Visitor Guide

Enjoy your Hudson Valley park experience in every season.

We want everyone to have a great time in Scenic Hudson parks and preserves. By following these simple rules, everyone benefits.

Thank you for keeping yourself and others safe during park visits.

The health and safety of park visitors is a top priority. Please check our Parks guide and individual park pages to stay up-to-date with alerts for each location.

General Park Rules (for Fun & Safety)

Yes! (Do these) 

  • Park vehicles only in designated areas
  • Stay on marked trails and within posted park boundaries
  • Be considerate of other visitors and nearby residents
  • Keep pets on leashes (6-foot-long maximum) and clean up their waste (see dog policy below)
  • Leave no trace! Use trash and recycling receptacles, or carry out what you carried in 
  • Check for ticks (they can transmit Lyme disease)
  • Stay alert when walking alone

Nope! (Not permitted)  

  • No feeding wildlife
  • No alcohol
  • No smoking
  • No littering or dumping
  • No amplified sounds
  • No motorized vehicles (except those covered under Scenic Hudson’s ADA mobility policy)
  • No motorized watercraft (except with permit at Foundry Dock Park) 
  • No barbecues or fires
  • No camping
  • No hunting (except with permit at Shaupeneauk Ridge)
  • No swimming
  • No riding horses 
  • No harming, removing, or destroying plants, wildlife, or artifacts
  • No metal detectors 
  • No drones

We’re committed to making Scenic Hudson parks as accessible as possible. Based on the natural terrain and the sensitivity of ecosystems, some parks are better suited to welcome all visitors than others. 

To browse our parks by accessible design features, please use the “Find Your Perfect Park Experience” tool in our Parks guide. This is one of the search options under “Amenity.” 

You can review Scenic Hudson’s policy on ADA mobility here.

All special events and group outings must be pre-approved. To apply for a permit, please fill out the application form under each section below.

Special Events 

These include:

  • Large group events (more than 40 people)
  • Weddings and celebrations
  • Commercial activities such as guided tours and services (hiking, bird-watching, kayaking, etc.)
  • Sports events
  • Paid activities
  • Activities that require closing any part of the park to the public 
  • Activities that use special equipment (tents, portable toilets, dumpsters, generators, food service equipment, etc.) or motorized vehicles
  • Activities where prepared food and/or beverages will be served to the public

Apply for a special event permit here.

Group Outings

These include:

  • Organized park activities with a group of 10 or more people, whether private or open to the public
  • Educational activities or studies, including school groups, civic organizations, club activities, and scout groups

Apply for a group outing permit here.

APPLICATION PROCESS

  1. Within two weeks of receiving your application, we will contact you to verify information and clarify any questions.
  2. Once we receive and review all application materials, we will send you an email with our decision. An email of approval will serve as your permit.

Please note:

  • Special event permits require four to six weeks advance notice. 
  • We will try to accommodate shorter notice for group outing permit applications.
  • Permission for park usage depends on other scheduled uses of the park at that time.
  • We reserve the right to postpone or deny a permit if it conflicts with our own park activities.
  • Applications must not conflict with Scenic Hudson’s mission.
  • We will grant permission for the event in writing. A submitted application does not guarantee permission to hold an event.

 

If you have any questions, please email Anthony Coneski, Senior Community Projects Manager, at aconeski@scenichudson.org. 

Dog Policy

Dogs are welcome at all Scenic Hudson parks. We want to keep making parks available for pets. Please remind fellow dog owners about the importance of respecting these rules:

  • Keep your dogs on a leash at all times (6-foot-long maximum) 
  • Clean up after your pets

Not following these rules violates a state ordinance that may result in fines and your dog’s impoundment.

  1. Unleashed dogs can become lost and encounter Lyme ticks, snakes, other dogs, or rabid animals.
  2. Unleashed dogs can intimidate other visitors (including leashed dogs!), depriving them of the peace Scenic Hudson parks provide.
  3. Unleashed dogs can harass or injure wildlife and other dogs.
  4. A leashed dog’s keen senses can keep you safe by alerting you to nearby wildlife or other park users.
  5. Unleashed dogs could result in the banishment of all dogs from your favorite parks.
  1. It carries harmful diseases and young children are especially susceptible.
  2. It takes the joy out of outdoor activities, like kids playing on the grass and families enjoying picnicking.
  3. It can wreak havoc on the ecosystem — the natural beauty people come to enjoy.
  4. It has been shown to raise harmful bacteria levels in nearby ponds and streams.
  5. Not cleaning it up is against the law.
  1. It carries harmful diseases and young children are especially susceptible.
  2. It takes the joy out of outdoor activities, like kids playing on the grass and families enjoying picnicking.
  3. It can wreak havoc on the ecosystem — the natural beauty people come to enjoy.
  4. It has been shown to raise harmful bacteria levels in nearby ponds and streams.
  5. Not cleaning it up is against the law.

Hunting can be an important conservation tool — particularly when it comes to controlling an overabundance of deer. Too many deer means that too many plants are being eaten without the chance to regrow, resulting in fewer future trees and other long-term challenges for forest health. 

