Historic Environments

Just over 17 miles south-east of the city of Poughkeepsie, NY and 26 miles north-east of Newburgh, NY, the national and world-renowned foot-path, the Appalachian Trail, intercepts the Beekman Uplands Loop Trail and the Nuclear Lake Loop Trail. In a motif of blue and white blazes, the blue-blazed Beekman Uplands Loop Trial takes you from the Nuclear Lake Municipal Parking Area right off of Route 55 into the woods, past a wooden kiosk with a local snapshot of the Appalachian Trail, a warning about ticks, and Leave No Trace Guidelines, and under power lines before merging with the white-blazed Appalachian Trail at a “T”.

Kiosk at the beginning of the Beekman Uplands Loop Trail

Following the Appalachian Trail to the left, you descend and ascend small hills, hop-scotch across a flooded forest flatland, cross bubbling creeks (atop bridges or navigating straight through), and scramble around large moss-covered boulders. In addition to absorbing the picturesque woodland, make sure to take care with your steps as the trail has many rocks (both sharp and loose), tree roots, and wet spots -especially on a rainy day.

The Appalachian Trail in Pawling, NY

After crossing two bridges, the trail will split into the yellow-blazed Nuclear Lake Loop Trail up and to the right, and the Appalachian trail continuing to the left. These two trails circle around Nuclear Lake, which will come to view a couple more minutes down the Appalachian Trail.

Creek on the Appalachian Trail in Pawling, NY

Nuclear Lake is a stunningly serene small lake with a rocky forest as its frame. The Lake got its name from a nuclear fuel testing plant run by the United Nuclear Corporation that used to have a facility on the south-west shore of the lake. The Appalachian Trail passes right through the grass-covered spots where the facilities used to stand. In 1972, there was a plutonium spill, however, the area has been declared safe for the past 40 years by the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Nuclear Lake, Pawling, NY

Among local controversy, this area became part of the Appalachian Trail in 1979, and since has been repurposed by local and through-hikers alike as a place repurposed for outdoor recreational use.

Despite its history, this area and lake remains a peaceful and enjoyable place to hike, boulder, picnic, or simply go for a nice stroll through the arcane woods and around the placid lake, and it is, moreover, quiet, especially on rainy days.