The Mohonk Preserve has a large network of trails for cross country skiing through interesting cliffs, trees, and rocks. 

Phone:  845-255-0919 

Website:  Mohonk Preserve 

Where:  In Ulster County, NY -- west from New Paltz. 

Ski Trails + Facilities

There are two popular areas for skiing in the Preserve: 

• Spring Farm Road - Bonticou

• the Trapps

The Preserve trails connect with the Mohonk Mountain House ski trails, and the Mohonk staff often grooms the Preserve ski trails.

No rentals of equipment. Can rent cross-country skiing equipment at stores in New Paltz along the way on the drive up from the Thruway.

Day passes for skiing and snowshoeing can be purchased at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center on Route 44, but the ski trails do not connect to the Visitor Center.

Many cross-country skiers become members of the Mohonk Preserve.

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Spring Farm Road - Bonticou 

The Spring Farm area has some interesting ski trails that go by the dramatic cliff of Bonticou Crag and also to the Mohonk golf course and gatehouse.  You have to start by going uphill a ways on skis -- but your work is rewarded with a downhill at the end. 

getting here

see Driving Map 

GPS: approx lat/long = 41.79509,-74.12793 = N41.79509 W74.12793

The ski trails in this area can also be conveniently accessed by parking in the visitors lot at the main gatehouse entrance to Mohonk Mountain House, but this will require paying a different fee to a different organization.  

trails 

See the Maps below for ideas about what trails to try -- they're all interesting in their own way, and they all require starting with a significant uphill climb from the Spring Farms Road parking area. 

Two things we like to do: 

• Go to the view of Bonticou Crag.  One way to get there is to ski up Spring Farms Road, pass by Cedar Drive, and then make a Left turn onto Bonticou Road.  Round-trip distance about 3 miles (5 km) with 300 vertical feet (100 meters) of uphill. 
   
• Do a loop through the open expanse of the Mohonk golf course.  Round-trip distance from Spring Farm about 5 miles (8 km) with 650 vertical feet (200 meters) of uphill. 

Adventurous skiers can also connect to the Mohonk Mountain House trails to make bigger tours.  Another adventurous possibility is to explore to the north toward the Table Rocks. 

maps 

The Spring Farm - Bonticou trail network is complicated, so bring a detailed map with you. 

• This area is on the "Shawangunks Trails -- Lake Mohonk Area" map of the New York / New Jersey Trail Conference, which is available in many stores. 
   
• Or if you have a trail map left over from a visit to Mohonk Mountain House, you will likely find that has sufficient detail on this area to be useful. 
    

• see Driving Map 
   

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The Trapps 

getting here

see Driving Map 

GPS: approx lat/long = 41.73593,-74.20045 = N41.73593 W74.20045

Driving directions:  From New Paltz (exit 18 on the NY Thruway), go West on Main Street / Route 299, and continue 5.7 miles until it ends in a T-intersection with Route 44.  Turn Right onto Route 44 West and go about 1.5 miles:  up a hill.  Partway up this hill on the right are the Mohonk Preserve office building and overflow parking, then a hairpin curve left and more climbing.  At the top of the hill, Route 44 goes underneath an old iron bridge -- that's the Trapps Bridge.  Continue a little ways down the hill and the main parking lot is on the Right.  See Driving Map. 

trails 

The Trapps Bridge entrance has gentler and fewer and straighter trails than Spring Farm.  Start by hiking up onto the old iron bridge, which will require carrying skis.  From the bridge, most skiers head north.  The Undercliff road goes in front of the big cliffs, while the Overcliff road goes in back of them, and the two meet at the Rhododendron Bridge.  We remember Overcliff as the easiest start for beginners.

We have usually found better snow (and fewer hiker tracks) on the Overcliff road, but the Undercliff road has interesting cliffs and rocks.  Coming back on Overcliff allows you to finish your tour with a long gentle downhill. 

• Overcliff Road -- Maximum of 4.8 miles (8 km) total if you turn around before you get to the Bridge.   One-way distance 2.4 miles (4 km) to Rhododendron Bridge. 

• Undercliff Road -- Maximum of 4.8 miles (8 km) total if you turn around before you get to the Bridge.   One-way distance 2.4 miles (4 km) to Rhododendron Bridge.  Total of about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) if you turn around when you reach the S-curve.

note: As of February 2010, Undercliff is often not groomed for skiing, and gets many non-skiers walking on it.

Athletic skiers can make a loop of these by taking the Undercliff road to the Rhododendron Bridge and returning on Overcliff.  Or even continue on past the Rhododendron Bridge a ways on the Laurel Ledges road.  It was marked with a "Black diamond" rating (advanced) when we were on it in January 2006, but actually it goes gentle for a ways past some interesting rocks and cliffs, and then we turned around. 

• Undercliff - Overcliff Loop -- 4.8 miles (8 km). 

As of January 2006, Undercliff is often not groomed for skiing, and gets many non-skiers walking on it -- so to attempt this loop, it's often best to try to get there immediately after a snowstorm, and break trail going out on Undercliff.

Adventurous skiers can also connect from the Rhododendron Bridge to the Mohonk Mountain House trails to make bigger tours. 

The road going southeast from crossing Trapps Bridge eventually goes to Minnewaska State Park -- only for the very athletic and adventurous. 

maps 

• This area is on the "Shawangunk Trails -- North" map of the New York / New Jersey Trail Conference, which is available in many stores.

• see Driving Map  

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