Fishkill Ridge Trail

The Fishkill Ridge Trail is almost always completed as a loop by simply hiking the Wilkinson Memorial Trail and the Dozer Junction Trail to complete the loop. The parking area at the trailhead is only big enough for three cars. Arrive early! It is in a residential area and local police write tickets to those parking on the road. I saw quite a few on cars when I returned to the trailhead! Start up the paved road, pass a water storage facility, to the end where the trail begins (there are white markers along the road as well. The trail is gradual at this point but after you pass Dry Creek Falls, the trail gets very steep. You eventually top out on Lamb Hill which offers great views of the town of Beacon and the Hudson River. Continue on until the trail drops down to what appears to be a fire road. This is the Dozer Junction Trail. Just off to the right, you'll see the remains of an old bulldozer. Cross of this fire road and make an immediate right turn so you are paralleling the Dozer Trail. The Fishkill Ridge Trail begins to turn away and uphill past several great view points on the Hudson Valley and Hudson River looking further south. Continuing on the trail, it meanders through the forest until you reach a big clearing on top of Bald Hill. The trail then steeply descends and will turn back along an easy overgrown forest road. Continue straight on this until you meet up with the Wilkinson Memorial Trail and the end of the Fishkill Ridge Trail.