Cannabis Dispensary Near Hudson Valley Rail Trail
The closest Farmers Choice to Hudson Valley Rail Trail is our New Paltz farm stand, about 5 miles away, roughly a 10-minute drive.
Farmers Choice New Paltz
What is Hudson Valley Rail Trail?
The Hudson Valley Rail Trail is the paved rail trail that runs across the Town of Lloyd through Highland, laid on the old rail bed that once fed freight to the Poughkeepsie railroad bridge, the same bridge that is now the Walkway Over the Hudson. Around seven miles long and growing, it rolls from the Walkway's western gate through the hamlet of Highland and out toward the New Paltz town line, past a restored red caboose at the Haviland Road end, picnic pavilions, and long green corridors of maple and black locust. It also carries the Empire State Trail through this stretch of the valley.
Why it is worth the trip
This is the family ride of the west bank: paved end to end, gentle grades only, no cars, and a genuine payoff at the far end where the trail rolls straight onto the Walkway deck high over the Hudson. Skaters and stroller-pushers get the smoothest surface in the county, new cyclists get low-stakes miles, and regulars use it as the quiet commute between Highland and the river. The hamlet sits right against the path, so the ride comes with an ice cream stop built in, and the caboose end makes an easy landmark for kids to aim for.
Plan your visit
Main lots sit at Tony Williams Park off Riverside Road, at Haviland Road by the caboose near the Walkway, and at the western trailheads toward Ohioville, all free with the trail open sunrise to sunset. From Farmers Choice New Paltz, take Route 299 east and pick up the western end in about ten minutes, or stay on toward Route 9W for the Walkway side in fifteen. The full out-and-back to the bridge and across the deck runs well over an hour by bike at a family pace, and benches and pavilions space out the walk if you would rather do it on foot.
Good to know
Locals split the trail into moods: the western reach is the quiet, wooded half where you might have a mile to yourself on a weekday, and the Walkway end hums with bridge traffic on sunny weekends. Autumn turns the corridor gold and busy, spring comes with peepers in the wetlands beside the path, and the plowed sections make one of the easiest winter walks around. Highland's Vineyard Avenue eateries sit a block off the trail at mid-route, and hopping onto the Walkway adds the big river panorama for zero extra effort.
Make Farmers Choice part of the day
The trail's western end and the farm stand share the same ten-minute stretch of Route 299 at the Thruway, so the pickup fits either end of a ride. Order Now from the New Paltz menu as you finish your miles and it is usually bagged by the time the bikes are loaded, or Visit Us before a sunset walk to the caboose and roll home with the errand done. Bring a valid 21+ ID, keep purchases sealed in the car, and save the session for home, since the trail, the parks along it, and every vehicle are off limits for consuming under New York law.
1 Old Route 299, New Paltz, NY 12561, get directionsDaily 8AM to 10PM845-419-2420Find us on the way
Farmers Choice New Paltz sits at 1 Old Route 299, right where Route 299 meets NYS Thruway Exit 18, about 5 miles from Hudson Valley Rail Trail.
Hudson Valley Rail Trail questions
Is there a dispensary near the Hudson Valley Rail Trail?
Yes. Farmers Choice New Paltz is about 5 miles from the trail's western end, roughly a ten-minute drive on Route 299 at Thruway Exit 18, and fifteen minutes from the Walkway end in Highland.
How long is the Hudson Valley Rail Trail?
Around seven paved miles across the Town of Lloyd, from the Walkway Over the Hudson's west gate through Highland toward the New Paltz line, with free parking at Tony Williams Park, Haviland Road, and the western trailheads.
Is the Hudson Valley Rail Trail good for kids?
It is the best beginner ride on the west bank: fully paved, car-free, and nearly flat, with the red caboose and the Walkway deck as built-in destinations and pavilions and benches spaced along the way.
Does the trail connect to the Walkway Over the Hudson?
Yes, seamlessly. The eastern end rolls straight onto the Walkway's west approach, so you can ride or walk from Highland to the middle of the Hudson River without touching a road. It is all part of the Empire State Trail.
Can I consume cannabis on the Hudson Valley Rail Trail?
No. The trail and its parks prohibit consuming, and New York law bars consuming in public and in vehicles. Pick up from the farm stand and enjoy it at home or wherever the property owner allows.
Can I order online and pick up after riding the trail?
Yes. Place your order on the New Paltz menu on your last mile and it is usually ready within the hour. The store sits right at Thruway Exit 18 on your way home and is open until 10PM daily.