Mohonk Preserve

Such a beautiful place to go hiking, especially in autumn. There are hikes of all levels, from very easy carriage roads to strenuous. Mohonk Preserve is on the Shawangunk Ridge, a section of the Appalachian Mountains, and only 90 miles north of New York City. in Ulster County, New York, USA. Great climbing sites.

Mohonk Preserve was AMAZING! I’ve had Mohonk bookmarked for about 10months. and finally, last Saturday, I went hiking with an Asian hiking group! I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep properly the previous night. Loll
Our group arrived at the Preserve parking lot around 9:45am. Plenty of parking. Once the main parking lot was full, if you drive down maybe 2 minutes, there’s additional parking available! In total, we had a fairly large group of hikers, in total, 39, ranging from first timers to hardcore hikers! Day pass for hikers that MUST be purchased to ensure entry into the trails were $ 12/​person and could be purchased at the visitor center adjacent to the main parking lot.
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FIRST PART:
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At first we started off on the easy trails: Overcliff carriage road and Laurel Ledge Road. At the Giants Path, we did a moderately difficult rock scrambling. It was pretty fun! We did the Labyrinth, Lemon Squeeze, Skytop Tower and for lunch and on the way back, we stopped at the Mohonk Mountain House.
The beginning of the hike along the flat carriage roads and Laurel Ledge road were very easy. The roads passed certain spots where there were adventurous rock climbers setting up and paths where you can ride horses through the park. Not much to see here, except for the pretty Fall colors in the trees and bushes.
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LUNCH — Mountain House Resort:
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We stopped for lunch around 2pm at the Mohonk Mountain House which was a historic luxury resort near the foot of the Catskills. A room with a balcony overlooking the lake/​mountain can easily go for $ 900/​night in the Fall. (Random Fun Fact, the resort was rated by Travel & Leisure to be the #6 Hotel Spa in the World in 2013). Our group had lunch on a cliff looking over Lake Mohonk. It was a very relaxing lunch. There was a light, cool breeze in the air and surrounded by the colors of Fall. I could imagine in the summer, it would be quite the opposite with the resort and lake bustling with families and small children. Loll
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SECOND PART:
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The Lemon Squeeze was probably the highlight of the entire hike! There were lots of rock scrambling, and some members of our hiking group weren’t ready for the strenuous activity, and had to turn back unfortunately. Those who did finish, it was an extremely rewarding experience, with panoramic views of the surrounding woods and mountains with Fall colors abound.
For us who did complete Lemon Squeeze, at first, it was a test of patience and will. loll Our group arrived at the entrance to the Lemon Squeeze at around 4:30pm. I’m not even kidding. THERE WAS A LINE TO GET INTO THE TRAIL! That line stretched at least 30 long and was moving at an extremely slow pace. It wasn’t until we actually set foot in the trail, that we found out what was the problem. The cause of the traffic jam at the entrance was because of some idiotic Asian hikers with huge, bulky backpacks, and were stopping to take pictures and selfies while inside the Lemon Squeeze trail and as a result, slowing down the process for everyone behind them! A fellow hiker told me that normally, the trail from the entrance to the top takes no more than 10 minutes. Our group didn’t get to the top until 5:45pm.1 hour and 15 minutes later! WTF. –_​–
Afterwards, a short hike to Skytop Tower and then a few flights of stairs up to the top of the tower revealed gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding landscape with all the Fall colors and nearby mountains! The walk back down the Lemon Squeeze trail was much easier! Relatively flat trails leading down to the Mountain House Resort.
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WAY BACK:
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By the time we were all ready to hike back to the parking lot, it was close to sunset. There wasn’t much natural light left and most of our group were unprepared with the proper night hiking equipment (flashlights, headlamps, etc). I was lucky enough to remember to pack my handy 800 lumen tactical flashlight just in case! Loll Those of us who had lights, paired up with a group of 6 or 7 and altogether made our way back down the trails. By 8:15pm, it was pitch black out, and the tall trees blocked out most of the moonlight. so the 5 of us who had headlamps or flashlights were the only lights in the darkness. O_​O
All in all, it was a very fun hike! I took almost 200 pictures. LOL Everyone in the group had a blast! And although by the end of the hike, we were all exhausted, it was so worth it! I wouldn’t mind making this an annual event. come here every year in the Fall or Winter.

