Ferncliff Forest

This place is my idea of paradise. Forests are my spirit home and this one was amazing. I was visiting from the UK and really loved it. With 2 small nephews we didn't walk a full trail but I still had plenty of wilderness to enjoy and a desire to come back.

Really nice place to take a leisurely walk. Not too crowded and very easy trails and peaceful ponds and huts. Liked the fire tower as well

Hike to the tower was easy. Wide path and the grade is not difficult. We only went to the tower, but would have liked to explore more of the trails which seemed a little more narrow. View from the tower was beautiful. We got there for sunset and we were the only ones there.

This place is very beautiful. Done this little trail so many times and keep coming back. I highly recommend to anyone who likes a good walk in a preserved old-growth forest.

Nice place for a small hike and a family picnic. There is a good size parking lot. The place is dog friendly. There are three hiking trails to choose from. The place had beautiful fall colors and is scenic.

Plenty of parking . Excellent facilities . Trails are plentiful . Room for social distancing at all times . Just about everyone wearing masks and/or have them readily available . I’m not afraid of heights but the tower climb; I had to stop & pause . Climb it , it’s worth it & you’ll see what I mean . Wasps up there can be crazy just move slowly ! I only did the yellow trail but would love to come back & explore !! Yellow can be completed easily in < hr (without stopping) Camping available With reservation and/or permit ? Wouldn’t be my choice of a campsite (I enjoy more private / primitive locations) . Kid , dog , fishing pole friendly . The park is clean , please be respectful of Mother Nature . Have no fear , autumn is here !🍂🍁

Fantastic short hike to the fire tower. The views from the top do not disappoint! Will do it again!

What a nice little park to go for a walk and enjoy any season of this beautiful country. Easy trails and very convenient for the family

Great trails. We got lost and went an extra 4 miles or so on unmarked trails but it was so worth it. Hard and easy spots for biking. Lots of cute insects and mushrooms. I guess the highlight of our biking trip was me trying to cross a wooden bridge with my bike and fell right off into the mud. All laughs while on this trail.

This was a nice place for a lovely walk. The lookout tower is nice, but the stairs are steep so be careful going up and down. Lots of options for jogging and trail riding (horse or bike). Definitely somewhere nice to get out of the towns and cities to enjoy some fresh air.

Today on Mother’s Day 2021, I hiked the Ferncliff Forest located in Rhinebeck, NY. It was a great hike as there were so many different trails and paths all within the forest itself. I hiked as many of them as I could. Some paths were obviously major highways in the forest while others were barely trafficked at all. There were many bodies of waters, including: lake, swamp, and a few small ponds all in different areas of the forest. The Ferncliff Forest is very well maintained. There was nothing blocking the trails, there was no poisonous plants or animals that I was aware of. Some sections of the forest were a little muddy but not too bad where the path would be impassible. I came across a harmless snake, so watch where you step to avoid stepping on them! The birds were lively and I was able to get them to make some noise by whistling. There were plenty of people on the trail including children of all ages. The watch tower offered a swell view of the Hudson River as well as local land surrounding the forest in Rhinebeck. The terrain was rough and rugged very natural and forest like. Evidence of caretaking is not really visible even though the forest is obviously very well maintained. It’s maintained in a way that preserves it and makes it look completely natural and untouched aside from the paths and trails. This is an excellent place to go hiking as the forest is pretty large and covers an expansive area. The swamp there just looks absolutely magical and absolutely untouched. Other hikers are respectful to the local ecology. There are a few rough cabins where people can rest and unpack a lunch. There are bathrooms at the entrance. This is a very family, kids, and dog friendly place. I definitely plan on returning here to do this hike again. Also, I’ve found a new travel partner and she’s very pretty so hopefully you’ll soon see her featured in some reviews!

This is such a great spot to camp in! Camped here for two nights (a Friday and Saturday) and only during the first night was another person camped on the other side of the pond. You virtually have the whole place to yourself! There are three lean-tos (seems only two of them have fire pits) with picnic tables, and one tent platform. No showers, but there is a porto-potty that was clean. The trails through the forest are lovely to walk along. You have to email to get a permit to camp, and also make a donation, but it's all simple. Don't be off-put by the website...it seems fake, but it's legit!

Great place. Well kept trails for hiking and biking. Great camping ground to set up our tent and had fantastic shelter in case it rains. Very impressive.

Climbing the tower was so much fun. And the views from there are awesome

Beautiful walk, gorgeous view from the tower. Worth every minute!

Beautiful place to hike! Various trails to choose from that can take you around a beautiful lake or to the well loved fire tower.

Beautiful place to hike with children and dogs. Great fire tower and pond well-maintained trails!!!

I took my daughters on a bike trip there. We had a good time. There are restrooms picnic tables a fire pit and a little Lake. Also its worth going up the Water Tower. Beautiful views

Awesome place for Hike, especially going up 80 feet and 109 steps to the lookout tower! Great view!!!

Beautiful hike and an amazing tower with a world class view.