Trails
The South County Trailway runs for 14 miles, mostly along the river, providing a destination for biking, walking, rollerblading. It is located on the right-of-way of the former Putnam Division Railroad, part of the NY Central Railroad. The “Old Put” ran 36.2 miles through Westchester, providing freight and passenger service from 1881 to 1958 between the Bronx and Brewster. Freight continued in the southern portion until 1982. In the works are plans to connect it to the North County Trailway, which would extend it up to Putnam County, and to expand the trail southward to the Bronx border.
Tarrytown Lakes/Butternut Ridge Park is 122 acres. Predmoniantly native woodland. Hiking, walking and nature study. Access 1-mile pathway from County House Road in Eastview (also called Saw Mill River Road). Paved pathway approximately 1.2 miles long along southern boundary of Tarrytown Lakes provides access to North County Trail connecting Eastview with Sunnyside Lane.
Woodlands Lake in Macy Park, owned by Westchester County, is a main recreational attraction, and has been so for more than a century. One hundred years ago it was a popular resort where visitors came from NYC via the Old Put for boating, swimming, ice skating and an annual winter carnival. Ice also was harvested from the lake. The county purchased the property in 1923. The lake was created by the damming of the Saw Mill River. Grain and lumber mills operated in the area in the 19th century. The bike trail goes through the park and past the lake, which draws picnickers, families, and fishing enthusiasts.
Those who like fishing like this spot because of shoreline access, the bridge over the dam, and parking. Ironically, however, the state stopped stocking this section of the river because when it conducted its angler survey in 1998, Woodlands Lake was being dredged and the park was closed to the public. Thus there were no fishermen to be counted at the site. As a result of the survey, which found that fishing interest in the Saw Mill River was extremely low (34 hours per acre/per year; moderate would be considered 200 hours per acre), the state cut the number of miles stocked in half, to 5.3 miles, and has decreased the number of fish stocked by 70 percent (a total of 1,060 stocked in 2004 vs. 3,600 prior to study). Diminishing access to the river is suspected to be a primary cause of reduced fishing activity. Anglers can’t get to the river or find parking.
