Manitou Point Nature Preserve (Manitou Point Preserve)
Directions
From the east end of the Bear Mountain Bridge, head north on Route 9D for 1.7 miles and turn left into the parking area for the preserve at a small sign for the "Manitou Point Nature Preserve." The parking area is 750 feet north of the intersection of Route 9D with South Mountain Pass.
Train Directions
Metro-North's Hudson Line provides service to the Manitou station on a limited basis, primarily weekends. Check their schedule. From the station, proceed east on Manitou Station Road for 0.1 mile, then turn left and pass between stone pillars with a white gate onto a dirt road that runs along the southeast edge of Manitou Marsh.
Park Overview
A small park on the Hudson River, Manitou Point Preserve includes forest, tidal marsh, a steep ravine, and views.
Trail Alert - Manitou Point Preserve: Trail Reorganization (August 2017)
Trail Overview
There are two distinct trail systems. One is a loop of a mile on the section of the Preserve between the railroad tracks and the Hudson River, with spectacular views of the Hudson River. This trail may be treacherous in winter because of sheer drops adjacent to the river. The trails east of the railroad tracks proceed through a forested area, with many rock outcrops.
PLEASE NOTE: Although this property is now privately owned, an agreement with the landowner allows for public access to the preserve and its trail network. Please respect the owner's privacy by paying attention to all signs and avoiding areas marked as private.
Click for a detailed description of a hike in the Preserve.
Park Description
Manitou Point Preserve
Formerly known as Mystery Point, Manitou Point Preserve offers the enduring natural beauty of the Hudson River as well as a sense of the grace of a bygone era. The natural features of the property include a mature wooded upland with numerous rock outcrops, a steep-sided ravine, a portion of Manitou Marsh, and sheer rocky bluffs along the river.
Part of the former estate of Edward Livingston, a descendant of Philip Livingston, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Preserve was acquired in 1990 by the Open Space Institute and Scenic Hudson. In 2013, the property was conveyed to a private owner subject to a conservation easement that retains public access rights to the entire parcel (except for the mansion and the surrounding 21 acres). There are four miles of trails available for public use. The Preserve is managed by the Open Space Institute, with the trails maintained by volunteers from the New York-New JerseyTrail Conference.