Taconic State Park is located along 16 miles of the Taconic Mountain Range, sharing a border with Massachusetts and Connecticut. Two developed areas, Copake Falls and Rudd Pond, offer an extensive trail system with terrain that varies from easy to challenging, offering spectacular views.
Rudd Pond has 15 tent sites and 26 tent platform sites, each providing campers with grand views of the ridge, pond, and nearby countryside. Each campsite has a picnic table and a camp fire ring and grill. Comfort stations and a hot water shower house are conveniently located in the campground. Campers or day visitors to the Rudd Pond area can participate in a wide variety of activities including swimming, picnicking, hiking, and biking. Families and individuals alike will enjoy boating on the scenic 64 acre pond. Motorized boating is not permitted, however, rowboats and canoes are available for rental from the park. Visitors who possess regional boating permits (available for purchase at the Park Office) are also welcome to launch their own rowboats, canoes, or kayaks. A variety of fish, including bass, sunfish and pickerel, inhabit the pond and fishing is permitted with a New York State Freshwater Fishing License. Licenses are available for purchase from nearby locations in town. In the winter months, visitors can ice skate and fish on the pond, conditions permitting.
In season deer and bear hunting (rifle/shotgun/bow), turkey hunting (bow/shotgun), rabbit/hare hunting, squirrel, fox and ruffed grouse hunting are permitted. Small game season begin November 1st. A New York State hunting license is required. Please be aware that Taconic State Park property encompasses land in both Columbia and Dutchess Counties. Please adhere to the appropriate regulations set forth by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The use of handguns are not permitted in any state parks. No youth hunts.
Activities:
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Hunting
Amenities:
Boat Launches
Boat Rentals
Campsites
Grills
Picnic Tables
Playgrounds
Showers
Swimming Beach
Tent/Trailer Sites