Shawangunk Screamer
There’s only one way to describe the ~850ft vertical drop exit from Mohonk Mountain House down a winding gravel fire road. Yup, it’s a screamer—and a world of fun! This is a fast ride on rough trails, beginners need not apply.
Ride Details
59 miles
2 day ride
Depart: Metro-North Hudson Line
Grand Central >> Poughkeepsie
Return: Metro-North Hudson Line
Poughkeepsie >> Grand Central
Mix of asphalt, crushed stone, gravel, and dirt
Mostly flat, with one big climb followed by a steep descent
Stay in New Paltz
This loop around the Shawangunk Ridge is a hall of famer for me. You get two woodsie rail trails that are pure catnip for gravel bikes, a strenuous climb followed by an epic descent, and a downright religious view of Sky Top Tower as the grand finale, especially if you timed your ride to wrap in the waning afternoon hours of a crisp autumn day. If you’re looking for similar scenery that’s more low speed, check out the Kingston Weekender.
Day 1: Poughkeepsie >> New Paltz
Make it a weekend. Yes, you can do this ride in a day. I wouldn’t recommend it though, less because of the mileage and more because this is a nice part of the world. Spend a night. That said, I wouldn’t cut the ride itself in half. Do the bulk of the ride in a day to get a full “screamer” out of it. Your call on whether to roll on day 1 or day 2 of the séjour.
Stay in New Paltz. This ride is meant to be ridden as a loop with the descent from Mohonk Mountain House as the climax, therefore New Paltz makes an ideal start/stop point. New Paltz also happens to be a charming little town. Grab a burger and a beer at Clemson Bros. Brewery. Grab some knowledge at Barner Books. Get your gear in order at Bicycle Depot.
Day 2: New Paltz <> Kingston Loop >> Poughkeepsie
Fuel up in Kingston. The route will take you right through Uptown Kingston, aka “The Stockade District” as NYC transplants have rebranded the neighborhood. Locals call them “citidiots”; my mother more affectionately refers to them as “the Brooklyn People”. Name calling aside, you’ll find plenty of good grub here. For quick eats, you can’t go wrong with Diego’s Taqueria or any one of the phenomenal creations at Kingston Bread + Bar. Get your caffeine fix at Outdated or Rough Draft Bar & Books. Above all else, treat yourself to the Hudson Valley’s best cheese danish and late-80s restaurant interior design glam at Deising’s Bakery.
Take five at the Mohonk Mountain House. If you have no idea what this place is, Google it. You too will find yourself wondering how this astonishingly Old World resort, seemingly off the page of some 19th century “Greetings from the Swiss Alps” postcard, ended up 75 miles north of New York City. Typically, you have to pay an entrance fee to access Mohonk. Tell them you’re just cycling through at the gate and more often than not they’ll waive you on in. Be sure to see the Mountain House before you roll out!
Ride it fast. The Wallkill Valley and O&W Rail Trails, as well as the descent from Mohonk down Lenape Lane are an adrenaline dream on a fast bike with knobby tires. Send it!
Be careful. Know your limits and don’t be an idiot (or a citidiot). These rail trails have a lot of roots and rocks that can royally ruin your day if you’re not careful. The Lenape Lane descent from Mohonk has hairpin turns galore, some steep drop offs, and more than a few boulders in your path. Make. Sure. Your. Brakes. Work. And use them liberally.
