Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area

Tivoli Bays is a 1,468 acre wildlife management area owned by the State of New York and maintained by the Department of Environmental Conservation. It is also a part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve; managed as a field laboratory for research and education about the Hudson River Estuary. The park includes two bays, both North and South Bay, which include marshes, islands, tidal swamps and uplands. These areas provide permanent and seasonal habitat for killifish, blue crabs, snapping turtles, muskrat, Virginia rales, ospreys, and an occasional bear.

Because of the large variety of wildlife, the area is a popular place with hunters. Make sure to wear brightly colored clothes, especially if you plan to wander off the hiking trails.


The park is located off Route 9G, just north of Bard College. There are a number of entrances and parking areas within and around the park. The Overlook Trail parking lot is directly off Route 9, and will be on your left as you head north. However, it is easy to miss since the area surrounding the parking lot is wooded, and the sign is brown. I suggest you instead park at the North Bay Trail Parking Lot. Pass by the first entrance, and take a left onto Kidd Lane shortly up the road. This road has a great view of the Catskills; so make sure to take a look as you travel about a quarter mile up the road. The parking lot will be on your left.


Throughout the winter and early spring, the internal roads that traverse the park are closed. During these times, you will need to park on the outer edges of the area. Throughout the rest of the year, however, you will be able to navigate the interior and make use of the various parking areas within.


After you park, take some time to look at the information kiosk next to the parking area. There is a very helpful map, and some great information about the park and its wildlife. Once you are done here, head up the gravel road into the park. You will see a field on your right as you walk along the road.


Follow the road as it winds along until you see a small parking area on your left. If the gate is open, you can park here to save yourself some walking. Across from the parking lot, you will see two large boulders that mark the start of a trail. Walk through the rocks and you will be on the North Bay Trail. This trail is a mile long, and runs North to South from Kidd Lane to the parking area North of Cruger Island Road. You will follow wooded bluffs as you wind along beside Stony Creek and the North Bay shoreline.


A short ways up this trail, you will see a path leading off to the left. This takes you out into the nearby field. Head straight and you will pass by a number of old ruins as you walk towards the edge of a roadway. Before you reach the road, the trail will curve around to the left. You will see a white bridge, and below a beautiful waterfall. Take some time to enjoy the soothing sight and sound of the rushing water before continuing on.


The trail is mostly level in this section and easy to follow due to the frequent trail-markers. You will shadow Stony Creek as it makes its way through rapids towards North Bay and the Hudson River. After about a half mile, you'll come to the Canoe Launch. There is a parking lot to the left and up the hill for those wishing to go canoeing.


The last half mile of this trail changes drastically, with more strenuous climbs up and down hills. A little ways up the trail from the launch you will cross a wooden bridge over a small stream. You will now be headed uphill, and towards another bridge. You will head uphill again, and then back downhill as the trail veers slightly to the right towards a third bridge. You'll go up and over one more hill to a fourth bridge.


Head up the hill once more and the trail will split. Going left will take you to Overlook Trail, which you will see later, so head straight towards Cruger Island and Hogback trails. You will head downhill to yet another bridge, but thankfully, the trail now levels out. You'll cross two more bridges before you reach the end of North Bay Trail. (That's a total of seven bridges, if you want to count your progress that way.)


The trail splits off again, with the left fork going to Hogback Trail, and the right towards the North Bay Overlook and Cruger Island. Head to your right and you'll soon reach a parking lot. Keep going straight until you see the North Bay Overlook off to your right. Take your time here as you gaze out upon North Bay, the Hudson River, and the Catskills.


Now follow the gravel road back behind you. A short ways down the road you will reach Cruger Island Road. To your right is another parking lot and the Cruger Island Trail. This trail is half a mile long and goes from east to west as you trek through the tidal swamp on a deteriorated lane to the Railroad. This land floods during high tide and is wet during low tide.


A short distance up the trail you will have a distant view of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge off to your left. Continue on down the path until you reach the railroad tracks. If you cross them here, the trail will head in a circular path around the island. However, the path is closed to visitors from January 1 to August 15 in order to protect endangered wildlife.

Head back to the trail and continue straight down Cruger Island Road. This road is accessible by car through Bard College off Annandale Road. After walking a ways, you will see a trail on your left. This trail heads along the South Bay on its way to Bard.


After a little while you will cross a small flat bridge. Once you cross, you will be headed uphill to a field. If you head along the path to the left of the field, you will reach the Bard track and will circle back around. If you do not wish to take this trail, go to your right and then take another right into the woods. As the trail winds down the hill you will head towards a small island. Take the right towards the island and you will reach a Y. Head either way, since the trail circles around the island. The trail is very narrow, steep, and slippery so walk with care through here. At the edge of the island, you will be have some great views of the Hudson River, South Bay, Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, and Catskills.


Back at the main trail, take a right. You will cross another small flat bridge and head uphill. The trail will break out of the woods onto the grounds of Bard College. There is a beautiful mansion here (Blithewood Mansion), a walled rose garden, and some extraordinary vistas.


Once you are done here, you will need to retrace your steps all the way back to North Bay Trail. From here, take a right onto Hogback Trail. This is a half mile climb through the woods connecting Cruger Lane with the Overlook Trail. After you have been on this trail a while, you will come to a short raised wooden path. Beyond this, you will begin to some buildings owned by Bard College off to your right. You'll cross two small ravines before you reach a field.


You are now at Overlook Trail. If you go to your right, you will follow the trail through the woods for .6 miles to the parking area off Route 9G. Head to your left and you'll travel down the trail through the rolling woods and fields back to North Bay Trail. Nearby is Manor Road, which you can also follow back to the parking lot off Kidd Lane.


Once you reach North Bay Trail, take a right and you'll be headed back to Kidd Lane. The path from here to the canoe launch will be slightly easier in this direction because it heads downhill more than up.


Although you are retracing your steps from the start of the day, if you time it right you will be able to see this area as the sun sets. It is a pleasant walk with the sun at your back and long shadows stretching out before you.



If you have time, I encourage you to explore Bard College. The grounds and buildings of the college are very lovely, and worth a drive through the property.


For more information and a map of Tivoli Bays, please go to http://www.ulster.net/~hrmm/tivolibays/tivolibays.html. If you would like to learn more about the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) please go to http://www.dec.state.ny.us/index.html. And if you are interested in exploring Bard further, you can go to http://www.bard.edu/. Glorious Gallivanting!