Experience Ulster County by bike— there's nothing like it! Those looking for rugged pursuits will find the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountain Regions provide both on and off road terrain varied enough to challenge even the most experienced rider. If pretty scenery and a gentler outing is more your style, then enjoy a trek down one of our rail trails, many of which meander through the center our picturesque towns and villages. You can even take your bike from one side of the Hudson River to the other! The weather is perfect for a great bike ride, so get out on our roads and trails and enjoy youself. Download the Ulster County hiking and biking trails guide (PDF).
Below are some resources to help you find your way.
These trails, created by repurposing former railway beds are used by pedestrian, biking and equestrian recreationalists. Biking is generally at a beginner level, loose gravel, and some hard pack, relatively flat, with some mild inclines. All of the rail trails in Ulster County are free.
Hudson Valley Rail Trail
The Hudson Valley Rail Trail (HVRT) is a 12-foot wide, asphalt rail trail open for non-motorized uses, including walking, running, bicycling, horseback riding, inline skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The HVRT is flat or gently-sloped making it accessible to individuals with limited mobility. The HVRT currently extends 3.6-miles from the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in Highland (Town of Lloyd) eastward to Tony Williams Park located on South Riverside Road. The HVRT directly connects to the 1.25-mile Walkway— the longest elevated walkway in the world-- and the 13-mile Dutchess County Rail Trail, providing an 18-mile bicycle/pedestrian route running from Highland in Ulster County to Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County. For more information on the HVRT, including events, please visit website.
O&W Rail Trail/ D&H Heritage Corridor
The O&W Rail Trail/ D&H Heritage Corridor is a partially completed rail trail/ canal trail running nearly 35-miles through the Rondout Valley from Kingston to Ellenville and including various local rail trail segments, many of which have planned extensions to fill current gaps. The longest existing segment current runs more than 12-miles along the Hurley and Marbletown Rail Trail segments. Descriptions of major segments are as follows:
The Hurley Rail Trail is a shared- use rail trail open for non-motorized uses, including walking, running, bicycling, horseback riding, inline skating (on the northern section), cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Hurley Rail Trail connects to the Marbletown Rail Trail and currently runs 3-miles (2.2-miles of 10-feet wide paved trail) along NYS Route 209 in Hurley. Trail connections into the City of Kingston are now in planning stages.
The Marbletown Rail Trail continues the Hurley Rail Trail southward for approximately 9-miles to the Town of Rochester. The cinder/ stone dust trail is open for walking, running, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The Rochester O&W Rail Trail is a multi-use cinder trail that is a favorite of the equestrian community, offering parking for horse trailers at the Town of Rochester Town Hall property off County Route 27 (Granite Road). This 3.5-mile trail runs between the hamlets of Accord and Kerhonkson running along well-shaded areas adjacent to the Rondout Creek.
Walden-Wallkill Rail Trail
The Wallkill to Walden Rail Trail is located a few miles south of the current end of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in the Town of Shawangunk. The 3.2-mile paved trail runs from the hamlet of Wallkill to the Town of Montgomery and Village of Walden in Orange County. The Trail is open for non-motorized uses, including walking, running, bicycling, inline skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail (WVRT) is a primarily cinder/ stone dust rail trail open for non-motorized uses, including walking, running, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The trail offers magnificent views of the Shawangunk Mountains and local farms and passes through Gardiner, New Paltz and Rosendale, where it crosses the restored Rosendale Trestle over the Rondout Creek. The WVRT now extends approximately 24-miles from the Town of Shawangunk/ Town of Gardiner Town line to Rockwell Lane at the southern border of the City of Kingston. For more information, please also visit the Wallkill Valley Land Trust website.
Technical expert terrain for experienced bikers that includes negotiating rock piles, streams, and logs located in remote areas.
Belleayre Mountain - Highmount
All ski trails may be used for biking in the Upper, Lower and Cross Country areas. There is no charge for the use of the trails; however, the trails can only be accessed by biking. The chairlift is not equipped to carry mountain bikes at this time.
