Attractions and Activities
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New Paltz is arguably best known around the world for its outdoor attractions, and for good reason. New Paltz and the surrounding region offers a host of trail options for hikers & bicyclists, with some of the best views of the Hudson Valley.
Sports and Recreation
Sports and Recreation
Rail Trails
From the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, more than 24 miles of linear park connecting Gardiner and Kingston, to the Walkway Over the Hudson, the world's tallest and longest pedestrian walkway, connecting the Hudson Valley Rail Trail on the west side of the Hudson to the Dutchess County Rail Trail on the east side, we've got miles and miles of vehicle-free trails to explore.
Climb~Hike~Bike
The Shawangunk Ridge offers a host of trail options for hikers and bicyclists with some of the best views in the Hudson Valley. Bonticou Crag in the Mohonk Preserve, Skytop on the grounds of the world-renowned, 145-year-old Mohonk Mountain House resort, Awosting Falls in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve and the Ice Caves in Sam’s Point Preserve are just a taste of what the Shawangunk Ridge has to offer. For rock climbers, ‘The Gunks’ are the single busiest climbing destination in North America, with some 50,000 technical climbers visiting the area each year to scale roughly 1200 documented climbing routes. The less adventurous can see the climbers in action from the Mohonk Preserve’s Undercliff/Overcliff trail.
Get off the Ground
Hudson Valley adventure lives in Gardiner at Skydive the Ranch, the #1 skydiving and parachuting school in New York State, serving the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for over 20 years. There's no better way to experience the Valley than to view it in freefall from 13,500 feet. For more off-the-ground adventure, take a trip to Hunter Mountain for the longest and highest zipline canopy tour in North America, or take a scenic skyride on its state-of-the-art lift to the 3,200 foot summit.
Ski
For downhill skiing and snowboarding, New Paltz and the surrounding region is a terrific jumping off point for the Catskill ski region. Hunter Mountain features three separate mountains encompassing a wide variety of terrain catering to skiers and riders of all ability levels, from comfortable and spacious learning terrain perfect for first-time beginners, to steeps and bumps for the seasoned expert.
Cross-Country seekers will find all they need in the Hudson Valley, from Minnewaska State Park Preserve's groomed carraigeways to Mohonk Preserve's ungroomed, backcountry skiing, to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail's highly accessible, flat snow surface.
Images at top of page, left to right: Mohonk Preserve, Bonticou Crag (credit: Rob Kalmbach); Wilcat Epic Bike Race; Hunter Mountain; Skydive the Ranch.
Images in body of page, top to bottom: Walkway Over the Hudson State Park; Clove and Cliffs by G. Steve Jordan (Mohonk Images); Skydive the Ranch; Minnewaska State Park Preserve (credit: Mark Granfors)
Images in body of page, top to bottom: Walkway Over the Hudson State Park; Clove and Cliffs by G. Steve Jordan (Mohonk Images); Skydive the Ranch; Minnewaska State Park Preserve (credit: Mark Granfors)
