ying to the west of New Paltz are the mountains and cliff faces of the Shawangunks, affectionately known as "The Gunks." From every point in New Paltz and the surrounding area The Gunks loom up as a massive backdrop.

Formed some 420 million years ago, The Gunks have been eroded by weather and ground down by glaciers to form a unique landscape ideal for hiking, biking, skiing and climbing. Within 15 minutes of the center of New Paltz are over 200 miles of trails located in the three properties preserving The Gunks: Mohonk Mountainhouse, Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The trails range from wide and pleasant carriage roads to steep and challenging rock scrambles.

The ridge is capped by a layer of gleaming white quartz causing the unique erosion patterns that have formed the cliffs. This unique geology has created the most exceptional site for technical climbing on the East Coast, and one of the best in the world. Devotees drive all night on Fridays to arrive and climb the cliffs. Everyone has their favorite locations, the Trapps, Near Trapps, Sky Top, Millbrook and Peter's Kill. On any beautiful warm day you will find hundreds of avid climbers of all skill levels scaling the dizzying heights.

And the geology has led to the evolution of a distinct ecosystem designated by the Nature Conservancy as one of the world's 75 "Last Great Places." The mountain soil is acidic, sparse, shallow and nutrient poor. The ridge is prone to fires and is exposed to harsh weather. The result is an ecosystem like no other in the world, dependant on these conditions, an extremely rare and fragile ecosystem. On the ridge top are 5,000 acres of pitch pine forests, 7,000 acres of pitch pine & oak heath were some of the pines are over 300 years old, and pitch pine blueberry swamps.

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The Gunks are home to numerous rare and endangered species of plants. Fox, bear, deer, porcupine, beaver, bobcat, skunks and snakes abound. And the Gunks are ideally situated on the major migratory paths of birds making them a perfect location to observe both permanent residents as well as those just passing thru.

Accessing all of this bounty can be a bewildering set of choices. Just follow the links below and find out what's where. Then make sure to read a little further down to find out what to do if where you want to go is full, and a few tips.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Mohonk Preserve

Want some outdoor fun? Come to The Gunks!!!

But there are a couple of things you should know in laying your plans. The Shawangunk Ridge in New Paltz is an exceptionally popular place, thousands flock there on pleasant warm days. With alarming frequency, Minnewaska and Mohonk will actually shut down before they officially open in the morning from the crush of people. They both limit the number of people that can access their properties by limiting the number of cars that are allowed into their parking lots.

So if you want to go to Minnewaska State Park Preserve or Mohonk Preserve via Route 44/55, GET THERE EARLY!

Plan ahead! If you get to either place and they have indeed shut down, you have alternatives. Basically speaking they open the parking lots and allow additional cars in every hour, but just so many cars as have left. Depending upon where you want to go, here are the parking places for you to head for:

• Mohonk Preserve - Visitor Center Lower Parking Lot - located just to the south of the hairpin turn on Route 44/55.
• Mohonk Preserve - Visitor Center Upper Parking Lot - located just to the south of the hairpin turn on Route 44/55.
• Mohonk Preserve - Trapps Entrance Parking Lot - located about a half mile west of the Trapps Bridge on Route 44/55.
• Minnewaska - Peter's Kill Parking Lot - located about a mile and a half east of the main entrance.
• Minnewaska - Awosting Parking Lot - located immediately adjacent and to the west of the main entrance.
• Minnewaska - Lake Minnewaska Parking Lot - just follow the road into the preserve from the main entrance.

Until '98 parking was allowed along several sections of Routes 44/55. But with the opening of the Mohonk Preserve Trapps Visitor Center the Town of Gardiner has finally started cracking down on parking in the area. It's been a dangerous situation which is now shifting into the new parking areas. "No Parking" signs have been erected all along Routes 44/55, and they mean business.

If the parking area you have targeted is full, don't worry. Go to another one! An exceptional feature of The Gunks is that all of the trails and carriageways interconnect and you can flow from one property to another.

But what do you do if its that perfect warm day and everything is full? Simple, go around back!

The area centered on Routes 44/55 is the most popular section of The Gunks, but there is much more for you to enjoy. If everything is full along Route 44/55, there are two other places where you can go on the Mohonk Preserve that will provide you access to unlimited hiking and biking. Between the two of them there is always parking, except on those most unusual of days.

If you are at Mohonk, point your car toward the west on Routes 44/55. If you are at Minnewaska, go east on Route 44/55. You want to find Clove Road, it will junction off or Routes 44/55 to the north about midway between Mohonk and Minnewaska. When you first see Clove Valley Road you may become nervous, but don't! It's a good solid road. Turn off of Routes 44/55 onto Clove Valley Road and head north. When you come to the "Y" intersection, stay on Clove Valley Road and go to the right.

This is a particularly lovely section of road with the stream running along side on the left. And make sure to look at the stream. It's a little unusual as the soils are so shallow its actually running along on the surface of the rock. In a mile or so you will come to the Clove Valley Road entrance to the Mohonk Preserve. The parking lot is small but you may luck out.

If you don't, just continue on Clove Valley Road heading north. In a couple of miles you will come to an intersection. At all intersections from now on always take your right hand choice and follow the main road. After you start heading slightly uphill start watching, on the left, for signs leading you to the "Spring Farm" entrance to the Mohonk Preserve.

"Spring Farm" is a very under utilized section of the Mohonk Preserve and there is almost always parking available. The northern section of the preserve is very different in feeling from the Routes 44/55 section. Its rolling hills & meadows, easy walking and spectacular views.

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If it's one of those days tho when every parking slot is full and you want to scream, don't! There's so much more to do in New Paltz that you wont miss the mountaintop. Visit Huguenot Street and experience life in the 17th century. Take the New Paltz Historic Tour and see how the town grew. Or take a break and stop for a leisurely lunch at one of the many bistros and cafes on Main Street. Or how about visiting the wineries! There are so many things to do in New Paltz you simply can't have a bad time.

Some Tips!

• Plan ahead! The Shawangunk Ridge is just 90 minutes north of Manhattan and within a three hour drive of 26 million people. Arrive early.
• Come Prepared! Neither Mohonk Preserve nor Minnewaska State Park Preserve have anything but the barest of facilities for you. There are no food concessions or restaurants or other amenities of that sort. So if you want food and drink, you must bring it with you. If you are "day tripping" into the Mohonk Mountainhouse, there is a day use canteen where you can get snacks and light beverages.
• Take It Back Out! Both the Mohonk Preserve and the Minnewaska State Park Preserve are "Carry In- Carry Out." Whatever you take in you must take back out with you.
• Be Careful! The Shawangunk Ridge is honeycombed with ravines, gullies and sheer cliffs. More injury and death occurs in the preserves from people quite literally falling off a precipice than any other reason. So stay well back from cliff edges and drops. Use your common sense and know your limits.
• Relax! It's a beautiful day and you are out in one of the most spectacular regions in the world. Open your eyes, look around you and observe the details. Slow down just a little and allow it to fill your spirit.
• Have Fun! The Shawangunks provides unparalleled chances to experience the extraordinary natural world and have a great time doing it!