Seventh Annual Hudson River Ramble slated for Sept. 16-17 and 23-24

Orange County — Thousands are expected to ramble through ten counties from Albany to New York City during the Seventh Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble scheduled for Sept. 16-17 and 23-24. Visit www.hudsonrivervalley.com for a complete listing of Ramble events. Most events are free. Orange County Land Trust, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, Hudson River Valley Greenway and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are have announced the Ramble. The Orange County Land Trust is participating with two events: Canoe the Wallkill - 10 a.m. on Sept. 16. Bring your own canoe or sign up to use one from the Orange County Land Trust. Call the office at 343-0840 to register. Registration is required and space is limited. Hike Snake Hill - 9 a.m. on Sept. 17. For magnificent views of the Hudson and to walk through erratics ( big boulders). Meet at parking lot on San Giacomo Dr. on Rte. 69/Union Ave. in the Town of New Windsor. Sturdy shoes, water, and insect repellant are suggested. Covering ten counties with more than 160 events, participants will have the opportunity to explore the Hudson River Valley and Hudson River Estuary by boat and on foot through a variety of guided walking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and biking experiences that highlight nationally significant historical, cultural and natural resources of the valley. Several events offer an in-depth exploration of heritage themes such as the Revolutionary War, the Hudson River School of Art, the Great Estates and the Hudson River Estuary. Last year, participation in the Ramble swelled to over 150,000 people and with a record number of events and festivals being offered again this year, another great turnout is expected. Mary Mangione, acting director of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and the Hudson River Valley Greenway, expressed enthusiasm about sponsoring the seventh consecutive year of the Hudson River Valley Ramble, and stated, “The Hudson River Valley Ramble provides a great opportunity for people of all ages and ability levels to explore the landscape, trails, historic sites and communities throughout the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. With over 160 events being offered this year, there is truly something for everyone so I encourage all to participate!” All Ramble events are led by naturalists, ecologists, geologists, historians and trained volunteers from participating groups, which include nearly 100 environmental, land conservancy, trail and historic preservation organizations, such as Scenic Hudson, Inc., the Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy and The Riverkeeper. Many New York State historic sites and parks, as well as the National Park Service, also participate. Events are offered for every ability level and most are free. Visit www.hudsonrivervalley.com for more information about the Hudson River Valley Ramble and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. The website features maps for each event and information on tourism, lodging and Hudson Valley Heritage sites, making it easy to plan a Ramble excursion. The Ramble brochure is one of the most comprehensive regional recreational guides and can be used as a reference throughout the year. To request a brochure, call 1-800-453-6665, e-mail ramble@hvc.rr.com, or visit www.hudsonrivervalley.com to download a copy.