Cornwall: Nature, Hiking Trails, and History

Cornwall offers distinct nature and history experiences: hiking trails at the Outdoor Discovery Campus, the landscape of Black Rock Forest, and the 18th-century Sands-Ring Homestead. Nearby, Donahue Memorial Park in Cornwall-on-Hudson adds kayaking and a boat launch on the Hudson River. Trip planning can therefore range from a campus trail network and a named trail to forest landscapes and local history.

Hiking Trails and Scenery at the Outdoor Discovery Campus

The Outdoor Discovery Campus hiking trails are open every day, year-round, from sunrise to sunset. Plan your visit within this time window, and check the Nature Center’s current notices before setting out, as conditions and notices may change. The campus has 10 miles of hiking trails and a five-acre restored wetland. These measurements refer to different features: trail length and area. Grasshopper Grove is also on campus and is a nature play area.

For a specific trail, the state park hiking map created on January 14, 2021, lists the Highlands Trail in Storm King State Park as 5.47 miles long. The 10 miles refers to the campus trails as a whole, while 5.47 miles refers to this individual trail. This means a trail network and a named route are available side by side—two different measurements to consider when planning.

Black Rock Forest: Forest Area and Public Access

Black Rock Forest is a 3,920-acre forest area with pronounced terrain, numerous lakes and streams, and a wide variety of species and habitats. If you consider landscape features as well as trail lengths when planning your trip, the terrain, waterways, and biodiversity here offer a different focus from the campus trail information. The forest is open to the general public every year and welcomes more than 8,000 students from kindergarten through college.

Sands-Ring Homestead and Cornwall’s History

The Sands-Ring Homestead, also known as the Old Homestead, dates to the 18th century and is one of the oldest buildings in Cornwall. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This brings together two historical distinctions: the building’s age in the local context and its listing on a national register. It offers a specific point of interest if Cornwall’s history, alongside nature and hiking trails, is part of your travel interests.

Kayaking and a Boat Launch Nearby

Nearby, Donahue Memorial Park in Cornwall-on-Hudson is located on the banks of the Hudson River. There is a boat launch; permits are required to use it. Kayaking is also offered from the park by Mountain Valley Guides and Storm King Adventure Tours. The operators involved may change. If kayaking or the boat launch is important to your plans, check in advance which kayaking options are currently available and what permits are required to use the launch.

Discover more destinations: Cornwall-On-Hudson, Florida, Montgomery, Campbell Hall, Greenwood Lake, New Windsor, Highland Falls, Newburgh

For the broader travel overview: Orange.