is a 15-mile unpaved trail loop system, linking numerous open spaces and spanning 5 municipalities in southeastern Westchester. It utilizes the Hutchinson River Pathway and the Leatherstocking Trail, as well as existing trail systems within county and local parks and nature preserves.
The East Coast Greenway is a proposed 2,600 mile-long facility trailway system along the entire East Coast between Maine and Florida. The routing of the ESG through Westchester includes portions of the Bronx River Pathway.
NYS Bike Route 1 is a potential addition to the state’s network of signed bicycle routes that would serve as the first phase of the Greenway’s implementation in Westchester, followed by a full off-road route which could potentially be constructed along a slightly different corridor.
Trail Links:
- To download brochures of individual trails such as the North and South County Trailways, Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway and Bronx River Pathway go to the county Parks Department Web site.
- The Mid-Hudson South Region Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties, completed in June 2001, maps an expanded regional network of multi-use off-road paths, hiking trails and bike routes totaling over 350 miles.