Morning Walk
Rosendale, Ulster County
The Rosendale Trestle was originally opened in 1872 to serve the Wallkill Valley Railroad along its line from New Paltz to Kingston. After over a century of service the Rosendale rail line closed in 1977. The bridge was then sold to a private businessman in 1986 and briefly used for commercial bungee jumping. Ulster County seized the property in 2009 for delinquent taxes, and subsequently sold the property to the Wallkill Valley Trust and Open Space Conservancy.
Due to the many years of prior neglect, the bridge underwent extensive renovations in order to ensure its safety for the public. The Rosendale Trestle officially reopened to the public in June 2013. Today, the 940-foot trestle is part of the popular 24-mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail that runs from Gardiner to Kingston. Rising 150 feet above the Rondout Creek, the trestle provides amazing views of the Rosendale hamlet, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Joppenbergh Mountain and the surrounding countryside.
