Shawangunk, Walden, and Wallkill Rail Trail:
New York
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
Shawangunk, Walden, and Wallkill Rail Trail is built on a railroad right-of-way that was abandoned by Conrail in the late 1970s. Conrail and its predecessors, Penn Central, New York Central, and The Wallkill Valley Railway, provided service to farmers along the route from Montgomery to Kingston by transporting their goods to wholesale markets in New York City.

This trail is currently quite rustic in nature. Although proposals have been made to pave the trail and extend it by another 1.5 miles into downtown Montgomery, many of the trail's equestrian users have voiced strong opposition.

Proponents of the trail extension and move to pavement feel that these initiatives would increase trail use by improving accessibility to families and the disabled and would create additional revenues for local merchants.

For now the trail remains unpaved and its trailheads far removed from the beaten path of busy downtown Montgomery. Its primary users are local horse owners and out-of-town mountain bikers.

Trail users may connect to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail by taking an on-road route (Route 208 and Denniston Road) through Wallkill. This is necessary because a correctional facility has been erected on a portion of the former railroad right-of-way property in the Denniston Road area; this effectively split the two trail networks.

Major highways convenient to trailheads are the NY State Thruway, Interstate Route 84, and NY State routes 208, 52, and 17K.
... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
No dedicated trail user parking facilities are available. Please park legally on local streets in any of the three municipalities presently served by the trail.
... Click to read more
Seasonal Restrictions:
This trail is open year-round. To facilitate cross-country skiing, snow is not removed from the trail.
... Click to read more
Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Surprised
By Eddieboy1 in November, 2009
I have been looking for trails to walk with my daughter and found this trail because it was close to her house. I read that the trail was still unpaved and was reluctant to walk it due to some physical problems. I mapped out where to park (via Google earth)and did not see any trail. I was curious so I decided to look a little closer and found it. I have to say it is a beautiful paved trail. I have a hard time walking more than a mile and I found myself walking it end to end. There is a park on Main St. where you can park and walk to the trail. There are signs if you are coming up 52 towards 208 but none if you come from Montgomery. It is a very peaceful walk and a friendly hello from passersby. I did notice that there are signs on the street crossings to yield for pedestrians in crosswalk, but you need to take much care when crossing streets along the trail. I can't wait until spring and summer to really see the beauty of this trail. 11/29/09
Rode the trail today
By Thurman15 in March, 2009
What a nice, nice trail. Thanks to all who got this trail looking the way it does. It's appreciated.
Work on the trail has begun!
By christyjayk in October, 2008
The trail is in the process of being paved! 10/2/08
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Shawangunk (Rt 208 near Railroad Ave) to Walden (Main St near Highland Ave): 3.5 miles to Wallkill (C. E. Penny Dr and Railroad Ave) to Wallkill (River Rd near Birch Rd): 1 mile
Counties: Orange, Ulster
Trail Length: 4.5 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Crushed Stone, Gravel, Ballast, Grass, Dirt, Cinder
Trail Activities: Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6032393

Related Links
Share this with a friend
Share   Email
... Click to read more
Guidebook: Learn more about other New York rail-trails in RTC's New York Guidebook.