A great place for hiking: Locust Grove

By Pete Colaizzo
Poughkeepsie Journal

Welcome to Locust Grove, the national historic site and country retreat for Samuel F.B. Morse, founder of the dot-and-dash code language bearing his name.

Locust Grove is an oft-overlooked site for hikers and walkers seeking a relatively short and less challenging jaunt in the woods.

For drivers willing to make a pit stop from their busy lives, a turn off Route 9 into Locust Grove will mean several miles of wide, easy-to-hike trails. It's an ideal place for a summer stroll, as the heavily wooded trails provide plenty of atural shade.

For hikers who venture far enough to the west on the trails, picture-postcard views of the Hudson River to the north and south can be seen for miles in each direction from atop ledges in the trails. And, oh yes: Hiking trails are available for usage year-round, and it's free.

Not a bad deal for deciding to put on the directional and pulling the car off Route 9 for a few minutes.

''We appeal to the folks that like to get out and get their heart rate up for a little while,'' said Andrew Stock, curator of education and public programs at Locust Grove. ''We don't monitor the traffic on the trails, but we often see people coming in and heading out to the trails.''

On one recent early evening, Stan and Jenny Roberts took the short trip from their City of Poughkeepsie home for a hike on the Locust Grove trails. Their walk goes on the well-marked Copper Mine and Lane Loop trails and takes them about 45 minutes.

Solo excursion in the woods

And on this given summer Monday, the Roberts had the trail all to themselves. ''It was a reasonable time of day and reasonably cool for summer,'' Stan Roberts said, ''but nobody was there.''

The Roberts have been active hiking leaders with the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club for more than a decade. Locust Grove is one of their regular stops.

Darryl Bautista/Poughkeepsie Journal Beauty and solitude await hikers and walkers at Locust Grove.

''We've been leading hikes there for at least 4-5 years,'' Stan Roberts said. ''It's like 10 minutes from home, so convenience is definitely a factor.''

The Wappinger Walker's Club is another group that frequents the Locust Grove trails. The club was founded in 1997 by Florence Graff of Wappingers Falls as a way for like-minded fitness enthusiasts to get together on a weekly basis.

Graff used to play a lot of tennis and took up fitness walking just recently. ''I decided out of the clear blue sky to start a walking club,' she said. ''Personally, I don't like to walk by myself on the road. To me, that's boring. And the mall? Absolutely not. It's got to be trails.''

Graff's group meets each Saturday throughout most of the year, drawing anywhere from 10-15 people for each walk. Much like Roberts of the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Locust Grove trails are a favorite for Graff and her group.

''It's a nice trail,'' Graff said. ''The trail we take leads to sort of a high peak where we stop and we see the Hudson. The trails are well kept and everyone seems to like it.''

Added Alice Weston of the Wappinger Walker's Club: ''I like the paths through the woods. It is well kept and easy to follow. It's a great walk.''

The woods' paths have been in existence since the 19th century, when Morse's family and friends enjoyed their bucolic retreat. Modern updates have made the trail user-friendly for everyone from the casual walker to the avid hiker.

Visitors to the Locust Grove hiking trails will first notice an unusual sight before heading downhill into the main section of paths. That oddity would be the pet cemetery, where many of the Morse family's faithful companions were laid to rest.

Stock mentioned several improvements to the trails in recent years. A lake was re-established in 1999; rustic, Adirondack-style benches were purchased in 1998, and an Eagle Trail, developed by Eagle Scouts, were formed.

Add to that a recently renovated visitor center upon entering the site, and it all adds up to a pleasing experience for anyone who likes to spend time hiking in the woods.

''It's a nice, short hike with beautiful views of the Hudson River,'' said Ben Shor of Marlboro, membership chair of the Adirondack Mountain Club's Mid-Hudson chapter. ''It has some up and down, but I like that. The terrain was varied, which makes it interesting.

''The new visitor center was stunning,'' he said. ''It's just a wonderful place to combine both a walk and a tour.''