Chester: Forest, Trails and History

Forest, Trails and Local History

Chester offers a variety of reasons to explore the area: an open space that is almost entirely forested, trails for different ways of getting around, and glimpses into local history. For families, these options can shape the focus of an outing: should it center on a nature experience, a bike ride or the region’s history? Each place and trail offers a different focus, without requiring you to limit your trip to just one of them.

Goosepond Mountain State Park is managed as a 1,558-acre open space that is almost entirely forested. The park is undeveloped and has limited parking; it is open to hikers and horseback riders. This clearly defines its natural character: forest, travel on foot or horseback, and limited parking all go together. If you plan to visit this park during your stay, you can take its undeveloped nature and parking availability into account when planning your outing.

The 9-mile Orange Heritage Trail is considered ideal for family bike rides. It is also considered suitable for inline skating, roller skating, wheelchairs and stroller walks. This variety makes it a different option from hiking or horseback riding in the state park: you can base your decision on which way of getting around is right for your outing. The stated 9 miles describes the trail’s length and can serve as a concrete reference point when planning your day.

The Orange Heritage Trailway is a distinct point of interest for anyone interested in rail trails. The 14.5-mile trail runs through Orange County, New York, along the roadbed of the Erie Railroad’s main line from Monroe to near Middletown. In Chester, it is accessible via the Chester Depot Museum on Winkler Place. This connects an interest in railroad history with a specific access point, while the trail itself extends from Monroe to near Middletown.

History and Creative Places

The Chester Local History Museum is located in the 1915 Erie Railroad station at 19 Winkler Place in downtown Chester. The Chester Depot Museum is a 1915 building that was restored in 1999 and currently houses exhibits of local and historical interest. For a stay that includes an interest in local history, these museum details offer a specific connection to Chester and its railroad history. Greycourt Rock Shelter offers another historical perspective: it has been used for at least 5,000 years and is considered one of Claudius Smith’s hideouts during the American Revolutionary War.

Sugar Loaf Arts and Crafts Village adds a different kind of cultural dimension as a community of creative craftspeople and artists. Its offerings include restaurants, shops and galleries in original 16th- and 17th-century buildings. The village is also home to the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. This makes crafts, art and the performing arts additional interests to consider for your trip. If you would like to combine culture and nature, you can take these different focuses into account when choosing outings.

A Local Cream Cheese Story

Chester also has its own culinary story: the Village of Chester claims to be the birthplace of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. C. H. Green and Wm. A. Lawrence were making and selling cream cheese in Chester as early as the 1870s. This connection makes the town’s history interesting from a culinary perspective as well. It adds a specific local tradition to outings in nature and to museum and cultural interests, without requiring a visit to focus on just one subject.

Other places: Slate Hill, West Point, Walden, Cornwall, Port Jervis, Newburgh, New Windsor, Greenwood Lake.

For the broader travel overview: Orange.