A great place to mountain bike: Taconic Hereford

By Pete Colaizzo
Poughkeepsie Journal

Bird watchers, hunters, hikers, trail runners, snowshoers, cross country skiers -- and even blueberry and mushroom pickers --all spend quality time in the place many simply refer to as ''the 909.'' Whew. No wonder it's called a ''multiple use area.''

One segment of the recreational sports community that bridges all seasons and can be seen most often at Taconic Hereford are mountain bike riders. For these off-road, thrill-seeking pedalers, Taconic Hereford provides a welcome respite from the hazards of road biking.

As roads in many parts of Dutchess County become more congested, more cyclists are taking their bikes into the woods. And one of the most preferred locales is Taconic Hereford.

"Most people that are really into cycling do both road and mountain biking,'' Hudson Valley Velo Club member Sherri Foster of Pleasant Valley said. ''And a lot of people that have mountain bikes don't even own road bikes.''

Gordon Seigh of Pleasant Valley belongs to the Fats and Cats Mountain Bike Club. He and his fellow club members ride in Taconic Hereford every Tuesday night, pretty much year-round.

''We ride in there when it's too hot, too cold, too wet and too icy,'' he said. ''We ride every chance we can get in there.''

Seigh said the only time he and his friends won't ride on the trails is during hunting season -- Taconic Hereford is a popular hunting locale -- and when there is a heavy snow cover on the trails. Other than that, his group is out there. Even in the dark.

A.J. Soto/For the Poughkeepsie Journal Kevin Duncan flies down the main trail at the Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area on his mountain bike.

''We just put our lights on and go riding,'' he said.

Evan Smith of LaGrangeville is another frequent rider in Taconic Hereford. Like Seigh, he rides his mountain bike there through all four seasons.

''I ride through there all year except during the hunting season,'' he said. ''As long as there's not a lot of snow, the trails are cool.''

Tom Snediker manages the Wheel and Heel bicycle shop in Newburgh. He and a group of mountain bike riders get together each Wednesday for weekly rides at trail venues throughout the mid-Hudson Valley.

Variety terrain is a treat

Snediker said Taconic Hereford is a regular stop for them. ''It's just real varied terrain,'' he said. ''We have no problem riding in there for two to three hours. You can do 10-12 miles without doing the same trail twice.''

Added Seigh: ''There's probably close to 15 miles of trails in there. It's more than enough to wear you down.''

The mid-Hudson area is loaded with excellent places to go mountain biking, Snediker said. He and his group never have a problem thinking of a place to go for their weekly, off-road jaunts.

-- The Stewart State Forest -- a tract of land in Orange County surrounding the airport -- is a popular spot for Snediker and his group. The 5,300-acre piece of land provides varied types of trails and is excellent for a beginner on a mountain bike because it is relatively flat.

-- Fahnestock State Park in Putnam County offers miles of trails, including a part of the Appalachian Trail.

-- The Wallkill River Rail Trail in Ulster County is a very popular spot as the terrain is smooth and flat. Beautiful Shawangunk Mountain scenery can be viewed throughout the nearly 14 miles of the trail.

-- Vassar Farms, located off Raymond and Hooker avenues in the Town of Poughkeepsie, has trails for mountain biking, according to Snediker. ''There's a fair amount of trails if you know where to find it,'' he said.

Most mountain bike enthusiasts, though, eventually will find their way back to Taconic Hereford because it has elements of all trail riding rolled into a tidy, 909-acre package.

''It's gone from a little, unheard of hunting area to a year-round recreational area. More people are finding it to be a great place to run, walk, bike and ski. It's a big backyard.''