Our Stay in Poughkeepsie, NY
October 2025
Early Morning Run, Noon Departure, and Two Unforgettable Bridges
- October 28, 2025
- ~ 102 mi
- ~ 3.5 hrs
On the day of our departure, we had plenty of time before checkout. We got up early, and after our run, we had 2.5 hours to pack everything. At exactly noon, we returned our room passes and were on our way again. We had a short commute, so we made one detour and two stops.
The first stop was the Henry David Thoreau Footbridge in Hidden Valley Preserve, Washington Depot, CT. This 160-foot suspension bridge spans the Shepaug River and is an appropriate tribute to the American naturalist and philosopher Thoreau, who explored this region in 1852. Some of his quotes, such as “What a piece of wonder a river is,” are engraved on the bridge.
Because we didn’t want to leave our four-legged companion, Hemmes, alone, my husband and I took turns seeing the bridge: one of us stayed in the car while the other quickly hiked the short trail. Even though we couldn’t hike deeper into the valley, it was still a rewarding stop.
Our second stop was on route at the Bulls Bridge Scenic Area in Kent, CT, just about half a mile from New York’s border. We crossed the bridge in our car, since it is one of the few still-functional covered bridges in the state. Crucially, the bridge is single-lane, making the drive through an unforgettable experience.
Since 1972, the bridge has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Again, this was a quick stop, so after taking some pictures of the memorable bridge, the mighty waterfall, and the rustic Housatonic River, we were on our way again.
