Connecting the Walkill River and Shawangunk Ridge, the aptly named River-to-Ridge Trail, which opened in September 2018, runs from New Paltz to the Mohonk Preserve. Begin at the Carmine Liberta Bridge over the Walkill River; from the west side of the bridge, follow the gravel pathway north along the waterfront. (From the east side of the bridge, you can connect to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, which offers a scenic, 21-mile route between Gardiner and Kingston.)
After about a half mile, you'll reach the trailhead on Springtown Road, where travelers will find a number of amenities, including parking, a station for filling water bottles, and a bicycle rental concession stand. A self-service bicycle repair stand, donated by the Red Devil Bike Club, is also available which includes a tire pump, hand tools, and a scannable QR barcode that links to an app with instructions for bike repair.
From the Springtown Road trailhead, the trail heads west, paralleling State Route 299 and providing bicyclists and walkers with a safe alternative to the busy roadway. But the route is not just utilitarian, it's also a beauty with rolling foothills and picturesque farmland.
The trail currently ends at the border of the Mohonk Preserve, though a connecting 2.3-mile loop within the park is planned for completion in summer 2019. The Mohonk Preserve offers numerous outdoor activities, including rock climbing, camping, and hiking, biking, and horseback riding along 19th-century carriage roads.
On the east end of the trail, parking is available at 41 Springtown Road in New Paltz. On the west end of the trail, parking is available on Pine Road near the border of the Mohonk Preserve.
Trail is all gravel so be careful ! It starts in the center of town in New Paltz goes into a field of green & a view of a mountain it’s ok but I would not do again .
Begins okay from the river, but after riding through the field, it becomes rather steep for several hundred feet. There is no shade, since you are out in an open field.
fantastic views, wide open gravel, very hilly, so be prepared for a workout, but you can always walk up some of the hills. The views are amazing. The town of New Paltz is there, so you can enjoy lunch after. fantastic day
On the top of the hill there is a small shack on your right. If you are approached by anybody asking you for a pass or to purchase a daily pass for $20 it’s a scam!!
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