Eleanor's Walk

Length: 1 mile

Difficulty: Moderate

Blaze: Green and white Hyde Park Trail Marker

Trailhead Location: Trailhead is located south of the historic core. Once you cross the bridge from the main parking lot, follow the road that forks to the right. From there, the trail is straight ahead.

Terrain: Moderate walking on woodland paths with some steep hills on both Eleanor's Walk. 

Summary: The trail follows a road built by FDR in 1940. Follow the red paint blazes.

History: Get to know Eleanor Roosevelt—wife, mother, and grandmother; Hyde Park neighbor, activist, and diplomat—as you hike the paths she walked daily for recreation and quiet contemplation. See the historic buildings that hosted family gatherings as well as powerful dialog among national leaders. Explore the woodland trails that inspired many of Eleanor’s famous My Day columns.

Trail map available here.

Rules & Regulations

• Safety first!

• Trail is open daily sunrise to sunset.

• Bikes are not permitted on any trails at this site.

• Garbage cans are not available. This is a Carry In,Carry Out trail.

• Stay on marked trails only.

• Hunting, trapping, or possession of firearms prohibited.

• No Fires, camping, or swimming.

• Pets must be leashed; You must clean up after your pet.

• Removal or disturbance of flora, fauna, or cultural resources is strictly prohibited.

• Motorized vehicles prohibited.

In Case of Emergency Call 911

Report Safety & Security Issues to [phone]
Report Trail Maintenance Issues to [phone]

Details

Duration

1 Hour

Activity

Hiking

Pets Allowed

Yes

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Eleanor's Walk

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day

Accessibility Information

Path is unpaved earth. Moderate walking on woodland paths with some steep hills on both Eleanor's Walk. 

The Hyde Park Explorer Podcast

Enjoy these episodes of the Hyde Park Explorer podcast series as you walk the trails.

• The Pond Bridge

  
  

  Val-Kill established itself as the gathering and recreation place for the Roosevelt family. The Roosevelts enjoyed outdoor activities, and Val Kill offered plenty of opportunities—tennis, horseback riding, swimming, and hiking on wooded trails.

  Credit / Author:

  National Park Service

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  Eleanor’s Walk Trail: The Pond Bridge

  Before this bridge was resurfaced, the wood planking made a very distinctive sound, a sound that came to be known as “Eleanor’s Doorbell.”

  The approaching cars alerted Eleanor Roosevelt that guests were arriving, and it was time to properly welcome them to her cherished home at Val Kill.

  Who would visit on this day? A Hyde Park neighbor? A grandchild? Or a foreign dignitary? All who entered were equally embraced by Eleanor’s warm, genuine hospitality.

  There was always something special about this spot. Eleanor and friends Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman picnicked here so often that FDR suggested they build a retreat on the bank of the Fall Kill stream. In 1926, the first structure was built at Val-Kill. FDR called it “the shack in the woods” he built for his wife.

  Val-Kill established itself as the gathering and recreation place for the Roosevelt family. The Roosevelts enjoyed outdoor activities, and Val Kill offered plenty of opportunities—tennis, horseback riding, swimming, and hiking on wooded trails. From where you stand you can see some of the buildings and structures, including the outdoor fireplace, where many a year-round cookout took place.

  Val Kill was established to commemorate and perpetuate the lifework of Eleanor Roosevelt and to preserve and interpret the place most central to her emergence as a public figure and champion of human rights. Since the 1930s, hundreds of visitors have crossed this bridge, and returned enriched from their experience of a day with the estate’s affable hostess. For as Eleanor, aptly known as the “first lady of the world” firmly believed…

  “True hospitality comes from the heart, and is not the product of ostentatious and expensive material surroundings.”

• Val-Kill

  
  

  Stopping here for a moment gives you an opportunity to view the historic core of her former property, buildings with great stories to tell!

  Credit / Author:

  National Park Service

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  Eleanor’s Walk Trail: Val-Kill

  “The greatest thing I have learned is how good it is to come home again!”

  Val Kill is the first National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady. Stopping here for a moment gives you an opportunity to view the historic core of her former property, buildings with great stories to tell!

  The building to your left is the Stone Cottage – the original structure at Val Kill, built as a retreat for Eleanor and her associates from the New York Democratic Committee, Nancy Cook and Marion Dickerman. This would become a place to gather family and friends, students and grassroots political organizers, world leaders and the disadvantaged. All were welcome, and warmly received.

  Behind and to the right of Stone Cottage is The Factory – the site of Val Kill Industries, an experimental business where disadvantaged farm workers were taught manufacturing skills to supplement their agricultural income. The factory produced high quality furniture among other products. After the factory closed, a victim of the 1930s economy, the building was converted into Eleanor’s residence and renamed Val Kill.

  Directly behind Val Kill Cottage is the Playhouse. Originally built in 1928 to serve as a three-car garage, forge, and tool shed, the structure was converted to a family recreation room. Picnics were held here when it rained, and it was used for occasional square dances as well as for plays performed by the Roosevelt grandchildren.

