Free History Hidden in the Woods guided trail hike offered at Staatsburgh

STAATSBURG — Hikers on the woodland trails in Mills-Norrie State Park encounter several mysterious old buildings that offer no information about what they are and why they are located in the middle of the woods.

Staatsburgh State Historic Site is offering their popular “History Hidden in the Woods” guided trail hike on July 14, 19 and 28 at 10 a.m. The tour follows one main trail through this landscape that, a century ago, was the setting of multiple grand Hudson rivers. River-front estates. Advanced registrations are required at Bookeo.com/StaatsburghSHS.

This free 90-minute guided hike will take visitors from Staatsburgh through the park, exploring the history of three historic estates: from Staatsburgh’s founding as a gentleman’s farm in the 1700s to the development of The Point and Stonehurst estates in the 19th century. The “History Hidden in the Woods” hike is approximately 1.5 miles of uneven terrain, requiring sturdy footwear. Please wear comfortable shoes, a hat for the sun, and bring water to this program.

This program is free, but advanced registration is required at Bookeo.com/StaatsburghSHS. People attending may also wish to enjoy a picnic along the river or a tour of Staatsburgh’s Gilded Age mansion. A separate admission site applies for the mansion tour, but ages 12 and under are free. Reservations are required to tour the mansion and can be made at Bookeo.com/StaatsburghSHS.

Staatsburgh State Historic Site and the Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park are located on Old Post Road in Staatsburg, off Route 9 between Rhinebeck and Hyde Park. The historic site is one of 6 sites and 15 parks administered by the Taconic Region of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. For more information, call 845-889-8851, or visit Staatsburgh’s websites at Parks.NY.gov, Facebook, and Blogger. Staatsburgh’s events are listed at Parks.NY.gov/Events.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the OPRHP Blog.