The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, South Section: Tarrytown to Yonkers

If you’re looking for an easy adventure not too far from the city, try the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail in Westchester County.

Sometimes I forget the rewards of pedaling the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, even as it lies so close to my home in Tarrytown, New York.

Winding, sometimes-narrow, intriguing and mysterious, the 26-mile Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, or OCA, threads its way through the historic and charming “Rivertowns” of Westchester County. The unpaved pathway is a grassy ceiling over a buried tunnel that once channeled water from the northern reservoirs to New York City.

Today, electric bike riders can enjoy a nearly-level route from impressive New Croton Dam to Yonkers. Still somewhat undiscovered by travelers and tourists, it can be a little busy on the weekends, but you’ll still find the trail a real sanctuary from the city, and worth the trip. For a day-long bike mini-vacation, I recommend the OCA whole-heartedly.

So why not travel all, or part, of the OCA’s length?

While the OCA runs from New Croton Dam in Cortlandt, New York to Yonkers, NY, this article describes some of my favorite reasons for biking the path from Tarrytown to Yonkers.

More: An Old Croton Aqueduct Trail Loop Route, starting at the New Croton Dam

Here are my 10 favorite reasons why I think you’ll love traveling (by e-bike or on foot) the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail:

One: It’s Enchanting.

You know those wide, straight paved bike paths over former railways?  The OCA isn’t that.

Instead, the 26-mile long dirt path — it stretches from Yonkers to the New Croton Dam — meanders through backyards, fields, through historic sites and towns.  And it’s never dull.  Little personal touches keep things moving, or invite a pause: a handmade bench here, a giant carved lion there, an exuberant garden patch of zinnias. There’s an octagon-shaped, pink haunted house and barns, painted-lady mansions. Large stone ventilators and weirs (you’ll know ’em when you see ’em) dot the trail. You can lock your bike to an enormous steel gate along the trail in Yonkers, and explore Untermyer Gardens.  You won’t be bored.

The Old Croton Aqueduct runs past Untermyer Garden and Park, in Yonkers. Enter the park through a massive iron gate alongside the path. Entry is free.

Two: You’re Never Far From a Rivertown.

From the OCA, you can explore all the charming Hudson Valley “Rivertowns”, Westchester’s little historic villages that line the eastern shore.  In fact, the trail goes right through Tarrytown, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson and Yonkers.

And, unlike some bike paths that cut you off from restaurants and cafes, the Old Croton Aqueduct trail dives right in. Easily duck off the trail to grab a bite to eat from a restaurant or supermarket. In Dobbs Ferry, a bike shop is close to the trail and railroad station. So, if you leave the city with a bike problem, you can get off at Dobbs and get it fixed before you start out on the trail.  In addition, the shop offers bike rentals for the trail (see Four, below). Take the Hudson Line to Dobbs Ferry Station. The bike rental shop is located at 56 Main Street, just a short walk from the station.

Barbecue, tacos, korean salads and farm-to-table restaurants line Main Street in Tarrytown, along the Old Croton Aqueduct.

Three: You Can Use the Metro-North Train (Hudson Line) to Make a Loop

I don’t like retracing my route when I’m biking.  The OCA solves this problem neatly, because 1) it’s on the train line and 2) if you’re up for it, you can do a loop by combining the OCA with the South Country Trailway.

So, for example, if you start your trip at Lyndhurst, in Tarrytown, and head south, you might just want to go as far as Yonkers, to Glenwood Ave.  Board the Metro-North (when we’re post-Covid) at the Glenwood Ave train station, and take it back to the city, or back to your car in Tarrytown.

Or, if you’re up for a 27-mile round trip, here’s a plan: Ride both the OCA and the South County Trailway to make a loop.  Get on the trail at Tarrytown and ride south.  Follow the OCA using the Google Maps app.  At the end of the trail in Yonkers, pick up the disconnected section of the OCA that starts at the corner of Palisade Ave and Ashburton (you’ll only be on the road for .2 mile).  You’ll pop out on Prescott Street where the OCA officially (and without fanfare) ends. Travel along Yonkers Ave for 1/2 mile, and in the parking area of the Yonkers Gateway Motel, you’ll find a gate to the South County Trailway, a car-free bike path back to Tarrytown.  This gate is usually open but, if it’s closed and locked, there’s a stairway up to the path.

When you reach Tarrytown, take the spur trail that passes the Tarrytown Lakes (you can see it on the Google Maps app, when you have the bicycling feature enabled.) This is a one-mile paved bike path that connects the South and North County trailways to the village of Tarrytown (you’ll have just under .3 mile of on-road connection to the village).