Hunting is allowed at Shaupeneak Ridge in Esopus (Ulster County) with a permit. To ensure the safety of all visitors, we limit the number of permits that we issue. Seasonal applications are required.

Hunting Permits & Seasons

Hunting permits are available for Shaupeneak Ridge for the following seasons: 

  • Spring turkey season 
  • Fall bow and rifle deer hunting seasons 

Dates for these seasons are regulated annually by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Scenic Hudson fully complies with all DEC rules and regulations regarding hunting. Visit this page for details. 

Hunting Rules

  • No motorized vehicles/ATVs
  • No permanent tree stands. Tree stands may be placed two weeks before hunting season begins and must be removed two weeks after the end of the season
  • No cutting, removing, or damaging any vegetation 
  • No trespassing — please respect the private property of our neighbors. Hunters found illegally trespassing will have their permits revoked 
  • No discharging firearms within 500 feet of any residence. This is illegal in New York State
  • No camping
  • No littering or dumping — carry in, carry out
  • Follow all other rules for Scenic Hudson parks and preserves 

 

To receive an email announcement about future applications and deadlines, please email hunting@scenichudson.org. 

Fishing is allowed at specific parks and preserves with a permit, as long as you follow the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). 

WARNING: Chemicals in fish can harm your health even if the fish look healthy and the water appears clean. The New York State Department of Health has issued guidelines about the health risks involved in consuming fish caught in the Hudson River. See this flyer for details.

Parks with migratory saltwater fish (require enrollment in the DEC Recreational Marine Fishing Registry):

 

Park with freshwater fish (requires valid NYS Fishing License):

Shaupeneak Ridge, Esopus (Ulster County)

*Herring fishing at Black Creek Preserve

The following DEC rules and regulations apply:

  • Herring fishing by angling only

  • No use of personal nets

  • Limit of 10 herring per angler per day

Geocaches may be allowed in Scenic Hudson parks, but you must register them with us prior to placement using the form below. We have the right to deny permission or remove a geocache at any time. 

In general, our policy favors placing geocaches in parks that feature maintained trails, parking areas, kiosks, etc. We evaluate each proposed geocache on an individual basis based on the following criteria:

  1. Geocaches must be located close to existing trails. The grade from the trail to the cache must be less than 12%.
  2. The total number of geocaches in a particular area or park will be kept to a reasonable number (at Scenic Hudson’s discretion).
  3. Geocaches cannot be located in or beneath any structure, building, or ruin, including stone walls, bridges, kiosks, signs, or benches.
  4. Geocaches must be located a sufficient distance from any ecologically or historically sensitive areas, such as wetlands and archaeological sites. No geocaches will be permitted at West Point Foundry Preserve.
  5. Geocaches must be located a sufficient distance from potentially hazardous areas, such as cliffs.
  6. In the geocache description, please use the following credit line: “This park is owned and managed by Scenic Hudson. Individuals seeking geocaches do so at their own risk and must follow rules listed on the park kiosk.”

Apply for geocache permission here.

Each year, storage slips for 32 boats are made available for rent in the kayak storage pavilion at Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park. See this page for details. 

Fishing is allowed at specific parks and preserves with a permit, as long as you follow the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). 

WARNING: Chemicals in fish can harm your health even if the fish look healthy and the water appears clean. The New York State Department of Health has issued guidelines about the health risks involved in consuming fish caught in the Hudson River. See this flyer for details.

Parks with migratory saltwater fish (require enrollment in the DEC Recreational Marine Fishing Registry):

 

Park with freshwater fish (requires valid NYS Fishing License):

Shaupeneak Ridge, Esopus (Ulster County)

*Herring fishing at Black Creek Preserve

The following DEC rules and regulations apply:

  • Herring fishing by angling only

  • No use of personal nets

  • Limit of 10 herring per angler per day

Geocaches may be allowed in Scenic Hudson parks, but you must register them with us prior to placement using the form below. We have the right to deny permission or remove a geocache at any time. 

In general, our policy favors placing geocaches in parks that feature maintained trails, parking areas, kiosks, etc. We evaluate each proposed geocache on an individual basis based on the following criteria:

  1. Geocaches must be located close to existing trails. The grade from the trail to the cache must be less than 12%.
  2. The total number of geocaches in a particular area or park will be kept to a reasonable number (at Scenic Hudson’s discretion).
  3. Geocaches cannot be located in or beneath any structure, building, or ruin, including stone walls, bridges, kiosks, signs, or benches.
  4. Geocaches must be located a sufficient distance from any ecologically or historically sensitive areas, such as wetlands and archaeological sites. No geocaches will be permitted at West Point Foundry Preserve.
  5. Geocaches must be located a sufficient distance from potentially hazardous areas, such as cliffs.
  6. In the geocache description, please use the following credit line: “This park is owned and managed by Scenic Hudson. Individuals seeking geocaches do so at their own risk and must follow rules listed on the park kiosk.”

Apply for geocache permission here.

Each year, storage slips for 32 boats are made available for rent in the kayak storage pavilion at Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park. See this page for details.