Montgomery Place

Montgomery Place is a National Historic Landmark and a member of the Historic Hudson Valley network, which also includes Sunnyside, Kykuit, Philipsburg Manor, Union Church, and Van Cortlandt Manor. The 434 acre estate boasts extensive gardens, a large arboretum, expansive orchards, and a classic revival mansion, as well as natural features such as the Saw Kill River and waterfall, and views of the Hudson River, Catskills, and Tivoli South Bay.


The park is located on River Road in Annandale-on-Hudson. If you are coming from Hyde Park/Rhinebeck, head north on Route 9G. The park is 3 miles north of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. Take a left onto River Road at the flashing yellow light, and bear to your left. The park is shortly up the road on your right. Montgomery Place is open weekends from May through October, from 10am to 5pm. Please be aware NO DOGS are allowed on the premises.


After turning onto the grounds, you will drive past the orchards and farm complex still in operation at the estate. Fruit from these orchards is sold at a nearby stand on Route 9G. Continue along the road to the parking lot next to the Visitor's Center.


Head into the gift shop in order to purchase a pass to tour the grounds. Admission to the grounds is $5 for adults, $3 for children 5 to 7, and free for children under 5. Season passes can also be purchased for $15. You will also find a helpful trail guide here, as well as a pamphlet about the Arboretum. An audio tour, which is free with admission, can also be picked up here and coincides with the numbered markers you will see along the trails. A video is also offered for viewing.


Head out the back and down the stairs. Follow the trail here as it takes you in a diagonal direction towards marker 2. Take a left and follow the trail as it passes the coach house. This beige colored building was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in 1859. Like the mansion, it was done in classic revival style.


Continue along the right-most path and you soon come to the Rough Garden, which will be on your left. This, along with the Formal Gardens, was designed by Violetta White Delafield in the early 20th century. Take a left into the garden, following the stone pathway. You may note this is labeled with marker 16. I personally don't understand their decision to put this at the end of the tour, so I have rearranged the order. Of course, there is nothing wrong with their sequence, although it includes some confusing overlaps.


The Rough Gardens include an artificial brook, trickling waterfall, meandering stone pathways, and naturalistic plantings of flowers. Frogs sunbathe next to the small pool, and croak angrily before jumping underwater if you get too close. Continue up the steps to reach the Elipse.


The Elipse, which consists of an oval patterned pool encircled by hemlock trees, is used as a transition between the wilder Rough Garden to the more controlled geometric Formal Gardens. Head into the Formal Gardens and take time to explore the various pathways. The greenhouse and potting shed still stand alongside the gardens.


After you have finished in the gardens, head left down the pathway towards the Squash Court. Bear to the right when the trail forks (to the left heads towards private residences) and you will pass marker 24. Once used as the Squash Court, it has now been renovated into a restroom.


Continue down the path to the mansion. Head to the front of the house and wander around the circular trail which offers views of the classic revival mansion. Originally built between 1804 and 1805 by Janet Livingston Montgomery in the federal style, the house was redesigned by Alexander Jackson Davis between the 1840s and 1860s for the subsequent generations of Livingstons. The interior is currently closed for restoration.


Head to the right of the mansion and around to the back. From here you will get a gorgeous view of the Hudson River and Catskills. Although obstructed in spots by the tree line, it only serves to enhance the beauty of the spot. Walk down the steps and head left to pick up the West Lawn Trail. This mowed grass trail circles around to pass alongside the edge of a pond. Right after the pond, take a left into the woods to follow the trail to some views of the Tivoli South Bay. (If you wish to shorten your walk, you can stay on the mowed grass path that circles to the right and back towards the mansion.)


After circling back around, the West Lawn Trail will intersect the Saw Kill Trail. Take the left fork and follow this path along an 80 foot descend to the bottom of a ravine. Be careful along this trail, which is steep at points and very muddy after rainfall.


At the bottom of the hill you will be able to view the Lower Falls of the Saw Kill River as it heads out towards Tivoli South Bay. After you have finished at the falls, follow the trail as it heads uphill. After less than a quarter mile, you will come to a fork. Take the left fork to head towards the lake.


Shortly along this path, you will come to another fork. Head to the left and downhill, and you will soon reach the Bath House and a small Lake that was once used for swimming. There is also a waterfall and some rapids below the lake.


Head back up the hill until you reach the fork you just passed. Go to your left and you will shortly reach some rapids that lie above the lake. When you are finished here, go all the way back to the first fork and head straight.


After a little ways you will come out of the forest. You are now in the vicinity of the Arboretum. The Tree Walk pamphlet details where to find the various species of trees, such as White Oak, Red Oak, Sweetgum, Tuliptree, Dogwood, Black Locust, Sycamore, Amur Corktree, Weeping Hemlock, European Beech, and Cucumber Magnolia. The large assemblage of picnic tables in the area also makes this spot a lovely picnic area.


When you have finished here, head in the direction of the Visitor's Center. Right before you reach it, you should see a sign for the South Woods Trail off to your right. This quarter mile trail (each way) takes you along a gentle slope to the Hudson River. The end of the trail has been overflowed by a stream, so you'll have to sidestep the mud and water to get to the stone stairs that will take you down to the best view in the park.


You have now seen the whole park, and can head back up the path to your car. Although the pamphlet estimates the time it will take to see the whole estate at four or more hours, this is probably assuming a leisurely stroll. I was able to see everything in slightly over two hours at a moderate pace.


Although I was slightly annoyed at the limited hours that the park is open, the admission fee, and the NO DOG rule, Montgomery Place was a highly enjoyable visit with some very impressive views and well-maintained landscape. Both man-made and natural landmarks make this park a must-see.


If you'd like to learn more about this park, and the other parks in the Historic Hudson Valley network, please go to http://www.hudsonvalley.org/montgomeryplace/index.htm. Vigorous Vaulting!