The calendar really went from August 1st to August 25th overnight, though are we actually sad about the summer ending when it means fall is on its way? Yeah, not really.
With the arrival of fall comes apple picking, pumpkin patches, and, of course, colorful fall foliage, and it’s the perfect time to take advantage of being outdoors to bask in the beauty of the tree’s changing colors.
And, lucky for us, the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge is located less than two hours from NYC, making for the perfect chance to surround ourselves in the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall.
The Walkway over the Hudson (also known as the Poughkeepsie Bridge, Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, and High Bridge–yeah, it has a lot of names) is a bridge that spans the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, NY on the east bank and Highland, NY on the west bank.
And, standing 212 feet above the river’s surface and stretching 6,768 feet (1.28 miles) long, it happens to be the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
“New York’s Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is the world’s longest, elevated pedestrian bridge, stretching 1.28 miles, 212 feet above the Hudson River. The panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson River from the Walkway are spectacular in any season,” said the MTA.
The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was built in the late 19th century to link New York and New England to an extensive, nationwide railway network, according to the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
For decades the bridge served as a major rail corridor for both freight and passengers, but was abandoned and sat unused after a fire in 1974.
Years later, in October 2009, a non-profit organization opened the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, now considered one of the Hudson Valley’s top attractions. This coincided with the reopening of the bridge as a pedestrian walkway, offering pedestrians, hikers, joggers and bicyclists breathtaking views of the Hudson River’s surrounding landscape.
The bridge is open seven days a week, 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. It’s easily accessible by Amtrak or Metro-North Railroad. The Washington Street Stairs (131 Washington Street, Poughkeepsie) are a short 0.7 mile walk or car ride from the Poughkeepsie Train Station.