HomeNew YorkHolmes › Empire State Trail - Pawling Trailhead

Empire State Trail - Pawling Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 49 Google reviews · Running trail in Holmes, New York · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Empire State Trail - Pawling Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hScenicFlat & fastHillyTrailhead parking

What runners say about Empire State Trail - Pawling Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (49 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Beautiful flat trail (from where I run it) not busy and perfect for training.”

A nice smooth blacktop trail, lots of wildlife to see: deer, beavers, herons, king fishers, and more. Not to busy, but your not alone. Parking is easy but there is a semi steep trail from the trail to the parking lot. Just a few hundred feet south of the bike repair area.

★★★★★ — Levi , Jul 2024

It's a trail next to the abandoned railway line. The path is developed for biking, skating, walking, running and any such activities. The parking lot is above the trailhead with Accessible parking near the lake.

★★★★☆ — Divya , Apr 2024

Just a nice flat paved trail, with incredible views of Whaley lake and fall foilege. Lots of bicycles, but also nice to walk.

★★★★★ — Vic , Oct 2025

Beautiful flat trail (from where I run it) not busy and perfect for training. Scenic and peaceful.

★★★★★ — Courtney , Jun 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 49 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“Just a nice flat paved trail, with incredible views of Whaley lake and fall foilege.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 8 mentions

“Parking is easy but there is a semi steep trail from the trail to the parking lot.”

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Flat & fast 3 mentions

“Just a nice flat paved trail, with incredible views of Whaley lake and fall foilege.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“Parking is easy but there is a semi steep trail from the trail to the parking lot.”

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Plan your run at Empire State Trail - Pawling Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Empire State Trail - Pawling Trailhead

237 NY-292, Holmes, NY 12531

Get directions

Running trails near Holmes

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Wonder Lake State Park Hiking Trails

4.7 ★★★★★ 17 reviews

Holmes, NY

2.2 miles away

Wonder Lake State Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 145 reviews

Holmes, NY

10 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

2.2 miles away

Town of Patterson's Environmental Park

4 ★★★★☆ 1 reviews

Patterson, NY

2.7 miles away

Empire State Trail - Towners Access

4.7 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Patterson, NY

3.6 miles away

3.7 miles away

Appalachian Trail at Old Stormville Mountain Rd, NY

4 ★★★★☆ 2 reviews

Stormville, NY

3.9 miles away

All running trails in Holmes, NY →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.