Roosevelt Farm and Forest Hiking Trail

Despite the fact that it is only March, the 80 degree weather has hit. This means that it's time to break out the shorts and t-shirts and get outside. For my friends and me, this means that it's also time to get out on the trails and go hiking. Right up Route 9 from Marist College is one of many of the Hyde Park Trails. The Roosevelt Farm and Forest Trail is located right in between the drive-in movie theater and the Hyde Park Brewery. When you arrive at the trail, you have the option of walking, pushing a stroller, or riding your bike through the trail, the pathway is designed so that multiple modes of transportation are possible.

This specific trail is 3.6 miles long by the time that you go to the end of the trail and the back. However, the trail is so beautiful that you don't even realize that you are walking that far. The trail winds through the forest across the street from the Roosevelt House. The main trail is outlined well as you walk through the woods by a gravel path (we wouldn't want any hikers getting lost). However, if there are hikers out there that are feeling a little more adventurous, there are multiple side trails that can be followed based on color markings on the trees. These paths wind deeper through the forest but eventually drop hikers back off at the main trail so they can find their way back to the parking lot at the beginning of the trail. As of right now, there aren't many trees in full bloom so it's looking a little sparse but when spring is in full bloom, it's gorgeous and well worth the walk.

An added benefit to walking this, among other Hyde Park Trails, there is a badge that you can receive if you walk 6 or more of the trails associated with this collection of trails. When you arrive at the entrance to the trail, brochures can be found with the complete list of trails, their locations, and information on the trails around the area. This list also serves as the check list for which trails you have walked and the required documents to receive the sew-on badge offered.