  The architectural style of the Stone Cottage is germane to the Hyde Park area. Known as Dutch Vernacular, it has specific characteristics, and was especially appealing to FDR, as National Park Service curator Frank Futral explains…

  The Roosevelt family is deeply rooted in the Hudson River Valley and FDR was clearly proud of his Dutch ancestry. When he undertook any building projects on his own property, those he did take a very active role in the design, and perhaps even fair to say he shared architectural credit – he did always partner with an architect – but he did direct very heavily the details of how these building would look.

  Some of the characteristics of the Dutch Vernacular Tradition would be the shape of the roofs, the gables, the sort of steep pitched roof, porches.

  The stone cottage at Val Kill is one of FDRs earlier architectural projects. But FDR had definite ideas on how the stone cottage would look. We have in the collection a wonderful drawing with notations by FDR on the drawing – all over – specifics about “not this kind of window, but this kind of window, and the level of interest that he takes is just so astounding.

  Be sure to set aside time after your trail hike today to tour the interiors of the structures here in the historic core of Val Kill, and note their simple, informal furnishings and décor.

• Where Eleanor Walked

  
  

  Today, you can walk these woods just as Eleanor Roosevelt did each day during her time at Val Kill. This was often a starting point for Eleanor’s daily exercise routine.

  Credit / Author:

  National Park Service

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  Eleanor’s Walk Trail: Where Eleanor Walked

  “If beauty is good for the soul, then I wish I could have taken the whole world to walk with me early Saturday morning in the woods at Hyde Park…”

  Today, you can walk these woods just as Eleanor Roosevelt did each day during her time at Val Kill. This was often a starting point for Eleanor’s daily exercise routine. Whether alone, joined by her loyal dogs, Fala, Tamas, and Mr. Duffy – all Scotties – or accompanied by friends and family, a walk in the woods allowed the joys derived from convivial conversation, or from private contemplation.

  Walking with you today is Supervisory Park Ranger Franceska Urbin

  Well, Mrs. Roosevelt loved to walk in the woods at Val Kill – and it could be a snowy day, or a very cold day or a rainy day, it really didn’t matter because she had little dogs that of course needed walks. And she enjoyed these walks tremendously. It gave her time, where she could perhaps think about some issue that she wanted to pursue, or perhaps an article that she was working on for the Universal Document of Human Rights. So it gave her really quiet time or thinking time. Sometimes she would take one or two or three of her grandchildren along with her, and they would have a lot of fun romping through the woods with her. She always found herself becoming quite energized by these walks in the woods and she loved nature, and she liked to talk about nature in her “My Day“ columns.

  Eleanor’s walks provided her an opportunity to become rejuvenated by the transformative power of nature.

  “The whole side of the hill is dotted with dogwood trees, and your eyes rest on them with pleasure. But I should also keep my eyes constantly on the ground, because there are still a considerable number of the little orange lizards which I mentioned in this column last summer. Then, too, if you look on the ground, you see a carpet of wild flowers. I have never seen so many! I never cease to marvel at the varying beauty of the seasons.”

  Think great thoughts as you walk this trail today, just as those who walked before you, in the company of Eleanor Roosevelt.

• Old Beaver Dam

  
  

  All along the Val Kill trail you will encounter the endless pattern of change in nature.

  Credit / Author:

  National Park Service

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  Eleanor’s Walk Trail: Old Beaver Dam “We now have a family of cranes living in the marsh. In addition, we have a family of wild ducks. In fact, our wild life and our wild flowers keep us from ever being dull.”

  All along the Val Kill trail you will encounter the endless pattern of change in nature.

  You’re standing at a wetland along the Fall-Kill Stream, a small pond that was made by nature’s master architect, the beaver. When beavers dam streams, much of the flooded area becomes vital wetlands, changing the landscape. This industrious effort creates rich habitats for other mammals, fish, turtles, frogs, and birds. The beaver uses its large, powerful front teeth to cut trees and plant material to construct a dam. Making a latticework and packing in the gaps with weeds and mud, the dam holds back water. Trees that once grew on dry land have their roots submerged, and die. These dead standing trees become ideal nesting sites for birds. The newly-created wetland attracts wood duck, great blue heron, and Kingfisher. When this land first entered Roosevelt family ownership in 1911, many species that once called this area home were gone, including the beaver, as Natural Resource Manager Dave Hayes explains: Well, the beaver had been gone for a long time when FDR was born. They had been trapped out of this area since the nineteenth century. The landscape was much more open at that time because of all the agricultural activity but they made a big change to the area while they were here.

  And what they do is they flood an area which provides them a safe habitat. So where we once had a wet, moist forest, now we have a wooded swamp. Even though the beavers have left, the dam will remain for a long time, so it provides habitat for a lot of wildlife species, like mink can be found here, otters go up and down the stream, a lot of other species as well. Look for other examples of the dynamic nature of the landscape along the Val Kill Trail.

• The Pond's Wildlife

  
  

  This was one of his favorite places to drive and park his car for a rare moment of tranquility and enjoy a view of this small pond. What his casual observance may not have readily revealed is that this habitat supports an amazing diversity of amphibian and bird life, as well as an uncommon reptile.

