Boiceville: Ashokan Rail Trail and Culture

The town’s attractions each offer a different focus. Consider whether your plans are centered more on spending time outdoors, a specific cultural program, or the history of artist Al Held.

Ashokan Rail Trail: route and activities

The Ashokan Rail Trail runs for 11.5 miles along the Ashokan Reservoir between West Hurley and Boiceville. This makes Boiceville one of the two endpoints named along the route. The trail is open to the public year-round from sunrise to sunset; this timeframe gives you a specific framework for planning your day. The Boiceville Bridge Trailhead is located at 5080 NY-28A, Olive, NY 12412.

The trail is open to non-motorized activities: hiking, walking leashed dogs, cycling, running, nature observation, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Depending on your interests, you can include the trail in your travel plans as a place for exercise or nature observation. The listed activities include both different forms of exercise and observing nature. Check for current updates before your visit, as temporary conditions may change.

Events and art history

Brunel Park is a venue for readings, performances, special events, and concerts. If you plan to travel to Boiceville for a specific program, check its date before your trip. A reading or performance offers a different reason to visit than a concert; plan around the event you actually want to attend.

The Al Held Home and Studio in Boiceville was owned by the modern artist Al Held and served as a central place of work from 1965 until his death. This art-related connection differs from the events at Brunel Park: here, the focus is on an artist’s longstanding connection to the place where he worked, while the park offers a program of readings, performances, special events, and concerts. If art history interests you, Al Held’s connection to Boiceville is one of the specific topics to consider when choosing your destination.

Connections for planning your trip

Ulster County Area Transit’s Z Line connects Boiceville in the east with Woodstock and Kingston, and in the west with Phoenicia, Pine Hill, and Belleayre Mountain. If you plan to use this bus connection for your trip, check the current schedule before traveling.

When choosing a hotel, it’s worth first deciding on your main reason for visiting: an activity on the trail, an event at Brunel Park, or an interest in Al Held’s art history. If you’re planning to attend an event, the specific dates matter; for a visit to the trail, its year-round access from sunrise to sunset and the listed activities offer a different kind of guidance. The Z Line may also be relevant to your plans if its connections to the places mentioned suit your trip. Check the schedule before planning your journey around it.

Discover more destinations: Wallkill, Stone Ridge, Phoenicia, High Falls, Highland, Oliverea, Accord, New Paltz

For the main travel overview: Ulster.