Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

The Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is the largest park in Westchester County, with 4700 acres of sprawling hardwood forests, steep ravines, open meadows, and wetlands. On your travels, you will come across low stone walls that indicate farms that once were. With seemingly endless space, this park is the pawfect place for you and your pooch to get away from it all and commune with nature. The southern part of the park has a more secluded atmosphere, while the northern part is more developed with a nature museum, gallery, picnic areas and park office along Reservation Road.

Home to about 42 miles of trails, you may never need to come across the same path twice in this park! The trail system is complex, so grab a free park map before hitting the trails. One of the furtastic trail options is Rocks Trail. This 4.5 mile loop hike is found in the southern part of the park, passing interesting features like petroglyphs, gullies, and dramatic cliffs. There are several steep ups and downs, so this hike is sure to give you and your pupper a work out! One of the highlights is Ravens Rock, where you can sit back on a bench and enjoy the unobstructed view from a high cliff.

If you’d like to spend the night here under a canopy of stars, why not check into one of the campsites? They offer tent camping, as well as opened-face lean-tos to rent daily or overnight throughout the year. Each lean-to accommodates up to eight people.

There are plenty of other ways to enjoy the nature here, including fishing, picnicking, and horseback riding. The entrance fee is $10 per vehicle, or $5 per vehicle if you have a park pass. Pups are welcome to join in on the fun, as long as they stay leashed, and leave only paw prints. 

The natural beauty, the convenience, and the rich history of the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation get visitors raving and tails wagging every time.