Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail Reopens At Fahnestock State Park

NEW YORK — A popular hiking trail is reopening with noticeable improvements and better access.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (NYS Parks), the Open Space Institute (OSI) and the Taconic Regional Commission announced Monday the reopening of the newly renovated Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail. The Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail is part of a series of OSI-led park enhancement projects focused on making Fahnestock State Park more welcoming to visitors by improving access to OSI-protected land at the northern end of the park.

"Fahnestock State Park is a remarkable destination, offering incredible vistas and vast open spaces — and quality park trails are key to park experience," State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. "I am grateful to the Open Space Institute, the U.S Military Academy, and the project supporters for these improvements to the Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail, which will help visitors to explore what Fahnestock has to offer."

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The two-year, $1.5 million project overhauled 9.5 miles of multi-use trails in the state park to better accommodate walkers, hikers, runners, bikers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers and equestrian users.

"OSI's work in the northwestern section of Fahnestock is making a largely inaccessible section of this amazing park a true centerpiece," OSI President Kim Elliman said. "As we build on our legacy of more than doubling the size of Fahnestock, we are proud that our park improvement work here ensures the land OSI protected is open and welcoming to the public."

The trail project is the result of a public-private partnership between New York State Parks and OSI to improve accessibility to an underutilized area of the park. OSI raised more than $9 million, with lead support from Lucy R. Waletzky for trail improvements, new signs and trail markers, safety enhancements and new public amenities at Canopus Lake.

"The Hubbard-Perkins Loop Trail is another beautiful reminder of how important public-private partnerships are to the success of our state parks," Waletzky said. "The substantial renovations OSI has completed in this area of Fahnestock State Park will be enjoyed and appreciated by park visitors for decades to come."

The park improvement project included the restoration and realignment of existing trails and the construction of 14 new pedestrian bridges and trail crossings, four of which were completed through an ongoing partnership with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The project also created new trail sections, redirected sections of the trail to avoid sensitive wildlife habitat areas and included the installation of new wayfinding signs and an information kiosk near Hubbard Lodge.

Over four years, OSI has partnered with New York State Parks and the cadets from the United States Military Academy at West Point to replace four trail bridges at Fahnestock as part of the larger, Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail project. This partnership allows the cadets to take the skills and knowledge they have learned during their year-long capstone design civil engineering course and apply those skills to a project that benefits the community.

"West Point cadets and faculty have been committed to supporting State Parks and the Open Space Institute by creating bridges that support access to the trail," West Point Professor of Civil Engineering Led Klosky said. "As their capstone educational event, the cadets partnered with Parks to design and build these bridges, some in remote locations, learning lessons that only real-world experiences can teach. I absolutely believe these bridges, unique and beautiful, harmonize well with their settings, providing a memorable and safe experience for users. We could not be prouder."

In addition to physical improvements, NYS Parks and OSI also unveiled a new logo to celebrate the Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail's signature network of bridge crossings, which is incorporated into the new trail signs.

"The new Hubbard Perkins trail network is a terrific and welcome addition to Fahnestock State Park," Taconic Regional Commission Chair Edgar Masters said. "Not only will it offer new experiences for outdoor adventures, but it will also help to better disperse visitors into a previously underutilized section of park. I am proud of the work of the Commission and grateful to all those who contributed to this great public-private project."

The project was planned, funded, and constructed by OSI through a generous donation from Lucy R. Waletzky, with major support from Chris Buck & Hara Schwartz, Judy & Leonard Lauder, The Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, and Jennifer P. Speers. Additional support came from Wendy & Bob Bickford, William Burback & Peter Hofmann, Mary R. Morgan, and Norman Selby & Melissa Vail. The project also received support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.

The Fahnestock Improvement Plan also included other projects such as the creation of the new Big Woods Trailhead and 25-car parking area off Route 301, a second new trailhead and 15-car parking area that provides direct access to the Appalachian Trail and the installation of park entry and wayfinding signs at Route 9 and Taconic State Parkway.

During the past ten years, more than three million people have visited Fahnestock State Park, which is spread across 14,000+ acres in Putnam and Dutchess counties. Annual visitation at the park went up more than 38 percent during this period. Fahnestock State Park has more than 62 miles of hiking trails, as well as 10 miles of the Appalachian Trail.