If hiking had to choose a favorite season, it would most definitely pick fall. Low crowds, plenty of sunshine, cool but not cold temperatures—walking around in the outdoors was meant to happen from September through November. But while East Coast leaf-peeping crowds scamper off to New England to catch the changing season, Mohonk Reserve along the New York Appalachians is in the Big Apple’s backyard, and one of the best kept secrets in the state.
With more than 40 miles of trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding, the preserve offers plenty of adventure and enough terrain to sustain it. One of the highlights has to be the Mohonk Mountain House, an old 20th century hotel that still operates on the picturesque cliffs above Mohonk Lake. Stolen straight from a Bavarian postcard, it’s pretty hard to believe this little niche in upstate New York is home to such natural beauty.
Before straying too far from home, the Tri-State needs to add Mohonk to their weekend to-do list. Here’s everything you need to know.
There’s a certain magic to a leaf-covered walk in the woods, and Mohonk is no exception. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
What: Mohonk Preserve is an 8,000-acre private land trust and member supported nature preserve along the northern edge of the Shawangunk Ridge (a section of the Appalachian Range). The preserve partnered with the Mohonk Mountain House in 1986 to become a National Historic Landmark and currently receives about 150,000 annual visits from hikers, climbers, and skiers.
Where: Just 90 miles north of New York City, Mohonk is located in Ulster County near New Paltz and Gardiner.
How to get there: From New York City, take I-87 North to exit 18. Follow signs for Route 299 West, then turn right on to Route 44. The visitor center will then appear on your right.
When to go: Fall! Summer and spring aren’t bad times to be in the woods, but when the leaves are changing up north, it’s hard to beat a fall hike.
Prominent ridgelines run through the preserve, making for good climbing and some good overlooks. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Must hit: There are several good vantage points in the preserve, but the Staircliff Path offers some of the best views out over Mohonk Lake and the iconic mountain hotel. For a longer hike, the High Peters Kill hike is a 7.5-mile round-trip with awesome ridge views. For climbers, the area offers more than five linear miles of cliff face with more than 1,000 routes and tons of bouldering options.
Do: If you’re going to get a couple weekends in, buy a trail pass. It costs $55, but it’ll pay itself off pretty quickly considering you’ll pay $12 each trip otherwise.
Don’t: Park at the Mohonk Mountain House. Though it is partners with the preserve, it is a private resort and you will get a nice fat ticket. There are four trailheads around the preserve that offer parking, so check the Mohonk Preserve website for more info.
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