Manitoga (The Russel Wright Design Center)
Directions
In Garrison, on the east side of NY 9D, 2.5 miles north of the Bear Mountain Bridge.
Park Overview
The house, studio and 75-acre woodland garden of mid-century designer Russel Wright (1904-1976) is a National Historic Landmark.
Trail Overview
Trails are laid out ladder-like up the hill toward Lost Pond, making loops of different lengths possible. At the top, connecting trails link Manitoga with the Appalachian Trail and the Osborn Loop in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. Trails are primarily blazed for clockwise travel.
Use the Web Map link on this site to view a hand-drawn and illustrated trail map.
Click for a detailed description of a hike in the park, includes GPS trailhead coordinates.
Park Description
Manitoga was the home and studio of home furnishings designer Russel Wright. The site had been previously damaged by a century of quarrying and lumbering. Wright spent three decades designing and sculpting the landscape using native plants, his training as a theater designer and sculptor, and his innovative design ideas. Though the landscape appears natural, it is actually a careful design of native trees, rocks, ferns, mosses and wildflowers. There are guided tours of the house and studio from May to October, but the trails are open year round.