Run the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail

This trail traces the route of the Old Croton Aqueduct, which carried water to New York City between 1842 and 1955. Our recommended route starts near the Greystone Station in Yonkers, NY (Metro-North Hudson Line) and ends by the Scarborough Station, but you can easily modify your route – the entire trail extends for roughly 26 miles from Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx to the New Croton Dam in Westchester County.

From Greystone Station, head up the hill to Warburton Avenue, then follow Odell Avenue to where it intersects with the trail. The route from there is a fairly simple straight-lined path with a series of 10 to 14 foot ventilators, formerly used to circulate fresh air into the water in the aqueduct. Note that most parts of the trail are unpaved, so it can be muddy and uneven at times. Also note that certain points along the trail get quite narrow. 

Parts of the OCA trail will take you by panoramic views of the Hudson River and through the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, which has a number of alternative routes if you want to extend your run/walk or stray from the straight-line path. Parts of the route also pass by a number of historic homes, including Villa Lewaro in Irvington, the home of Madame C. J. Walker (the first female African-American self-made millionaire) as well as the Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, a beautiful Gothic Revival mansion.

In Scarborough, follow Scarborough Station Road to the train station for even more delightful views of the Hudson River. This extensive trail is great for long runs, whether solo or with a friend. You might find yourself stopping, however, more than once to get some shots of the surrounding scenery.