Directions: NYS Thruway (I-87) to Exit 19 - Kingston, NY then Rt. 28 West to Highmount (approximately 2.5 hrs from NYC).
Jockey Hill - Kingston
The majority of trails at Jockey Hill are single track, varying in difficulty from fairly flat cruises over rocks & roots, to super-technical trails running along sloped hills with logs, roots, water, mud and trees closer than a handlebar's width to negotiate. This is a place for intermediate to advance riders. While beginners might be able to handle a few trails here, the majority of the trails require some confidence and technical skill.
Directions: From the NYS Thruway exit 19, take Rt. 28 West. Get off at the exit for Rt. 209 North. Get off at the first exit onto Sawkill Road. Take a left at the bottom of the ramp and follow Sawkill Road approx. 3 miles to Jockey Hill Road. Turn left and follow that to the end of the road and park in the cul-de-sac. (Note: Google Maps show Jockey Hill Road connected to Rt. 28; this is not accessible by car).
Kenneth Wilson State Park - Mount Tremper
The site of Overlook Mountain Bike's Woodstock All-Terrain Challenge, which describes the terrain as "A lovely loop consisting of short power climbs, swift descents, and fast winding single track." After parking in main lot, continue on road past large field on left. Bear left at top of hill and drop down into trails on left side. If you don't mind getting wet, cross the stream and ride the Bump & Grind trails. More riding is available on the nature trail on the opposite side of the main lot over a small wooden bridge. Alternate parking is available approximately one mile east of the park entrance on Wittenberg Road. Look for small gravel pull off on both sides of road. Trail can be accessed from south side of the road which can come out at wooden bridge next to main lot.
Directions: From the north: Take thruway exit 20 (Saugerties/Woodstock exit). Make left out of toll booth onto Route 32. Go 500 ft. until stop light and make right onto Route 212. Follow Route 212 through Woodstock. Go straight onto County Route 45. Follow Route 45 for four miles. Kenneth Wilson State Park will be on your left hand side.
Directions: From the south: Take thruway 19 (Kingston exit) to Route 28 West. Take 28 and make right onto Route 375 towards Woodstock. When 375 comes to a T, you will make a left onto Route 212. Follow above directions from 212 on.
Lundy Estate - Kerhonkson
Once a private estate, the 5,400-acre Catskill property (comprised of nearly one hundred separate land parcels) was previously owned by New York City restaurateur Frederick I. Lundy. Lundy’s Restaurant attracted generations of hungry diners to the sprawling 2,800-seat seafood emporium in Brooklyn from 1934 to 1979. His upstate property is now part of the Sundown Wild Forest Preserve. A mixture of deciduous and conifer forest tossed in with some old fields makes up the Lundy trail system. Both the Vernooy Kill and the West branch of the Vernooy Kill intersect the trail system in multiple places. The trails consist of old double track and some new single track. Lots of rocks, roots and stream crossings make it challenging but mostly ride-able. Expect some long technical climbs, rolling single track and beautiful cruising alongside babbling brooks. The Lundy Estate is remote wilderness, so be prepared to be self-sufficient on your ride and consider riding with a friend. Cell phone signals are intermittent at best. By using the different access points you can tailor a ride to meet your needs. The Lundy Road parking area provides access to a shorter less technical ride. Use the Cutler Road parking area for access to the entire trail system. A good 3 to 4 hour ride is easily possible.
Directions: Lundy DEC gate at Cutler Road (From Kingston): Take 209 South to 55 West (towards Grahamsville) go 2 miles and turn right on Cutler Rd. (Shady Acres trailer park). Follow Cutler Rd. down to the bottom of the hill to the DEC gate for parking. (Please note that Cutler Rd. becomes quite rough on the way down the hill. If you have a vehicle with low ground clearance, go slow or park on the left side of the road at the top hill.)
