• where:  Ulster County, NY.

• 58 miles.  Some big steep hills (5200 vertical feet, hill index 6.9). 

 - - Variation D is 71 miles, hilly. 

• highlights:  Several great descents and climbs with sweeping views over three major watersheds (Wallkill, Rondout, Esopus), lots of quiet back roads and fun little downhills -- and the biggest cliffs, the largest lake, and the highest summits in the Hudson Valley.  

Goes over the Shawangunk ridge, into the Catskill mountains, and back across the Shawangunk ridge to finish at the shops and restaurants of New Paltz.

One of our favorite rides.    

• mapping:  digital mapping resources + GPS . . .

A) New Paltz to Ashokan Res [bhvw7a]:  map on Bikely | Google Earth KML | download GPX

B) Ashokan Res to New Paltz [bhvw7b]:  map on Bikely | Google Earth KML | download GPX

variation D) Boiceville loop [bhvw7d]:  Google Earth KML | download GPX

 + (non-digital)  overview map

(see also digital maps of similar routes set up by other riders -- not checked by us:
 . . . [ beelzebub on Bikely | jeanputzer on MapMyRide | roadiegirl on MapMyRide ]

• characteristics:  Some big steep hills, lots of steep little hills. 

Hills:  Total uphill climbing is about 5200 vertical feet.  Includes the big climbs of the Great Shawangunk Hill Loop, and more. 

Traffic:  For discussion of some of the traffic interaction risks on this route, see Traffic Into the village of New Paltz and Traffic on the Great Shawangunk Hill Loop.

• warning:  roads change -- but we have not checked much of the main route since the date below.

And it might have been a longer time since some of the Variations of the route were last checked by us.  Some roads and intersections might be different since then, or closed -- so be prepared to find alternatives -- a good reason to carry a detailed map. Other people may have more recent experiences with parts of the route which could help prepare: see the Reports page linked below.

Route not checked by us since 2009 -- learn more | see Reports

• warning:  Riding a bicycle on roads has dangers and risks that need to be taken seriously.  For more on those, see our page on risks.

Map of route | Cue Sheet | Reports | Photos

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more . . .

• directions to Start in New Paltz:  

by car:  New York State Thruway to Exit 18 (New Paltz, Poughkeepsie).  After pay toll, reach T and turn Left onto Route 299 West.  Go past three or four traffic lights and down a hill. About a block past the main traffic light intersection of rt 299 / Main St with rt 32 and rt 208 is the intersection with Water St / Huguenot St, just before crossing the bridge over the Wallkill River.

GPS latitude-longitude = N41.7466,W74.0900 = 41.7466,-74.0900  [on Google Maps]

Parking:

(a) Public parking lots: there's a couple sort of near the start point (one is near the south side of Main St).
(b) Street parking: We've often found free street parking like half of the way up the hill a couple of blocks north of Main St -- (we've gotten there from the Thruway, by going west on 299, past two or three traffic lights, then at the start of the main downhill where the street curves left, bear Right onto Front St (may be marked with a "to Route 32 North" sign), go a block or so and look for parking north from around the Bakery.
(c) Village boat launch lot gives the easiest way to get into the riding: Continue on rt 299 west out of the village over the bridge across the Wallkill River, take first Right and soon there is a gravel/dirt parking lot on the right side.

by train:  New Paltz is 11 to 12 miles from the Poughkeepsie train station, with service by Metro North from New York City, and by Amtrak.  For ideas about riding a bicycle from there, see Connecting between Poughkeepsie trains and New Paltz.

• maps:  You should have a detailed road map of Ulster County to do this route (see Maps). See also digital mapping + GPS resources above.

places: Hudson river valley, New York state, NY

regions: Mid-Hudson Ulster county Catskills Catskill region Wallkill area Gunks Shawangunks

bicycling: bicycle bicycling bike bikes bicycles bicyclist cycle cyclist cycling touring riding rider riders

routes: route routes ride rides tour tours turn cue sheet sheets map maps

Route Direction "Cue" Sheet - - Map of route | Reports

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