Shawangunks Regional Trail Network
Less than two hours from New York City lies the “Gunks,” one of North America’s most historic mountain ranges. From primitive backcountry routes to superbly smooth carriage roads, hikers and bikers enjoy 140 miles of trails, while the Wallkill and Rondout rivers provide kayaking and canoeing in one of America’s most storied landscapes.
River to Ridge Trail (Photo: Greg Miller, Courtesy of OSI)
River to Ridge Trail (Photo: Greg Miller, Courtesy of OSI)
River to Ridge Trail (Photo: Greg Miller, Courtesy of OSI)
Student Field Trip at River to Ridge Trail (Photo: Greg Miller, Courtesy of OSI)
Lake Awosting from Hamilton Point Carriage Roads (Photo: Peter Nelson, Courtesy of OSI)
Hamilton Point Carriage Roads (Photo: Peter Nelson, Courtesy of OSI)
River to Ridge Trail (Photo: Greg Miller, Courtesy of OSI)
High Point Carriage Road (Photo: Bill Amos, Courtesy of OSI)
Less than two hours from downtown New York City rise the “Gunks,” one of North America’s most historic mountain ranges. Footpaths along the ridge served Native American communities for millennia. In the shadow of the mountains lies the Wallkill River Valley, where European immigrants settled and farmed from the 1700s into the early 20th century.
In the 1870s, the era of the great lodges was inaugurated with the construction of the Mohonk Mountain House in the heart of the Shawangunks. This phenomenon ushered in a new constituency of vacationers or “rusticators,” who spent their days either in horse-drawn carriages or hiking, botanizing and climbing what would become the most popular rock face in the eastern United States.
The Gunks, anchored by the private Mohonk Preserve and the state-owned Minnewaska Park (together totaling more than 32,000 acres) offers hikers and bikers 140 miles of trails – from primitive backcountry routes to superlatively smooth carriage roads. Additionally, the Wallkill and Rondout rivers provide kayaking and canoeing experiences in one of America’s most storied landscapes.
The crown jewel of the park is its new trail, River to Ridge, funded by Butler Parklands and connecting downtown New Paltz with the soaring heights of the Gunks. Butler Parklands has supported additional infrastructure – including vault toilets, bike racks and screened pavilions – making outings in the Gunks a pure delight.
Butler Parklands also collaborated with the New York-based Open Space Institute, Minnewaska State Park and Mohonk Preserve to restore and construct nearly half of the carriage roads, bike trails and rail trails – further enhancing the Shawangunks Trail Network.
Photos featured are courtesy of the Open Space Institute (OSI).
Park Type:
Partner Park
Location:
Shawangunks Regional Trail Network
River-to-Ridge Trail
41 Springtown Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561
Other Details:
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