The Father's Trail in Barrytown
by Sheila Buff

When the Father's Trail on the grounds of the Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown was opened to the public in May of 2006, it formed another local link in the Hudson Valley Greenway Heritage Trail. This trail system provides public access to scenic lands along the Hudson River in partnership with local organizations. The easement on the Father's Trail segment is held by the Winnakee Land Trust.

The trail is a 1.25-mile loop that begins and ends near the main buildings of the Unification Theological Seminary. It's named in honor of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church. For now, the trail doesn't connect with any other local trails, though Greenway Heritage Trail managers hope that in the future the trail will connect with other nearby scenic areas. (Montgomery Place separates the UTS property from the trails at Bard College to the north. To the south, the trail is separated from Poet's Walk park by private property.)

The UTS campus is on the site of the former estate of John R. Livingston, known as Massena. When Livingston died, the estate was purchased by John Aspinwall, a shipping magnate and relative of the Roosevelts. As a young boy, Theodore Roosevelt spent weeks visiting the Aspinwalls and exploring the Tivoli Bays area—an experience said to have kindled his lifelong interest in natural history. Family members continued to live on the estate until 1911, when the property was sold to the Kip family of Rhinecliff. In the 1930s Massena became a Christian Brothers novitiate and school for boys. It was purchased by the Unification church in 1974; UTS opened in 1975.

Walking the Father's Trail
The Father's Trail is an easy walk along a broad, clear path through rolling woodlands. The trail parallels the railroad tracks for about half its length and provides nice views out over the Hudson and over Tivoli South Bay.

To begin the walk, follow the clear signs for the UTS and the Father's Trail on Barrytown Road (Cty. Rt. 82) in the hamlet of Barrytown. Enter the 250-acre UTS property at the main entrance and park in the lot on right past the guard booth. A sign in the parking area points you toward a large open field to the left of the booth. Follow the mowed path around the edge of the field for about ten minutes. The trail then enters the woods and heads north, paralleling the river and the railroad tracks. This portion of the trail has the look of an old farm road, perhaps one that once led to a dock along the river. After another ten minutes or so, you arrive at a fork in the trail. Bearing to the right takes you to Harvest House and some other campus outbuildings, then back to the parking area past the main seminary building. Straight ahead takes you in just a few minutes to a promontory with a lovely view looking north over South Tivoli Bay and upriver. A plaque on a boulder here commemorates a visit by Rev. Moon in 1977. The trail continues to the right along the edge of the cove. Benches, a picnic table, and another plaque commemorating Rev. Moon are in this area. The cove area is used as an iceboat launch in the winter by members of the Hudson River Ice Yacht Club. The trail from here on turns inland and back toward the campus. It gets a little steeper, but remains very manageable. In about ten minutes you emerge from the woods near a kiosk and another large boulder with a plaque, this one commemorating the trail. At this point you have a choice of continuing straight ahead on a dirt road or bearing to the left past Harvest House. Both routes take you back to the main seminary building and the parking area in about five minutes.

For more information about the Hudson River Valley Greenway Heritage Trail system, visit the Greenway website at www.hudsongreenway.state.ny.us.