Town
Where to Stay in New Paltz & the Shawangunks
The Shawangunk Ridge runs through Ulster County, and two properties sit on it. Mohonk Mountain House is a Victorian castle resort on a private lake, run by the same Quaker family since 1869, with 85 miles of trails and carriage roads. Minnewaska Lodge, with 26 rooms, is at the base of the ridge next to Minnewaska State Park Preserve, with its cliff-top lakes and carriage roads. New Paltz, below the ridge, is a college town, home to SUNY New Paltz, with outdoor gear shops, restaurants and easy access to the trailheads. Historic Huguenot Street has stone houses built in the early 1700s. The town is also the base for the Gunks, a traditional rock-climbing area that draws climbers from across the country.
Mohonk Mountain House
Featured StayNew Paltz · Resort
A Victorian castle resort on a private lake in the Shawangunk Mountains, founded by the Smiley family in 1869, run by the same family since, and a National Historic Landmark. Guests have 2,000 acres of hiking trails, indoor and outdoor pools, and a spa with a steam room, a sauna and an outdoor heated mineral pool. Three meals a day are included in the rate.
Victorian castle on a private lake, run by the same family since 1869. Hiking trails across 2,000 acres of the Shawangunks.
Minnewaska Lodge
Gardiner · Lodge
A 26-room lodge at 3116 Route 44/55 in Gardiner, at the base of the Shawangunk Ridge next to Minnewaska State Park Preserve, about 90 minutes from New York City. Climbers and hikers use it as a base for the Gunks, and the preserve's lakes and carriage roads are close by. The climbing cliffs are a short walk from the property.
Why Stay in New Paltz & the Shawangunks
- •Mohonk Mountain House combines a Victorian resort, a private lake, 85 miles of trails and carriage roads, and afternoon tea.
- •Minnewaska State Park Preserve has swimming lakes on the ridge and cliff-top carriage roads, and Minnewaska Lodge is at its edge.
- •The Gunks draw climbers from across the country, and the Trapps cliffs are minutes from town.
- •New Paltz has a real main street with gear shops, good food, and Huguenot Street for anyone interested in colonial history.
What Makes This Area Interesting
- •Mohonk Preserve: 8,000 acres of hiking and climbing trails on the ridge; day passes available if not staying at Mohonk Mountain House.
- •Minnewaska State Park: ridge-top lakes (Awosting, Minnewaska), carriage roads, and the longest stretch of exposed white conglomerate cliffs in the region.
- •The Gunks: the Trapps and Near Trapps are about 10 minutes from New Paltz; the Uberfall area is busy on good-weather weekends.
- •Historic Huguenot Street: stone houses built in the early 1700s, open for tours.
- •Sam's Point Preserve: the southern end of the ridge, with Verkeerderkill Falls and ice caves; more remote and less visited than the northern Gunks.
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