Minnewaska State Park Preserve comprises 12,000 acres of wild & scenic landscape on the Shawangunk ridge. Clear streams and lakes, cliffs, waterfalls, all against a backdrop of beautiful vistas of the neighboring Catskill Mountains.
This is a great bike ride. It's really nice up there. The trails are wide, cinder carraige trails. Nothing technically difficult - no fallen trees or rock fields or anything like that. We will bike around Lake Awosting and up to Castle Point, around 15-20 miles. You can use a hybrid or MTB (just not a skinny tire roadbike).
Bring enough water for the day and a snack for lunch, as neither is available in the park. Also bring a tire patch kit and a spare tube if you have one. And of course a bike helmet is mandatory.
We will make a brief stop at Lake Awosting to dip our feet in the water to cool off. If you want to dive in all the way, feel free to bring a swimsuit.
Afterwards we'll stop at the Guilded Otter Brewery in New Paltz to have food and drink before heading back home.
Directions: Take NY Thruway (Rt 87) North to Exit 18 - New Paltz. Make a Left onto Rt 299 West and head into town (road name changes to Main Street).
Go about 1-1/2 miles. We'll meet at The Bicycle Depot" located at 15 Main Street on the right side of the street at 10:15am.
If you don't have an MTB you can rent one there for $35. You'll just have to put the bike on someones rack to get it to get it to the park.
From the bike shop I'll lead everyone as we drive another 20 minutes into the park. The Parking Fee in the park is ~$7.00 per car.
If you a running late...
Continue on Rt. 299 West/Main Street about 6 miles until you reach a T intersection. Turn Right on Rt. 44/55. Continue for about 4-1/2 miles and make a Left into the entrance of Minnewaska State Park. Go up the steep twisty hills about 3/4 of a mile to the main parking area on the right hand side.
NOTE:
If you plan to come you must call me at 201.281.2633 by Friday Evening to confirm you are coming. That way I know to expect you, and can inform you if I have to cancel due to bad weather.---LINKS BELOW---
PARK WEBSITES:
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info
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