May 26, 2023 – Dover Plains, NY

Difficulty: Easy

Length: Approximately 1.5 miles

Max elevation: 518 ft.– total elevation gain approximately 153 ft.

Route type: Out and Back

Map: Dover Stone Church Map

Map: Stone Church Trail Map

Brochure: Dover Stone Church Visitor’s Guide

---

Parking:

Designated parking lots – 

• Dover Elementary School – (When School is NOT in Session & after 3pm) Weekends and holidays. 9 School St, Dover Plains, NY 12522
• Tabor-Wing House – 3128 NY-22, Dover Plains, NY 12522
• Four Brothers Pizza Inn – 3189 NY-22, Dover Plains, NY 12522
• Freshco 22 – 3156 NY-22, Dover Plains, NY 12522

There is no public parking on property on or near the right-of-way (driveway) off Route 22. Parking there may be subject to ticketing & towing. The right-of-way traverses private property. Please be respectful.

I have been going to Stone Church for years and have always parked in the Freshco 22 lot. Please use common sense and park away from the front of the stores there. They generously allow parking in their lot, but don’t abuse the privilege by parking where paying customers to the establishment may park. The lot is sizeable so you can park where you won’t be a hindrance to paying customers. 

---

Overview:

This 174-acre public preserve, features more than four miles of hiking trails leading to a natural rock formation called the Dover Stone Church. The “church” is formed by a fissure in the metamorphic rock through which the Stone Church Brook flows, forming a number of ledges and beautiful cascades that descend into a pool below. The outlet of the stream is through a stately arch, which forms the cathedral-like entrance, giving this special attraction its name.

The Stone Church Brook, a tributary of the Ten Mile River, flows through and out the cavern entrance.

---

History:

The first reference to the Dover Stone Church comes from legend dating back to the mid 1600’s when Pequot sachem Sassacus who, with his warriors, hid in the cave to escape capture and death by the British Army.

The Historical Marker on Stone Church Lane has a typo. It should read “New London” not “New Loudon.” 

The popularity of the Stone Church dates back to the 1830’s, when thousands of visitors would come see this natural phenomenon and stay in the adjacent Stone Church Hotel. The romantic nature of the Stone Church and the proximity to the hotel, made it a popular wedding site. The Stone Church captured the attention of Hudson River School artist Asher B. Durand who depicted the site in his Master Drawing in 1847. It was also the subject of a book by Benson Lossing, a local historian, entitled The Dover Stone Church.

The protection of Dover Stone Church was the result of the combined efforts of the Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC), the Town of Dover, the Friends of Dover Stone Church, and Dutchess County, who together raised the funds to buy and preserve the initial 58 acres in 2004. Since that time the DLC has worked with the Town to secure several additional parcels to enlarge the Preserve to today’s 174 acres, to establish a tree-lined entrance from the Village. In 2015, three new trails were blazed and opened to the public.

The Dover Stone Church property is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and Places.

Today, the Dover Stone Church Preserve is a popular local attraction, and a tourist destination spot.

---

Trails Overview:

• The original Stone Church Cave Trail (0.2 mile from first footbridge), while generally easy, follows closely alongside the Stone Church Brook, and the rocks are often wet and slippery. High water may cover stepping-stones during rainy periods.

New trails include two providing “lollipop loop” hikes:

• Red Trail – 1.0 mile, loop from trailhead
• Yellow Trail – 1.0 mile, loop from trailhead
• Blue Trail – 1.5 mile, out-and-back from trailhead

---

Hike Overview:

This is more a pleasant walk rather than a hike, although the trail along the gorge to the cave, is a bit rocky and can be wet at times. A pair of waterproof hiking boots is a good idea when visiting.

I have been to this scenic spot more times than I can count. It is simply a wonderful place to spend a little time at. It can be crowded at times, especially on weekends. On this visit, we arrived around noon on a Friday, leading up to Memorial Day weekend. I was pleasantly surpised that we were the only souls there. On our way back, after spending a little time there, we passed a couple, then a family heading down the treelined path.  Regardless, it’s simply a wonderous place to visit anytime of year.

This short, out and back hike, only covers the route from the Freshco 22 parking lot, to the cave and back. 

As you can see by the graph below, there is not much elevation gain on this hike.

---

The Hike:

This hike begins in the parking lot of Freshco 22. Walk out onto Mill Street and head west towards Route 22. When you get to the intersection, carefully cross the street and turn left. In a short distance, you’ll see a blue and yellow Historical Marker at the junction of Route 22 and Stone Church Lane. The arrow on the sign indicates the direction of Dover Stone Church Preserve. Stone Church Lane is a right-of-way that traverses private property. Please stay on the gravel road and respect the privacy of right-of-way property owners.

 

 

At the end of the gravel right-of-way, there is a Dover Stone Church sign and a granite stairway.

 

From the sign, the path immediately descends on granite steps into a flat, man-made valley. Young Maple trees that give a sense of formality to the start of the hike, line the way here. At the end of this flat walk, another shorter set of steps takes the path into woods and near the brook.

 

 

 

 

 

The trail emerges briefly into an open area, where there is a kiosk with some history and information about Dover Stone Church. Turn left and you will see another welcome sign for the preserve. Follow the path across a wooden footbridge and remain on the dirt path after crossing Stone Church Brook.

 

 

 

 

When you reach the trail sign, bear right and follow the path upstream on the left side of the brook. The path, for the most part, traverses rocks or flat stones. It rises gently through the deep gorge, and after a good rain, Stone Church Brook is filled with the sound of running water from several lovely cascades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A short distance later, the gothic-like entrance to the Stone Church cavern comes into view.

In my opinion, this footbridge, which must be a recent addition, is an eyesore. They should have left this area in its natural state. 

 

Large metamorphic rocks converge to form the entrance in the shape of a church’s cathedral window. The gothic appearance of the cave entrance gave rise to the name “Stone Church.”

 

 

 

 

Inside the cavern, there is a 30-foot waterfall cascading into a pool of water that flows through and out the cavern entrance and continues as the Stone Church Book.

 

 

Inside the cavern is a rock ledge, affectionately given the name “The Pulpit” by Richard Maher, a Dover Plains resident and former town clerk who wrote the book, Historic Dover in 1908.

Stone Church Brook, which flows through the Stone Church cavern, is a tributary of the Ten Mile River. The Ten Mile River flows southeast and is a branch of the Housatonic River in Connecticut.

When you are done enjoying this marvelous slice of nature, retrace your steps on the Stone Church Cave Trail, cross the stone footbridge, past the Maple trees, climbing the granite steps and back to the parking area, where this hike began.

 

 

 

 

---

Review:

An exceptional outdoor experience that is worth visiting in every season. If you so desire, you can check out the other trails in the preserve, but the highlight is obviously the “Stone Church.” 

Pros:

Stone Church, Stone Church Brook, scenic landscape, historical feature, shaded trails.

Cons:

That unsightly wooden footbridge near the cave entrance is an eyesore, place does attract crowds during warm weather.

---

Take a hike!

Sources:

• Dover Stone Church Preserve
• Dover Stone Church – Historical Marker Database

---