  Credit / Author:

  National Park Service

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  Eleanor’s Walk Trail: The Pond’s Wildlife

  The trail, including the steep hill, was a road built by FDR in 1940. This was one of his favorite places to drive and park his car for a rare moment of tranquility and enjoy a view of this small pond. What his casual observance may not have readily revealed is that this habitat supports an amazing diversity of amphibian and bird life, as well as an uncommon reptile.

  In New York State, Blanding’s Turtle is classified as a threatened species – pretty much the same as being an endangered species – and that means it’s in trouble here, its habitat is fragmented, it has declined in numbers over the last 50 years or so. So here at Val Kill we only have a very small population of Blanding’s turtles left. We’re trying to preserve the ones that we do have.

  Dave Hayes, Chief of Natural Resource Management for the National Park Service, is concerned about the future of Blanding’s turtle.

  First of all you need to know where they are, and how many you have, so the first step is to identify the numbers you have in the park. Right now we have six individuals that we have marked so we can re-trap them and relocate them and try to figure out which areas they are using, so we can protect those areas especially in the nesting season, which is June and early July.

  Discovering and documenting the health of amphibians here at the pond has been the work of the Searching for Salamanders group, an educational outreach program of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. A survey transect, a strip of ground along which ecological measurements of salamanders are taken at regular intervals, has been monitored by a team of middle school students, led by Education Specialist Susanne Norris.

  I love salamanders. I call them “environmental indicators.” They breathe through their skin, they’re very sensitive to the environment so if anything’s not right you can probably get some indication that something’s out of balance. Kids just love these creatures.

  What’s really fun about it that some of these kids have never seen a salamander before. The first time they pick up a board to look underneath and see a salamander they’re just so excited, beside themselves, so the teaching is all authentic. And, not only are they having fun, but they are collecting data to the Park Service. My hope is that they will be so inspired to learn more about these creatures, love the environment, and want to protect it in the future.

  We encourage you to look and listen for some of the other residents of this Woodland Pond habitat. Dave Hayes:

  Wood duck have nested around this pond, lots of wood warblers go through this area in spring migration. You can hear the call of the ovenbird all year long, wood thrush and scarlet tanager, green herons have been seen in this pond – it’s a very rich avian spot.

  One of the species that we see occasionally, is a special concern species in New York state, which means it’s rare, is the Cooper’s hawk, which has nested near this pond.

  Thanks to the work of the National Park Service, this prized view has been made all the more valuable. Today as you visit, look and listen and share what FDR and Eleanor experienced during their visits to the pond.

• A Walk Through Time

  
  

  The naturally stony soil produces a crop of fieldstone once gathered by land dwellers to build walls that defined their fields and property lines. Today, it is a place for you to stop and consider your surroundings.

  Credit / Author:

  National Park Service

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  This stone wall has withstood the tests of time and, if given a voice could tell stories of changes in the landscape, both natural and of human hands.

  The naturally stony soil produces a crop of fieldstone once gathered by land dwellers to build walls that defined their fields and property lines. Today, it is a place for you to stop and consider your surroundings.

  On the opposite side of the wall, you will see a natural grove of hemlock. Looking closely at the needles, you may see evidence of the wooly adelgid, a piercing insect that feeds on hemlock twigs. Look for white cottony clusters on the foliage – the tiny insect lies within. The infestation causes the tree to lose vitality, stunts its growth, and eventually, promotes death. Wooly adelgid is changing the landscape by slowly decimating the hemlock.

  To the right of the wall is a strong stand of white birch. Birch can only grow in clearings, which suggests that this land had been cleared less than 100 years ago to establish this still thriving grove.

  Springtime visitors will see a vernal pond on the other side of the road. Vernal ponds, or, spring ponds, are created by snow melt and spring rains. The pond disappears with the change of seasons. It’s a race against time for young frogs and salamanders to reach adulthood in this temporary nursery before the heat of summer.

  Perhaps this wall served the same purpose for Eleanor as it does for you today, an ideal stopping place whether in solitude or with companions, to rest and contemplate nature’s timeless beauty and variety.

• The Climb to Top Cottage

  
  

  Situated at the peak of a hill, with a commanding view of Hyde Park, is Top Cottage, a modest home where kings and queens and heads of state met with the President, their discussions shaping modern history.

  Credit / Author:

  National Park Service

  Date created:

  10/14/2020

  Audio Transcript

  Eleanor’s Walk Trail: The Climb to Top Cottage

  At this stop, you will have completed your walk with Eleanor Roosevelt, having retraced her steps and experienced some of the natural beauty that energized and inspired her on each day’s journey. But the story continues on the trail to Top Cottage. We invite you to make the climb to see the structure that was every much the retreat for the President as Val Kill was for the first lady.

  Situated at the peak of a hill, with a commanding view of Hyde Park, is Top Cottage, a modest home where kings and queens and heads of state met with the President, their discussions shaping modern history.

  You can reach the Top Cottage Trail by proceeding 250 feet ahead to the next trail sign post. Turn right and follow the green-and-white tulip-tree trail markers.