The Mohonk Preserve has hiking trails at all levels of difficulty. It boasts the most prominent climbing cliffs in the area- the Trapps and the Near Trapps. This is the place that our community and outdoor activity are centered. To get the smallest taste, park in the West Trapps and walk (10 minutes on flat gravel trail) to the Undercliff road. You'll see climbers in their most traditional environment.
Minnewaska has hiking trails of all sorts. There are short, gentle hikes appropriate for strollers and multi-hour scrambles with fourth-class terrain. Awosting Falls is an extremely popular and accessible destination. On weekends, the park opens at 9am, and is extraordinarily popular. A nice August weekend may see lineups of an hour or more, if you can get in at all. If you are particularly adventurous, Stony Kill Falls is a lovely out-of-the-way destination and Minnewaska State Park. It is a straightforward hike on a developed path, but leaves from a less popular trailhead.
The grasslands is just down the road from the Farm. It has hiking, birdwatching and beautiful views of the Shawangunk ridge.
A little peek at local history. Guided tours of the homes and a lovely place for a stroll.
The Walkway Over the Hudson is one small part of the much longer Empire Trail, which can be taken from the tip of Manhattan to many hundreds of miles upstate. This section offers an easy pavement walk out over the Hudson River and is very popular with great views.
Close to our home is the Wallkill Valley Rail trail, a continuous gravel path that runs from Gardiner north. It is an easy way to bike (or run) to New Paltz, Rosendale, and eventually Kingston. From the New Paltz section, it is possible to even ride the River to Ridge trail and end up in the Shawangunks- the climbing and outdoor recreation center of this place. One walkable and accessible section of the rail trail is the Rosendale Trestle, high above the town that shares its name. With great views of Joppenburg Mountain and the Rondout Creek below, it's a good morning stroll.
Nestled behind the prominent tower on Skytop, the obvious part of the ridgeline you can see from New Paltz, is a fancy hotel: the Mohonk Mountain House. The Mountain House is connected with the rest of the ridge via an extensive network of carriage roads, some of which we use to access climbing, and all of which we bike on regularly. On their grounds are several impressive rock scrambles. They're not quite rock climbing, but they can be challenging. For the intrepid an uphill and somewhat strenuous hike will take you to the base of the Labyrinth, a blazed trail through a talus field below Skytop. This ends at a section called The Crevice, with a previous obstacle named the Lemon Squeeze. Many people simply merge the two features when describing the whole hike. The rewards for your efforts are incredible views of the Mountain House and its adjoining lake, and the rest of the Gunks ridgeline laid out in front of you.
There are a few places to get ice cream around New Paltz, but none are better than the small Huguenot Creamery. The owner works there every night and is very kind.
The Coxing Kill Trailhead at the Mohonk Preserve (listed above) is a very short walk to a lovely swimming hole and waterfall. If the weather is warm, this is a great place to take a dip... and experience the breadth of local culture.