Taconic (Copake Falls)
Taconic State Park in New York stretches for some 16 miles along the Taconic Mountain Range. Bordering both Massachusetts and Connecticut, this pristine park sits in the middle of more than 14,000 acres of protected forest.
It's a huge park with plenty to offer to any outdoor enthusiast, and boasts two main developed areas -- Copake Falls and Rudd Pond. The Copake Falls area is home to a large network of trails that wind their way across diverse terrain, offering everything from up-close nature study and beautiful waterfalls to stunning scenic vistas. A $7 entry fee applies.
Visitors to the park can walk or ride along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, hike to Bash Bish Falls, climb Brace Mountain, or get a taste of history at the Copake Iron Works Museum. You can cool off at a designated swimming area with a dock in the clear waters of Ore Pit Pond , while younger campers can enjoy the adjacent kiddie pool. And if you're a keen angler, you can target brown trout and other species in the Bash Bish Brook.
When you're ready for a rest, the huge campground offers a range of accommodation options. Thirty-nine of the park's 96 campsites welcome dogs, so make sure that you choose a pet-friendly site when making a reservation. There's a two-pet maximum on those sites that do allow pets. Please note that while there are also several cabins and cottages available within the park, these do not permit pets.
It's worth noting that if you're traveling with your pet, dogs are permitted on trails and in the D loop of theĀ campground. However, dogs are not permitted in park buildings or in swimming or picnic areas. In areas where your dog is allowed, make sure they're leashed and attended at all times, and that you always remember to clean up after your pooch.
With these easy tasks taken care of, all that's left to do is to enjoy a relaxing and reinvigorating nature escape with your four-legged friend. And with so much to see and do throughout Taconic State Park, you'll want to stay as long as pawssible!
