Hudson Highlands State Park
Hudson Highlands State Park's 352 acres encompass many different ecologically significant habitats. The Annsville Creek runs through the property providing stream and riparian habitats, which support brown and brook trout breeding as well as populations of wood duck. The park's upland wetlands consist of vernal pools and wooded swamps that are crucial habitat for wood frogs, tree frogs, red-backed and two-lined salamanders. Several different snake species use the prominent, east-facing cliffs of the park to warm themselves in the sun.
Westchester County is in the Atlantic Flyway, one of three major bird migration corridors in the United States. Come spring, hundreds of thousands of birds fly over and often stop in the park. It is the diversity of habitats the park holds that draws them here. The relatively unfragmented forest of the park attracts species such as the scarlet tanager, ovenbird, and great-crested flycatcher. The former gravel mines and agricultural fields provide habitat for blue jays, catbirds, house wrens as well as hawks and owls that use these areas to hunt.
Getting there:
Only accessible on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays via the metro north Hudson line. From Grand Central Station there is a 7:51 a.m. and an 8:51 a.m. train that will put you at the Breakneck Ridge station (which is solely for hikers who wish to access the Hudson Highlands State Park) at 9:14 a.m. and 10:14 a.m. respectively. There are also only 2 trains from Breakneck Ridge for your return trip. They depart at 4:55 p.m. and 6:55 p.m..
Please see the weekend train schedule for more information: http://mta.info/mnr/html/planning/schedules/pdf/Hudson_S-S_corr.pdf