Quarry Park

Hastings-on-Hudson (Westchester County)

Why we love it:
One of the Hudson Valley’s newest parks — opened in June 2024  — is only 5.5 acres, but this small walk-in space along the Old Croton Aqueduct overflows with fun finds. Ooh and aah at the striking marble cliffs—reminders of the intriguing history of the site as a 19th-century quarry—wander through meadows filled with native plantings and 51 new native trees, bring a blanket and relax on the grassy slope, check out a cool cave, or head to the park’s highest point on the wooded bluff to take in Hudson River views. From a working marble quarry in the early 1800s (with famously white stone used to construct historic buildings all along the east coast), to an early 20th-century Parisian-inspired exotic garden and bird sanctuary, to the town dump in the 1960s and 70s, the site has a fascinating history expertly told with well-developed signage. Don’t miss the Quarry Railroad Bridge, constructed at the same time as the Old Croton Aqueduct; it allowed a small railroad to pass beneath the Aqueduct to carry quarried marble to sloops at the Hudson River waterfront. Today, the railroad’s path is a lovely scenic trail accessed from Quarry Park and running west, treating visitors to views of the Hudson River and the Palisades.

More to explore:
The park connects directly to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, which offers up endless Hudson River views, as well as cultural and historic gems. Head south toward Yonkers; just 2.3 miles down the pretty path you’ll hit Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, once a grand 99-room estate,, now a 43-acre public spot with a Walled Garden, a Ruin Garden, the Temple of Love, a Rhododendron Walk and more. Nearby, the dynamic Hudson River Museum (it added an extra 12,000 square feet in 2023) has a planetarium and changing exhibits focused on science, art and history.

Highlights:
•  Marble cliffs
•  Varied terrain in a small space
•  Fascinating history
•  Short walk to Metro North Train Station and the village of Hastings on Hudson

The Park Play-By-Play: Directions, hours and more!