Dover Stone Church trail closed to public

DOVER PLAINS — Public access to the famed hiking destination Dover Stone Church has been closed after a Dover resident took action to limit access to the trail from his property.

Signs proclaiming “no public access” in bright red lettering appeared at the trail’s entrance along Route 22 in Dover Plains this week. The signs also feature a QR code that leads to a statement by the property owner, Thomas Whalen.

The main public entrance to the trail crosses over Whalen’s property at 3149 Route 22 in Dover Plains.

The issue is twofold: Whalen, an attorney whose family has owned the adjoining property for generations, has requested that the town insure the part of the trail that crosses his land. He also wants Dover to handle maintenance of the trailhead.

Dover’s town supervisor, Rich Yeno, responded to the signage with a statement posted to Facebook. “Town board members and I have agreed to rectify several issues that the landowner has brought to our team’s attention,” Yeno wrote, “and a price amount to get the entrance back to use.”

The dispute dates back to 2018, when Whalen first filed an objection over the heavy pedestrian traffic and litter. The town claimed the short lane leading to the trailhead was a public right of way. Whalen v. Town of Dover, however, ruled in the homeowner’s favor in 2024. Whalen was awarded $100,000, and the town was asked to provide a certificate of insurance. Whalen said he is still waiting on the insurance, and claims the town does not plow the lane leading up to the trail entrance.

Still, the trail remained open through 2025 — until Whalen learned of plans to connect Stone Church to the Seven Wells, another hiking site that was recently acquired by the town of Dover. “That goaded me to take action,” he said. “I’m waiting for them to make good the agreement, and they’re making these plans.”

Yeno’s statement sounds committed to resolution. “We will fix and do whatever it takes,” he wrote. “Our legal team has worked daily on this and we are ready to go with the deal we have presented along with our partner and supporter in this property, Dutchess Land Conservancy.”

Whalen insists he is not seeking to block access permanently. Rather, he’s looking for a solution to a problem that will ensure the site’s maintenance and safety for future generations. “I’d like to make the entrance very attractive,” he said, “with plantings and maybe a garden.” But the trail needs more oversight: “While most people are just nature lovers,” Whalen said, “there’s a lot of after hours hanging out that is very bothersome.”

The Stone Church is named for its unique rock formation, a cathedral-like cave opening that rises over 300 feet in elevation. The interior contains waterfalls and dazzling shafts of light, with a rocky ledge known as “the pulpit.” Hikers follow a stream and must use bridges and stone steps to access the site, which was purchased by the Dutchess Land Conservancy in 2004.