Shoreline Trail North

Connecting Breakneck Ridge and Little Stony Point

This portion of the trail would enable hikers to travel from Little Stony Point/Washburn Trailhead parking lot to Breakneck Ridge, without having to walk on busy and dangerous Route 9D. Solving this current major pedestrian and motorist safety hazard is the main impetus for envisioning Shoreline Trail North. In connecting to Breakneck Bridge and thereby Breakneck Metro-North station, this section would also provide those who arrive at the station a route south along the river.

A combination of on-grade and on-structure trail in this section would incorporate trail banks for moments of rest and opportunities to be close to the water, a kayak pull-up location, and planted SAV shelves.

Shoreline Trail South

Connecting Little Stony Point and Dockside Park

As proposed, Shoreline Trail South would provide an alternative route to the trails for trail-bound visitors who currently use Fair Street and Route 9D to get from the Cold Spring train station to trails near Little Stony Point and points north. In addition to moving this foot traffic out of the Village of Cold Spring, Shoreline Trail South would also provide river access in an area that is currently restricted by the rail line.

The trail would be on-structure in most of this section, tracing the existing rail causeway, with trail banks for viewing and seating.

Habitat Restoration and Shoreline Resiliency

The river's shoreline in the area between Dockside Park and Breakneck has been heavily impacted by industry and the railroad, and is not a natural shoreline in most places. Rather, it is man-made and consists largely of fill. As the design for Shoreline Trail develops, the team is exploring how we can restore or create habitat in this area, and contribute to shoreline resiliency. This will include:

• Invasive species remediation
• Repairing erosion at the water’s edge
• Stabilizing the railroad tracks from tidal erosion and the effects of river rise
• Restoring habitat for native flora and fauna
• Adding planted shelves for submerged aquatic vegetation

Re-establishing River Access

When the railroad was installed more than 100 years ago, it fragmented the shoreline and cut off access to the river. The Shoreline section of trail would restore river access, including for those using wheelchairs and other mobility aides.

Minimizing In-Water Impacts

With resiliency to river rise as a crucial focus of the Shoreline Trail design, the team worked hard to minimize both the amount of trail that will be on structure and the number of piles making contact with the river. Nearly 50% of Shoreline Trail is designed to be an on-grade gravel path, similar to a carriage path. Only 5% of piles are likely to be in the water at low tide. In the section between Little Stony Point and Dockside Park, the structure is designed for small-scale, top-down construction and will not require barges.

Accessibility

The Shoreline Trail and the entire Fjord Trail main trail are being designed to AGODA and ADA standards, ensuring safe recreation for a broad spectrum of trail users including those using wheelchairs and those wheeling strollers. The trail will include intentional moments of rest, approximately every quarter mile. These vary based on the site, but include seating and visual or physical access to the river.

Improving Resident Quality of Life

Many trail-bound visitors currently arrive by train to the Village of Cold Spring, and walk along Fair Street to reach Little Stony Point and points north. By creating a more direct route out of the Village of Cold via the Shoreline Trail and quickly diverting trail-bound visitors, the Fjord Trail would relieve some of the burden currently felt by Village residents. The Shoreline Trail would also create an additional location to disperse Seastreak visitors. Residents share that many Seastreak passengers linger and create congestion around lower Main Street after they've finished dining and shopping but before it's time to re-board the boat. Apart from easing the congestion felt in the Village, the Shoreline Trail would improve residents' quality of life as a community recreational resource for residents to use seven days a week, as a trail in and of itself, and as a way to connect to other trails in the Highlands.