Welcome to New Paltz!

Settled beneath the Shawangunk Ridge, New Paltz is one of the jewels of Ulster County. Visitors come to New Paltz for a variety of reasons: to swim in glacial lakes, cycle on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, learn about the region’s rich history and culture, sample the seasonal bounty of New Paltz’s many farms, orchards, and wineries, enjoy the sights and scents of flowering gardens and delicious meals, climb unique rock faces, take adventurous hikes and enjoy spectacular views. 


​Art & Culture
​Art, education and culture thrive in New Paltz. History comes alive on Historic Huguenot Street, a National Historic Landmark District featuring seven unique stone houses dating to the early 1700s, a burial ground and a reconstructed 1717 stone church, all in their original setting. Visit the State University of New York at New Paltz for exciting live music, theater and dance performances or to check out the world class permanent collection and groundbreaking exhibitions at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. Discover the work of local musicians, actors, artists and craftspeople in New Paltz’s smaller galleries and performance spaces, including Unison Art and Learning Center’s fantastic outdoor sculpture walk, open year-round. Come to town to experience work from Hudson River School of artists to contemporary photographers and painters at dozens of different art and culture venues with Art Along the Hudson - New Paltz. 

Restaurants, Wineries & Farm Markets
​Celebrate New Paltz’s long and bountiful agricultural history. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, peaches and pumpkins in season, feast on baked goods fresh from the oven, and be sure to pick up some goodies to savor at home. Sample world-renowned Hudson Valley wines on the Shawangunk Wine Trail located through the Shawangunk Mountain Region, composed of 12 family-owned wineries, all proud of their well crafted reds and whites, ranging from dry to sweet. Oenophiles will find award-winning vinifera and French/American varietals and blends alongside sparkling wines, beautifully made local fruit wines and much more. Dining in New Paltz is always a treat, with a broad range of dining options to please anyone’s palate. In New Paltz you’ll find farm-to-table and vegetarian options, fine and casual dining, wine bars and even seasonal beer and food pairings at the local brew pub. The annual Taste of New Paltz festival is a fine opportunity to sample it all. 

Outdoor Attractions
New Paltz is best known for its outdoor attractions. 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, 140-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. Adventurers can also access miles of rail trails. 

Shopping
As a shopping destination, New Paltz truly has something for everyone. From clothing, jewelry and shoes to fine art, unique craft items and antiques, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in New Paltz’s uptown or downtown shopping districts. If you favor fresh air, great deals and an amazing variety of shops, stores, and one-of-a-kind specialties, you can't do better than New Paltz and the surrounding region.