We have teacher, coach, historian, naturalist, and mentor Peter Oley to thank, in large part, for the existence of this trail way system. Peter served the Village of Irvington for over half a century, and his enthusiasm for the “back forty,” as he called the area, stemmed from his conviction that these woods offer more than just tremendous recreational opportunities to counter today’s sedentary lifestyle. He recognized that the Irvington Woods is one of the most important habitat corridors in the New York City metropolitan area, and a natural wonder. He appreciated the panoramic Hudson River vistas and wonderfully diverse plant and animal life that bring people in closer touch with the natural world. Peter also had great respect for the Woods’ significant historical value, treasuring the Hermit’s Grave and the remnants of old estates that dot the Woods. Preserving the Woods protects the village against overdevelopment, and maintaining Irvington’s rural and historic character was a goal close to Peter’s heart.
The widely used Peter Oley Trails are the home of the Irvington High Schools’ award-winning scholar-athlete varsity team. The trails also are the beneficiary of many Eagle Scout and Girl Scout gold award projects including: trail markers, bridges, observation posts and walks, stairs, paths, culverts etc.
The trails are often used by the Irvington community for hiking, biking, dog walking ( only on a leash, and only when owners responsibly clean up), educational and ecology walks, running and picnicking.
Our schools students and faculty use the trails when traveling to the O’Hara Nature Center for various educational programs. The trails system is buttressed by kiosks on the Mountain Road and Cyrus Field Road. The kiosks each have a large trail map guide with smaller paper brochures for your recreational use.