Hiking in New Paltz
One of my favorite 2017 summer weekends was spent exploring New Paltz, New York, one hour and forty-five minutes from New York City. A friend told me that I'd like the small-town charm and area hiking trails. I was intrigued and started scheming a plan for the next weekend.
I spent the following days researching hikes in the area, how to get there, local accommodations, and browsing Yelp for foodie places. I discovered a mysterious trail called The Labyrinth, easy transportation from the Port Authority bus terminal, and inexpensive hostel lodging. Overall, it was a great way to take a break from the city, explore new trails and meet new people.
How to get to there
Trailways Bus
The easiest way to get to New Paltz from New York City is the Trailways bus from Port Authority. The bus departs New York City and drops you off right on Main Street. Also, the bus location is conveniently located nextdoor to the New Paltz Hostel. Return-trips to New York will also be at this terminal location. Trailways offers a roundtrip ticket for only $46, which is a great deal compared to a daily rental car.
Rental Car
I rented a few cars since I've lived in New York and found the best options near the airports, either Laguardi or JFK. Unfortunately, prices can be upwards of $75 per day. As someone who prefers public transportation, I don't recommend a rental car for this trip, though, it's certainly another option to consider.
There are always friendly faces at the New Paltz Hostel
Where to stay
New Paltz Hostel
Inexpensive and no-frills, the New Paltz Hostel is a great homebase for area exploring. I arrived early on the Trailways bus and arranged with the manager to check-in early. I'm glad I had a place to stay in town and not have to return to the city after a tiring day hike. Plus, I was able to partake in the local nightlife and catch free live music. For $60, it was totally worth it.
Please contact the hostel during office hours between 2-10 pm:
Tel: +1 845.255.6676
145 MAIN STREET
NEW PALTZ, NY 12561
Where to Eat and Drink
I arrived in New Paltz early on Saturday morning just as breakfast griddles were firing up. I never pass up a good brunch, so when I walked passed Main Street Bistro, I had to stop in before my hike. I opted for one of their daily specials of country fried steak and gravy with eggs. If you go to New Paltz and don't eat here, you're missing out!
Later that day while strolling main street, I found it easy to make small talk with locals. I asked a couple if they could recommended a good place for dinner and they referred me to the Mexican Kitchen. They also let me know about the live music starting later that night at Snug Harbor, locally known as Snug's. A great hole-in-the-wall dive bar, Snug's hosts the best live music in New Paltz with a fun crowd to match.
Where to Hike
I recorded my hike on Strava
From moment you step off the Trailways bus, you'll see which direction to go for good hiking. The view down main street looks upon Mohonk Preserve, 8,000 acres of cliffs, forests, and streams. After chatting with the Main Street Bistro, I gained some intel for a good day hike since I was only visiting for the weekend.
They recommended to start at the West Trapps Trailhead and hike north via Overcliff Road or Undercliff Road, and connect to the Mohonk Mountain House trail system which leads to the Sky Top Tower. Once in this area, they suggested to follow signs for the Labyrinth trail which includes difficult rock scrambling and a narrow rock crevice called The Lemon Squeeze. As warning, this is a difficult and strenuous hike. I suggest a day pack with water, snacks, and sun protection. I did this hike on June 3rd 2017 and had great weather, though I packed a rain jacket just in case.
I printed a few maps before my trip and followed a route to the Labyrinth Trail. Per the local recommendation, I took the Overcliff Road, to Old Minnewaska Road, then turned onto Long Woodland Drive. I took the next turn for the Eagle Cliff Ascent and followed the red blazed trail to the top. Eagle Cliff Road has amazing views of Sky Top tower and Mohonk Lake. Near the resort, you'll see signs for the Labyrinth Trail and follow the painted blazes.
Once you're through the Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze, you're almost to Sky Top Tower, at 1,543 elevation. Enjoy the views and take a long break! The descent is fairly graded with a paved path and returns you to the bottom near the resort. I continued to follow signs for the Mohonk Mountain Gatehouse on Mountain Rest Road. From here, I called an Uber and returned to downtown Main Street.
Maps
For more information and suggested hikes, check out Mohonk Preserve and All Trails.