Woodlands Perimeter Hike
Directions to trailhead
From Taconic State Parkway, take the Route 202 Exit 13 and turn east. At the traffic light at Strang Boulevard, turn left to go by Mercy College. It is 0.7 mile to the dead end where parking is limited as to not inconvenience residents. [41.303319 -73.819683]
Bus Directions
Beeline Bus #15 stops on Route 202 opposite Strang Boulevard. It is a 0.7 mile road walk to the entrance at the end of the road.
Hike Description
From the entrance at the end of Strang Boulevard, the Strang Trail (white) enters the woods on a wide trail. Turn right onto a narrow path and, at 0.1 mile, go straight onto the Hunter Brook Trail (red) to cross a small bridge. The trail begins a long descent towards Hunter Brook. At 0.5 mile, it turns left onto a woods road, crosses Hunter Brook on a large stone bridge, and heads uphill to end at the Strang Trail (white). Turn left to go slightly downhill and cross a wooden bridge. The Strang Trail heads uphill and when it reaches the Legacy Trail (green) at 0.7 mile, turn right. Continuing uphill, the Legacy Trail goes below the fencing of the large athletic field, crosses a gas line at 1.0 mile, and reenters the woods. When you reach the Taconic Bridge Trail (pink), turn right to go to the Parkway Trail (blue). Follow the Parkway Trail as it makes sweeping turn down the hill through open woods.
At 1.4 miles, the Parkway Trail crosses the Taconic Bridge Trail which goes over the Taconic State Parkway. Make a sharp left on the narrow path avoiding the gravel road. When you reach the gas line, cross it and reenter the woods on a wide woods road. At the junction with the Woodlands Trail (yellow) at 1.6 miles, turn right to stay on the Parkway Trail and head downhill. The trail parallels the parkway and, at 1.8 miles turns to parallel Hunter Brook, sometimes closer than others. It crosses feeder streams on small bridges and ends at the co-aligned Strang and Woodlands trails. Turn right at 2.1 miles to cross a bridge over Hunter Brook and on the other side of the bridge turn right again to stay on the Woodlands Trail (yellow). For a slightly shorter hike, at the end of the bridge turn left on the Strang Trail to reach parking at 2.3 miles. You will parallel Hunter Brook for a second time and, at 2.3 miles, turn left to leave it. After heading steeply uphill, the Woodlands Trail reaches the top of the rise at 2.6 and then ends at the Strang Trail. Turn right to return to parking.