Schunnemunk Rail Trail in Blooming Grove Just Became REAL!

By Edie Johnson, Executive Editor

First length of Schunnemunk Trail in Blooming Grove cleared by Orange County Parks Department to Craigville Road this week

March 25, 2025 - The Schunnemunk Rail Trail, which begins at former Camp LaGuardia at the Chester/Blooming Grove border, winds its way through Blooming Grove, Washingtonville, New Windsor and Salisbury Mills to the Moodna Trestle and Cornwall Trailhead, then up Schunnemunk to its famed Ridge. This new trail has been dreamed about for decades. and it just took a BIG step forward last week when the County Parks Department cleared the first actual stretch of trail in Blooming Grove through the woods and to the intersection of Craigville, Hubshop and Hardscrabble roads. Soon it will also have a proper connection with the Heritage Trail at the former Camp LaGuardia site which is taking its first steps toward becoming an expansive new County Park. There is much work to be done in the coming year, but our section of trail is no longer a dream, an idea or a beginning plan. We celebrate that it is HAPPENING!

The County Parks Department spent many hours last week, cleaning up the fields and making the LaGuardia site presentable as it takes first steps toward becoming a County Park and Recreation Area.

Big machines were brought in and got the work done 1, 2, 3.

County staff has also been working for several months to clean up the area to the left of what will be the new County Park Entrance which, has parking available for hikers. The County has also done new signage for both the Heritage Trail and Schunnemunk Rail Trail.

With the Schunnemunk Rail Trail Project being long in the making while authorities negotiated for the land of the former rail line, the timing could not be better for it to join the Heritage Trail where they meet, at the Laguardia property. We are told that the new County Park there will be expansive, somewhat like the Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery. We expect to very soon be learning more details of the development plan, as County Executive, Steve Neuhaus has promised a tour for Town of Blooming Grove Supervisor, Rob Jeroloman and Ward 6 Representative Steve Amante

Blooming Grove is very proud that it is about to share more of its spectacular views, wide variety of forest and open field wildlife, eagles, herons, hawks, swans, foxes, a few bobcats, lots of deer, and dozens of other avian species and fluorishing wildflowers.

Orange County's Schunnemunk Rail Trail, is currently under construction. from its Chester/Blooming Grove border to the Moodna Trestle and trailhead up the slope to Schunnemunk Ridge

Where the Trail passes through the Village of Washingtonville from the intersection of Route 94 (Main Street) and Route 208, it continues North along the Moodna Creek and then arrives at Salisbury Mills. At its northern most end it is only short walk to the Salisbury Mills Train Station.

This map from the Open Space Institute shows where the Schunnemunk Trail joins with the Long Path and Highlands Trail, proceeds to the South,and will soon relatively soon complete this connection of Orange County with the historic Appalachian Trail. The large portion to the right is West Point Military Academy.

Recently completed work at the juncture of the Schunnemunk Rail Trail and Moodna Trestle. (Photos by Bob McCue)

Numerous bridges along the way will be having repairs during the coming year. This one is just past the area where the Trail passes behind Mays Field in Washingtonville. Photo by Edie Johnson

The project's construction is well worth the wait. This iconic photograph of the Moodna Trestle is the work of Tom Lyons.

Soon my new website, "Tales of the Trails", will also include a much large collection of images by our talented local photographers, along with additional forms of art, a history of the Lenni-Lenape indigenous peoples after whom the trail is named, and stories from the hikers, and links with the people and organizations of our open space heroes and adventurous hikers.

Round Hill with the Schunnemunk Ridge behind. Photo taken from Round Hill Road Photo by Edie Johnson

Children exploring the Trail where it passes behind Mays Field in the Village of Washingtonville Photo by Edie Johnson

Merganser Duck - "Yes I Can" Photo by Ed Frampton

Another spectacular shot by Tom Lyons of the Trestle on a dark day

We call it "Moody Moodna"

A few more photos of what you may see while on adventures in our beautiful Hudson Valley. The first two are by Ed Frampton, one of our favorite photographers who often specializes in a wide variety of birds including our beautiful local herons.

What did the fox say? Photo by Ed Frampton

Great Blue Heron Photo by Ed Frampton

Lake Hildegard's 2023 nearly grown cygnets. If you look closely at the bottom of the image there are actually 3 ducks as well. Mute Swans appear to get along swimmingly well with the Lake's variety of ducks, and the ducks appear to offer occasional babysitting help when the cygnets are young, giving Hilde and Garde some time apart from the little ones, and a chance for the cygnets to be brave and make new species friends. Photo by Edie Johnson

During Spring, Blooming Grove has many fields lined with these beautiful purple, lavendar and white roadside wildflowers called Dame's Rocket. Perhaps that is how the Town received its name. Photo by Edie Johnson

Poised and with a look of extreme determination, this European Starling, despite its relatively simple design, certainly has its own beauty. Starlings are frequently

seen throughout the Mid-Hudson Region, often with hundreds swinging and swaying in uncanny synchronated swirls of flight called "murmurings". Photo by Edie Johnson

Great Blue Heron Photo by Ed Frampton

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Edie Johnson, Executive Editor ejreporter@gmail.com (place Ad in subject).