Why Sojourner Truth State Park Makes Hutton Brickyards an Even Better Hudson Valley Getaway
By Craig Friedman
One of the greatest luxuries of staying at Hutton Brickyards has always been space. Set on 100 spectacular acres along the Hudson River, the property feels worlds away from everyday life, with sweeping river views, towering trees, and room to roam.
Now, that experience has become even bigger.
Immediately adjacent to Hutton Brickyards lies one of the Hudson Valley's most exciting new outdoor destinations: Sojourner Truth State Park. Guests looking for the best things to do in Kingston and the Hudson Valley now have hundreds of additional acres to explore — and a swimming area larger than two Olympic-size swimming pools — just steps from their accommodations.
Spanning more than 500 acres, the park dramatically expands what guests can experience without ever getting back in the car. Walk out of Hutton Brickyards and you'll find yourself connected to an extraordinary landscape of riverfront trails, towering limestone cliffs, historic industrial ruins, scenic overlooks, and—new this summer—the spectacular Lake Sophia spring-fed swimming quarry, which officially opened on July 17, 2026. It became the first new public swimming facility added to the New York State Parks system in more than two decades.
Together, Hutton Brickyards and Sojourner Truth State Park create an outdoor playground encompassing more than 600 acres of protected land along the Hudson River.
Dive Into Lake Sophia
The headline attraction this summer is undoubtedly Lake Sophia, a former limestone quarry transformed into one of the Hudson Valley's most distinctive public swimming destinations.
Fed by natural springs and naturally filtered through limestone, Lake Sophia offers exceptionally clear water surrounded by soaring rock walls that feel almost transported from another part of the world (hello Iceland!). Sheer limestone cliffs, rocky ledges, and crystal-clear spring water create scenery unlike almost anywhere else in the Hudson Valley.
Visitors can choose between two lifeguarded swimming areas: a large, accessible swim crib designed for families and beginning swimmers, and a deeper open-water swimming area for more experienced swimmers. Together, the swimming areas are larger than two Olympic-sized pools. That includes a 12,000-square-foot swim crib (4 feet deep) with an in-pool ramp and ADA-compliant gangway. For more experienced swimmers, an additional 16,000-square-foot guarded deep-water swim area (about 15 feet deep) is available.
Accessible changing rooms, showers, restrooms, shaded seating, a first aid station, lifeguard facilities, and other visitor amenities make it an easy place to spend an entire summer afternoon. After a morning exploring Kingston or hiking nearby trails or lying in bed inside a luxe cabin, an afternoon swim in this spring-fed quarry may become your favorite Hudson Valley tradition. And it’s 100% free.
Who paid for all this? It was a $75.6 million project largely supported by $68.1 million in funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act with an additional $7.5 million in funding from New York Works.
Miles of Trails to Explore
Even before Lake Sophia opened, Sojourner Truth State Park had quietly become one of the region's most rewarding places to walk, bike, and explore.
The park features the Hudson River Brickyard Trail, part of both Kingston's Greenline and the renowned Empire State Trail, allowing visitors to stroll or cycle along the river while passing through landscapes rich with both natural beauty and industrial history. In fact, it's one of the few places where the 750-mile Empire State Trail connects directly with the Hudson River and Hutton Brickyards.
Several hiking routes invite visitors deeper into the property. The Steep Rocks Trail climbs gently through woodlands before reaching elevated viewpoints overlooking the Hudson. Along the way, you'll encounter dramatic limestone formations, former quarry walls, wetlands, forests, and open meadows that attract birds and wildlife throughout the year.
Every season offers something different. Spring brings wildflowers and migrating birds. Summer fills the trails with lush greenery and cool river breezes. Autumn transforms the cliffsides into brilliant shades of red and gold. Winter reveals dramatic rock formations often hidden beneath dense foliage.
Whether you're looking for a leisurely riverside walk or a more adventurous hike, this growing park offers plenty of room to wander.
Spectacular Hudson River Views
One of the park's greatest assets is its remarkable waterfront. With more than a mile of Hudson River shoreline, visitors are treated to sweeping 180-degree views stretching both north and south along one of America's most beautiful waterways.
The ADA-accessible riverfront pavilion serves as a welcoming community gathering space, featuring a spacious shade structure and picnic tables overlooking the water. Nearby, an accessible fishing platform invites visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the river. It's equally suited for a family picnic, an afternoon with a good book, or simply watching sailboats and barges glide along the Hudson.
A Landscape Shaped by History
The scenery is dramatic not just because you’re surrounded by nature, but because this was ground zero for the brickmaking industry for centuries. Long before becoming a state park, this landscape helped build New York.
