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Ferncliff Forest
4.8 ★★★★★ 448 Google reviews · Running trail in Rhinebeck, New York · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 12 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Ferncliff Forest'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.
200-acre forest preserve & game refuge with trails for hiking & biking, campsites & a fishing pond.
What runners say about Ferncliff Forest
“The park is clean , please be respectful of Mother Nature .”
“And it's a great view from the top of the firetower!”
“A lot of the trails aren't well marked either with can be confusing if you've never been there.”
“I highly recommend this place for anyone who likes a good and easy hike in a preserved old-growth forest.”
“Everyone we run into are nice and it’s the perfect place to take your dog for a walk.”
Nice place for a small hike and a family picnic. There is a good size parking lot. The place is dog friendly. There are three hiking trails to choose from. The place had beautiful fall colors and is scenic.
Today on Mother’s Day 2021, I hiked the Ferncliff Forest located in Rhinebeck, NY. It was a great hike as there were so many different trails and paths all within the forest itself. I hiked as many of them as I could. Some paths were obviously major highways in the forest while others were barely trafficked at all.
Plenty of parking . Excellent facilities . Trails are plentiful . Room for social distancing at all times . Just about everyone wearing masks and/or have them readily available . I’m not afraid of heights but the tower climb; I had to stop & pause . Climb it , it’s worth it & you’ll see what I mean .
This is such a great spot to camp in! Camped here for two nights (a Friday and Saturday) and only during the first night was another person camped on the other side of the pond. You virtually have the whole place to yourself!
Trail conditions & character
“The watch tower offered a swell view of the Hudson River as well as local land surrounding the forest in Rhinebeck.”
“They have doubled the size of the parking lot fixing what was an issue on busy summer weekends.”
“Two adults, 3 kids (3, 10 and 14), a 2yo 80lb dog who is a nervous sweetheart and a 4 month old puppy who isn’t used to being leashed - 0 problems.”
“The lookout tower is nice, but the stairs are steep so be careful going up and down.”
“Some sections of the forest were a little muddy but not too bad where the path would be impassible.”
“It’s under two miles for the full loop trail with the fire tower being at the .”
“There is a Porta Potty by the lake under a quarter mile from the parking lot.”
Plan your run at Ferncliff Forest
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance12 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websiteferncliffforest.org
- Social Facebook
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 |
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