This tour will guide you through the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge at 1.28 miles from gate to gate. he Walkway spans the majestic Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and Highland, New York, in the heart of the beautiful, historic Hudson Valley.
On this tour you will hear about this region's environment, Native Americans, European settlers, unusual endangered fish, impressive early engineering feats, and much more.
The Walkway is open seven days a week, 365 days per year from sunrise to sunset -- and occasionally after dark for special events. Walkway Over the Hudson is one of the most accessible parks in the world for visitors with mobility challenges because it is flat, paved, and stair-less. For more information about the Walkway, visit walkway.org.
Sample Stories
For more content, click the "Explore this Tour Remotely" button below.
Dutchess Welcome Center
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You're standing in front of the Dutchess Welcome Center, completed in 2019. This sustainably constructed, green building features indoor restrooms, picnic tables, a bike rack, a dog- and human-friendly water fountain, and an information booth.
Make sure you stop to take in the landscape here at the Welcome Center. Park management takes great pride in maintaining these areas, showcasing the local flora and fauna native to the Hudson Valley.
Note the details in the fence surrounding the picnic area. Those tall iron posts you see are part of the original Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, which opened in 1889. In fact, artifacts and callbacks to the Walkway's history as a railroad bridge are scattered throughout this area. Down the staircase from here, heading toward Orchard Place, you'll encounter original sections of railroad track. Along the trail heading toward the gates is an original railway signal light from the days when more than 3,000 train cars per day passed this way. The signal light is still functioning, and occasionally is lit during special nighttime events.
Welcome
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Welcome to Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. The Walkway spans the majestic Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and Highland, New York, in the heart of the beautiful, historic Hudson Valley. My name is Geoff Brault. I'm the Walkway's director of marketing and communications, and I'll be your guide across the Walkway, the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge at 1.28 miles from gate to gate. You're one of more than five million people from all 50 states and over 52 countries to visit the Walkway since its opening in October 2009.
On this tour you will hear about this region's environment, Native Americans, European settlers, unusual endangered fish, impressive early engineering feats, and much more.
To take the tour, simply start walking toward the sites. As you approach each site, the audio will play automatically. To see images and text, double tap on the story site on this app's map.
The Walkway is open seven days a week, 365 days per year from sunrise to sunset -- and occasionally after dark for special events. The park closes in the event of thunderstorms, high winds, or icy conditions. Walkway Over the Hudson is one of the most accessible parks in the world for visitors with mobility challenges because it is flat, paved, and stair-less. We're glad you're here! If at any time you need more information about the Walkway, visit walkway.org.
