Christopher L.
Yelp
Rockefeller is one of my absolute favorite spots to escape for a morning run or a weekend hike. From Stone Barns to Swan Lake, it's easily accessible and perfect for everything from a 30-minute walk to a day trip. I've been running in the park for about four years, and here is what I've learned:
Download the map. You find an online map here: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/rockefeller/details.aspx. Or here: https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/RockefellerTrailMap.pdf. Trails are usually well marked within the park.
Park for free. You'll pay $6 to park in the main visitor lot from April-October. The park also is limiting capacity in its main lot at the moment to allow park-goers to maintain social distancing, so it might fill up more quickly than you'd expect. I've never actually paid for parking, however, because you also can enter the park for free from Sleepy Hollow Rd., Gory Brook Rd., and various points along Bedford Rd. Do not, however, park along 117. It will end with a ticket.
Bring a mask. The park's trails are generally wide enough to maintain good social distancing, but there's enough of a crowd -- especially near the entrances -- where you'll need to have a mask as well. The park is well used by both hikers and runners, so just be aware of your space on the trail and make room for people passing by.
Connect the trails. There are nearly infinite combinations of loops within the park's trail system, and I still manage to string together new routes. So download the map, bring water, and don't be afraid to try a new path.
The Old Croton Aqueduct and North County Trail also both connect to Rockefeller. Just be aware that while you can bike the OCA and North County, you cannot take them into Rockefeller.
Seek solitude. The park is well-trafficked throughout, but in my experience the trails are more crowded nearest to Swan Lake, Stone Barns, and Rockwood Hall. The areas east of Bedford Rd. and west of Sleepy Hollow Rd. (along the Pocantico River) tend to offer a little more peace and quiet. More generally, you're never actually that far from civilization in Rockefeller. But the trails are so winding and the foliage so thick that you often wouldn't know that you were just 50 yards from a road. That's part of what makes the park such a natural escape.
Find the water. Rockwood Hall offers sweeping views of the Hudson, and Swan Lake is super popular, but my favorite trails to see water are the Pocantico River, Witch's Spring, and 13 Bridges trails.
Mind the beasties (including your own). I've seen deer, coyotes, foxes, turtles, snakes, and turkeys in the park, as well as livestock from Stone Barns like cattle, goats, chickens, pigs, and yet more turkeys. There's also the odd pair of horses pulling a carriage. Enjoy their beauty but keep your distance - the park is constantly having to remind visitors that it is not a petting zoo. Actually, the only animals that have ever given me a problem are unleashed dogs. So please keep them on their tether.
Follow the park's Facebook feed. The Rockefeller State Park Preserve has an active feed that offers regular updates about events and policies, as well as educational media about the park's flora and fauna.