Street Market at the
western edge of town on
the Wallkill River (access
the river walking path
here) is an admittedly
artificial but pleasant
collection of shops,
antique stores and cafes
with a ski-village vibe.
In the distance behind
the town the ridge of the
Shawangunk (Shon-
gum or just the ‘Gunks’)
mountains rises more
than 2000ft above sea
level. More than two
dozen miles of nature
trails and some of the
best rock climbing in the
Eastern US is found in
the Mohonk Mountain
Preserve. Contact Alpine
Endeavors (%877-486-5769;
http://www.alpineendeavors.com))
for climbing instruction
and equipment. Nearby
Minnewaska State Park
Preserve has 12,000 acres
of wild landscape, the
centerpiece of which
is two usually ice-cold
mountain lakes, Lake
Minnewaska and Lake
Awosting.The Drive » Once you cross
the small bridge over the Wallkill
River at the western edge of
town, the view is of lush farmland
and the ‘Gunks’ in the distance.
Mountain Rest Rd then climbs
and winds the 4 miles northwest
to Mohonk Mountain House.2 Mohonk Mountain
House
The iconic Mohonk
Mountain House (%845-
255-1000; http://www.mohonk.com;
1000 Mountain Rest Rd;
r $320-2500; aWs) looks
like it’s straight out of a
fairytale: a rustic castle
perched magnificently
over a dark lake. It’s
an all-inclusive resort
where guests can gorge
on elaborate five-course
meals, stroll through
gardens, hike miles of
trails, canoe, swim, go
ice-skating, etc. A luxury
spa center is there to
work out the kinks. Only
suites in the Victorian
towers have TVs plus
restored antique claw-
footed tubs; it’s a place
to get outdoors or gather
with friends and family
in rocking chairs set
up on a porch and deck
overlooking the lake – it
feels about as close to
the classic mountain
lodges in the great parks
out west as you can get.
Non-overnight guests
can visit the grounds(adult/child per day
$25/20) by paying cash
at the entrance gate –
easily worth the price
of admission – and you
can hike between here
and the Minnewaska
State Park. Another
recommended hike is
the two-mile one-way
scramble up the Lemon
Squeeze and Labyrinth
(closed in winter) to the
Skytop Tower.The Drive » This pleasant
31-mile leg begins with a scenic
drive north on Mohonk Rd to
the hamlet of High Falls – the
river and falls are on your left
as you drive through town. Turn
left on Rte 213, also signposted
‘Scenic Byway S1’, and carry on
to the Ashokan Reservoir; pull
into the lot for views or a walk.
Then take Rte 28 to Phoenicia,
passing Mt Tremper – home to a
recommended resort (p63) and
the world’s largest kaleidescope –
on the way.3 Phoenicia
Downtown Phoenicia,
all three blocks of it,
is the place to go for a
day’s jaunt – Town Tinker
Tube Rental (%845-688-
5553; http://www.towntinker.com; 10
Bridge St; tubes per day $15;
c) offers beginner tube
rentals, an expert trail for
those who like it rough,
and even kayaks if an
old tire’s too low-tech for
you. No walking required;
you’ll be picked up at
day’s end and driven back
to your car. A lazy day
inner-tubing down Esopus
Creek is the perfect way toTRIP HIGHLIGHTTRIP HIGHLIGHT1
Hudson Valley
Hop on any east-
bound road until you
hit the Hudson River to
begin touring the valley’s
mansions and gardens.
5
Adirondack
Peaks &
Valleys
Get on I-87 N for Lake
George, the gateway
to a trip through this
mountainous wilderness.
LINK
YOUR
TRIPNEW.YORK.TRIPS.3
.TRANqUIL CATSKILLS