The property was home to brick manufacturing, limestone quarrying, cement production, and ice harvesting. Rather than erase that history, the park — like Hutton Brickyards — embraces it. Visitors can discover remnants of old industrial buildings, impressive quarry walls, and the surviving mule barn that once supported the area's thriving brick industry.
These preserved landmarks create an atmosphere unlike a traditional park. It's a place where forests, wetlands, towering cliffs, and fascinating reminders of the Hudson Valley's industrial heritage exist side by side.
The Story Behind the Name
Sojourner Truth State Park is named to honor the 19th-century African American abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth. Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, she grew up enslaved in Ulster County, New York, where the park is located. After freeing herself and her infant daughter in 1826, she became an impassioned leader in civil rights and the nation's move toward the abolition of slavery and emancipation — even meeting with President Abraham Lincoln to further her cause. She also famously won a court case to rescue her son, making her the first Black woman to win such a lawsuit against a white person.
One of Truth's most historic contributions was delivering her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in 1851, which challenged the marginalization of Black women and highlighted the intersectionality of race and gender.
Follow Truth's journey along the Sojourner Truth Trail - a 0.3-mile trail through the woods - located on the scenic Shaupeneak Ridge in Esopus, within Sojourner Truth State Park, which opened in 2022.
Wildlife Around Every Bend
Despite its industrial past, nature has reclaimed much of the property. Today, Sojourner Truth State Park contains more than 17 distinct habitats, including hardwood forests, wetlands, grasslands, river shoreline, cliffs, and ridgelines.
That diversity supports an impressive variety of birds, butterflies, turtles, and other wildlife. Early morning walkers frequently spot herons fishing along the river, hawks soaring overhead, and songbirds moving through the woods. It's a remarkable example of how conservation can transform former industrial land into a thriving natural landscape.
Getting There
No matter how you choose to get there, you can type “Sojourner Truth State Park” from your current location and use whatever GPS system you like to show the available routes.
Walking: It’s a 45-minute to one-hour walk. This entrance is free. See the 13-minute biking route below, left.
Biking: It takes about 17 minutes to bike there. This mode of transportation is also free. See below, left.
Driving by car: It’s a 10-minute car ride, and admission is $8 per car. See below, right
Parking Exists, But Get There Early
Visitors arriving by car will find convenient parking near the park entrance (open your map and look for Sojourner Truth State Park at 100 Sojourner Truth Way in Kingston, NY). During the Lake Sophia swimming season, parking is available for a modest daily fee ($8), while pedestrians and cyclists can enter free via the Hudson River Brickyard Trail. The parking lot fills up quickly; get there early to snag a spot.
Food & Drink: Fuel Up Next Door
Anyone exploring Sojourner Truth State Park should know that there are no restaurants or bars in the park; people need to pack a lunch or snacks. Or plan your visit with a stop for lunch, dinner, or drinks at The River Pavilion restaurant at Hutton Brickyards next door. It's a rare combination: spend the day immersed in nature before unwinding with exceptional food, craft cocktails, and unforgettable sunsets—without leaving the neighborhood.
The Perfect Neighbor
One of the biggest surprises for first-time guests is that this isn't another attraction you'll need to drive to. Hutton Brickyards serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring one of the Hudson Valley's newest state parks.
Staying at Hutton Brickyards has always meant enjoying one of the Hudson Valley's most beautiful riverfront settings. Now, that experience extends beyond its 100 acres. With more than 500 additional acres of protected parkland immediately next door, guests can spend the day hiking wooded trails, cycling the Empire State Trail, swimming in the spring-fed waters of Lake Sophia, relaxing beside the Hudson River, or discovering the area's fascinating industrial past—all before returning to Hutton for dinner and sunset cocktails.
It's rare to find a hotel with a state park as its next-door neighbor. It's even rarer when that park feels like a natural extension of the property itself. For anyone planning a Hudson Valley getaway, Hutton Brickyards and Sojourner Truth State Park offer the best of both worlds: exceptional hospitality paired with one of New York's newest and most exciting outdoor destinations.
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Swimming at Lake Sophia is open daily 10am – 5:45pm through Labor Day weekend. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash. Additional trails, amenities, and recreational opportunities are planned as future phases of development continue.
Info & Hours for River Pavilion at Hutton Brickyards
River Pavilion Restaurant
Hutton Brickyards
200 North Street
Kingston, NY 12401
845-514-4853
Dinner is Tuesday to Saturday, 5 PM - 9:00 PM (Sunday 2:30 PM - 7 PM)
Lunch is Thursday to Saturday, 12 PM - 2:30 PM
Brunch hours: Sunday, 11 AM - 2:30 PM
Reservations encouraged, walk-ins welcome.
River Pavilion Restaurant & Bar at Hutton Brickyards