Four: Endless Trails Bike Shop Offers an Incredible Package for a Day on the Trail!

If you don’t have a bike — or if you prefer to leave yours at home, instead of lugging it onto the train — check out the deal offered by Endless Trails Bike Works shop in Dobbs Ferry, New York.  For $40.25 (as of this writing), the getaway package gives you round-trip train fare from Grand Central to Dobbs, and a rental bike (non-electric) and helmet for the day.

Five: You’ll Love the Intermittent Views of the Hudson River and Palisades

In Hastings, especially, take a moment to sit on a bench and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Mighty Hudson.  The sheer Palisades rise up right across the river, and the sound of the train horn — ubiquitous in the Hudson River Valley — reminds you of the Rivertown’s bustling past and present. And the rooftops that you overlook from the OCA’s elevated position might make you feel like you’re in a European village.

Six: You WILL See Deer. Lots of Them.

Need a wildlife fix?  Deer graze everywhere on the trail, and they’re not afraid of you.  You’ll see them lift their heads from grazing at the side of the path.  And while they rank as a top scourge of the suburbs, they’re still gorgeous, elegant creatures.

Seven: The Old Croton Aqueduct is A Little Bumpy. But It’s Our Bumpy.

The trail is narrow and unpaved, and in spots that makes for a slightly bumpier ride than you get on the South and North County Trailways.  But for the most part, it’s a smooth ride.  Just don’t bring your road bike; a hybrid is the best choice.

The worst section is probably the end near Yonkers, where you might encounter more trash and broken glass, so if you choose to hop off near Glenwood, you won’t feel like you’re missing too much.

Secret entrance to Untermyer Garden and Conservancy in Yonkers, New York, along the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. Lock your bike up at the gate; entrance is free. Untermyer is a fascinating, ever-changing but historic public garden. It includes breathtaking Hudson River views and a particularly gorgeous walled Persian Garden.

Eight: It’s Easy to Follow on Google Maps.

If you’ve never used the bicycle feature of the Google Maps app (Iphone and Android), give it a try!  Turn on this feature by downloading, then opening, Google Maps.  Then, press the “layers” symbol (it looks like two stacked squares) at the top right of the map to open up the “Map type” menu.  See the man on the bike (bottom right)?  Click to turn the biking feature on.  This reveals a world of bike paths and routes, including the OCA.

Personally, I love this feature.  I’ve found myself daydreaming of future trips over many a bike path on Google Maps.  (My three favorites that I’ve never done: The Greenbrier Trail in Marlinton, West Virginia; the Route of the Hiawatha, ending in St. Regis, Montana; and The Great Allegheny Passage, from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC.)

Nine: The Food.

You can’t go wrong in any of the Rivertowns when it comes to food. While every town has the complete range of table service to fast-casual to counter, my personal favorites for bike trail food are:

• Tarrytown: PikNik Barbecue, at the corner of Main and Washington, or Taco Project, at the corner of John and Main.
• Irvington: Black Cat Cafe (45 Main Street) for order-at-the-counter-but-sit-at-the-table coffee, sandwiches and salads (NOTE: As of March 17, it’s temporarily closed due to Covid), and Suzanne’s Table for sandwiches.
• Dobbs Ferry: Brick Oven Pizza on Main, and the casual, healthy Mix on Main (across from Endless Trail Bike Works, if you need to get a fix.)
• Hastings-on-Hudson: Taiim Falafel Shack serves to-die-for falafels and other Israeli eats in a casual setting.  So so worth it — I crave these falafels!

And, if you just want to grab something from a grocery store, you’ll find Foodtown in Hastings. It’s at the corner of Broadway and Main, right in front of the OCA where it pops out in Hastings.  You can’t miss it.

Healthy, fabulous pizza for a fall bike ride break. ©suzy allman

Ten: It’s So Easy to Get To (Even Without a Car).

Finally, if you’re looking for simple, car-free travel to a great day out, consider the OCA.  You can reach it easily by driving to any of its adjacent parking areas in the Rivertowns.  Or catching the Metro-North (Hudson Line) from Grand Central Terminal to Tarrytown, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings or Yonkers. If you travel outside busy commuter hours, you can bring your bike aboard. Buy a bike pass ($5.00, good forever) from any station window that’s open. Remember, going north from the city during morning rush hour is the opposite of commuter hours.  And there’s no peak times on the weekends.

DOWNLOAD THE MAP: OLD CROTON AQUEDUCT TRAIL