Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Weir Tour

Saturday, May 18, 2024 - 10:00am

Presenter:

Free, easy, 2-hour tour. Meet at the front (upper level/south side) of the Joseph Caputo Center, which is located at 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562, just west of Rte. 9/Highland Ave. at the junction of Croton Ave., Rte. 133 (from Metro-North Ossining Train Station by taxi or 15-minute uphill walk - parking lots nearby). After a brief walk, descend into the Weir in Ossining and explore the original 1842 brick water tunnel and learn its history.

Required: pre-registration. Walk may be rescheduled if weather does not cooperate.

Tending the Trail

Sunday, May 19, 2024 - 9:30am

Presenter:

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Another opportunity to tend the Aqueduct trail under the leadership of crew leader Adrianna Waitkins.

A small group will continue the work begun on I Love My Park Day (May 4): removing garlic mustard and pachysandra from the Trail to make way for restoration planting this coming September.

This is also an opportunity to learn to identify some of the emerging native plants and to remove some additional invasive plants along the trail under the guidance of Diane.

Please register below since we can accommodate only a small number of volunteers.

Park in driveway of 124 Quaker Bridge Road.

The Great 26 Mile Challenge – Walk 4 of 5 Dobbs Ferry to Yonkers

Sunday, May 19, 2024 - 10:00am

Presenter:

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Approximately 6 miles, 4 hours

Walk #4 of the Great 26 Mile Challenge is a continuation of a 5-walk series designed for those who want to walk the entire 26 miles of the Old Croton Aqueduct (OCA) in Westchester. The Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct awards a Patch and a Certificate to anyone who completes the 26 miles of the trail. Each walk covers a segment of the OCA trail ranging in distance from between 3 to 6 miles. The final walk will be held on May 19th.

The Details: Terrain will be mostly level with some moderate elevation changes. There will be roots and rocks; please wear appropriate footwear. Please bring lunch, snacks and water – there will be rest stops along the way.
Important Note: This is a one-way walk. Plan accordingly if you will need to return to your starting point.
Meet at the Keeper’s House, 15 Walnut St., Dobbs Ferry 10522
Street parking on Broadway and on Livingston Avenue in Dobbs Ferry. Metro-North in Dobbs Ferry – 5 minute walk
Walk will end at Philipse Manor Hall, 29 Warburton Ave., Yonkers 10701 Street parking on Warburton Ave. or in the Warburton Garage next door. Please DO NOT park in the Philipse Manor Hall lot. Metro-North in Yonkers – 5 minute walk

Required: Pre-registration. Will reschedule in the event of rain.

S’morefest ‘24

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 4:00pm

Presenter:

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Come celebrate the start of summer with the staff of the OCA around the bonfire at the Keeper’s House! Get to meet the workers who maintain the trail and hear about the different projects, jobs and initiatives being done across our 26 miles. Enjoy playing some of the best games from the 1800’s and learn about the 180-year history of the Aqueduct all while making yourself some delicious S’mores!!

4pm - 6pm - Free and open to the public

Weir Tour

Saturday, June 1, 2024 - 10:00am

Walk Leader:

Pete Dispensa

Presenter:

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Free, easy, 2-hour tour. Meet at the front (upper level/south side) of the Joseph Caputo Center, which is located at 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY, 10562, just west of Rte. 9/Highland Ave. at the junction of Croton Ave., Rte. 133 (from Metro-North Ossining Train Station by taxi or 15-minute uphill walk - parking lots nearby). After a brief walk, descend into the Weir in Ossining and explore the original 1842 brick water tunnel and learn its history.

Required: pre-registration. Walk may be rescheduled if weather does not cooperate.

Croton Dam Hike

Thursday, June 6, 2024 - 11:00am

Walk Leader:

Mario Medici

Presenter:

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Enjoy a free, easy, 2 miles/hours (total) loop hike north along the Aqueduct and atop the beautiful Croton Dam. Meet near the restrooms at the rear (south end) of the parking lot at Croton Gorge Park, Rte. 129, Cortlandt, NY. 10567, GPS Coordinates: 41.22603, -73.85770. The leader of the hike will discuss the history and construction of the Old Croton Aqueduct and the features of the Croton Dam, the trailhead of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. The Aqueduct was completed in 1842 to supply fresh water to a thirsty New York City. (From Metro-North Hudson Line Croton-Harmon Train Station: 15-minute taxi.)

Walk may be rescheduled if weather does not cooperate. Required: preregistration.

The Great 26 Mile Challenge – Walk 5 Yonkers to Van Cortlandt Park

Sunday, June 9, 2024 - 10:00am

Presenter:

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Approximately 3 miles, 3 hours

Walk #5 is the final walk of the Great 26 Mile Challenge designed to cover the entire 26 miles of the Old Croton Aqueduct (OCA) in Westchester. Walkers who have completed the previous 4 segments of the Challenge will be awarded a Patch and a Certificate at the end of the walk. (Patches are free to members of the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, non-members will be charged $10/patch.)

The Details: Terrain will be mostly level with some moderate elevation changes. There will be roots and rocks; please wear appropriate footwear. Please bring lunch, snacks and water – there will be rest stops along the way.
Important Note: This is a one-way walk. Plan accordingly if you will need to return to your starting point.
Meet at Philipse Manor Hall, 29 Warburton Ave., Yonkers 10701. Street parking on Warburton Ave. or in the Warburton Garage next door. Please DO NOT park in the Philipse Manor Hall lot. Metro-North in Yonkers – 5 minute walk
Walk will end at Lawton St. Yonkers 10705 GPS Coordinates: 40°54'26.2"N 73°52'56.9"W Street parking on Lawton St. and McLean Ave, Yonkers. Metro-North at Wakefield – 10 minute taxi ride.

Required: Pre-registration. Will reschedule in the event of rain.

Sleepy Hollow Loop Walk

Thursday, June 27, 2024 - 1:00pm

Walk Leader:

Sara Kelsey

Presenter:

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Along the Aqueduct and within the Rockefeller Preserve

Free, small group, open-air walk of approximately 3 miles/hours. Meet at Aqueduct Ventilator #12, on the Aqueduct Trail just steps south of the intersection of Gory Brook Road and Ridge Street in Sleepy Hollow (on-street parking on Gory Brook Road). We will walk north and discuss the Aqueduct and view some of its structures, including a weir, a 90-foot high embankment carrying the Aqueduct over the Pocantico River, the ghostly remnants of an old Keeper’s House, and touch upon Rockefeller history and the monument in nearby Sleepy Hollow Cemetery to those in the NY Guard’s First Provisional Regiment who perished during the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic while guarding the Aqueduct during The Great War.

Required: pre-registration. Walk may be rescheduled if weather does not cooperate.

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Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

Along the Aqueduct and within the Rockefeller Preserve