Directions: To Lundy Rd Entrance (From Kingston): Take 209 South to Lundy Rd. (across from B&K Tile in Naponoch, just before the Wawarsing Post Office). Make a right. You can park at 2 locations: 3.9 or 4.0 miles up Lundy Rd. Both are on the left side. The parking area at 3.9 miles has room for a number of cars and the 4.0 mile has room for 2 vehicles. (If you get to the gate and bridge crossing for the private Estate House, you've gone a little too far). To enter the trail system you have to cross the Vernooy Kill at the 4.0 mile parking area. There is a large deadfall lying in the stream which you walk over and the trails start there.
Onteora Lake - Kingston
About a dozen miles of superb single-track. Rocky shark fins of slate. Lots of crags and pine. Scenic lake. Some power climbs but not much elevation change.
Directions: From the NYS Thruway exit 19 take Rt. 28 West for approx. 4 miles. Turn right into the parking lot when you see the trailhead. (If you pass the Hobo Deli, you have gone too far). This is the outer parking lot; there is additional parking approx. half a mile down the dirt road.
Bicycle motocross or BMX, as it is commonly known, is a cycling sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles. When these local courses aren’t in use by a club or competition, the public can use them for riding.
Kingston BMX - Kingston Point Park
4 Delaware Ave Kingston, NY 12401
845- 339-0618
Kingston Point BMX is one of the oldest BMX facilities in the Northeast. This National Bicycle League Sanctioned Track received a complete rebuild in the spring of 2008 and is challenging, fun and safe for riders of all ages and skill levels. The turns are wide and fast which is conducive to great racing action with numerous areas for passing.
New Paltz BMX
Clearwater Road, P.O. Box 550
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 255-3631
Obstacles, jumps and dirt track.
Accord Bicycle Service
5770 Rt. 209
Kerhonkson, NY 12446
(845) 626-7214
Bike sales and repairs; Indoor Cycling Center November-April.
Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bicycle Depot
15 Main Street
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 255-3859
Bike sales, repairs and rentals
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Tuesday.
Bicycle Rack
13 North Front Street
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 255-1770
Bike sales and repairs
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.
Bike Brothers
139 Boices Lane
Kingston, NY 12401 845
(845) 336-5581
Bike sales and repairs
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.
Kingston Cyclery
1094 Morton Boulevard
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 382-2453
Bike sales and repairs
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.
Lightsey Cycles
133 Main St.
Gardiner, NY 12525
(845) 255-0888
Bike sales, rentals, repairs and equipment.
Overlook Mountain Bikes
93 Tinker St.
Woodstock, NY 12498
Bike sales, rentals, repairs and weekly group rides.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Tuesday.
TRT Bicycles
1066 Route 32
Rosendale, NY 12472
(845) 658-7832
Bike sales, repairs, rentals and guide services
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Tuesday.
Bicycle Depot
Group rides go out from Bicycle Depot in New Paltz. Call for (845) 255-3859 more info.
Cycle Club Kingston
Offers cyclists a venue for weekly group rides in Ulster and Northern Dutchess counties. We are riders at various levels who ride at least 50 miles weekly or 1500 miles per season during the outdoor season (Mid-March-October). Our aim is to offer a forum where cyclists can find the support and information they need to accomplish their specific riding goals. View website for local outdoor rides.
The Fats in the Cats Bicycle Club
Regular group rides around Ulster County and surrounding areas. Contact group for more info.
Mid-Hudson Bicycle Club
Organized bicycle rides of various distances and meeting at various locations throughout the Ulster County region. Group rides Saturdays and Sundays; training rides mid-week. Call for (845) 204-8332 or visit the website.
Overlook Mountain Bikes
Weekly group rides. Call the shop at (845) 679-2122 or visit the Facebook page for details.
Bicycling in Ulster County
Information about road bicycling in Ulster County.
New Paltz Bike Routes
Map of bike routes in New Paltz.