what a beautiful day trip! we parked in the visitor parking lot by the main gate and walked over to the mountain house (though we could have taken the shuttle)…a few mile walk but very quiet and relaxing… everything is clearly marked, so we made it over to the picnic lodge and then the mountain house… the mountain house is AWESOME looking so it was cool to even go inside to use the restroom and get something to drink. then we were off to the labyrinth! i am not fit and am scared of heights… so the whole thing was a little intense for me, but totally doable… you just have to maneuver the rocks slowly and pay attention, otherwise you could trip/​fall. there were kids doing it with us, so i do think it’s possible at almost any age/​skill level. the lemon squeeze… also doable, but definitely a little claustrophobic and confusing to navigate. SO rewarding when you get to the top though and see all the views!

It’s a beautiful preserved piece of the past with trails to hike and to run. It’s incredibly peaceful even with lots of people around. Entry was $ 12 at the Coxing parking lot off Clove on a lovely Monday morning. I’m sure there’s still much more to explore.

My family had hoped to book the resort for a family gathering over Thanksgiving holiday.
We found the staff not very helpful or knowledgeable about policies and pricing. We had planned on booking a cottage and a room in the main lodge. We checked on pricing for the dining room and thought the prices were exorbitant especially $ 39 for a 5 year old who is an especially picky eater. We thought the staff was not particularly helpful with answering our questions.

The preserve was very fun. My sister are friends and I went and we had a blast. From climbing the rocks on the banticou to get to the top, we enjoyed the view! We also found ourselves lost a few times but it was so fun we didn’t care. Definitely recommend and definitely plan on going back!

We took the day to enjoy the weather and see what Mohonk is all about. And boy does it live up to its reputation… absolutely gorgeous scenery so far and we just started. Going to enjoy the Lemon Squeeze, the labyrinth, and all the ins and out of this place.
Going to take in every minute of this amazing experience with my wonderful boyfriend. Only he could get me to try this and conquer my fear of heights.

From time you drive up to the gorgeous entrance way. passing the great 9 hole golf course ‚… until you sadly leave, you are treated non stop with magnificent beauty, service, accommodations and FOOD!!! All inclusive is NOT just about price but about the total fabulous experience. Peace, tranquility of nature and the spa. the glorious history of a family you have served the world with their hospitality for decades is a place to put on your bucket list!!! VAST mountain /​land preserves offer endless trails, the hotel offers endless activities with a skilled staff of hospitality experts to Naturalists. NOTHING NOT TO LIKE!!! So no matter what your source of relaxation it can be found!

Amazing! Absolutely amazing.
1) We did the Bonticou Crag, Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze, and Skytop tower. It was a long hike.
2) The views from the Skytop tower is unbelievable. Especially of Millbrook Mountain and the Mohonk Mountain House.
3) The rock scramble to Bonticou Crag was amazing. One of the best rock scramble I have ever done.

This has become one of my favorite hikes, especially in NY.
The entrance fee: $ 21 – 26 (which is good and bad, keeps random people off of the trail)
1) Beautiful scenery at every corner
2) Lemon squeeze and ladders to climb, a challenge for people who are afraid of heights like me
3) Lots of scrambling, which I love (you’d love it if you like to climb rocks)
Fall is the best season to come here. Although it started hailing randomly when we got up one of the ladders… weird weather. But it does get dangerous when steps are wet. There was no way we were turning back though! Just keep going up to the top and take pictures at skytop tower!

Highly recommended for hiking! They have different paths to choose from. We decided to go with the difficult one, Labyrinth. The path consist of climbing up rocks, ladder and through small crevices.
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it! Despite it being the difficult path, it’s actually not that difficult. But be careful of unstable/​slippery rocks. I did see a few people sitting on the side with their legs scraped because they slipped on some rocks.
The view at the top is amazing and they have benches you can sit on to relax for a bit and breathe in the moment.

A mountain you must visit. I came here on a rainy Saturday to hike with friends and we stopped into the visitors center first. We thought we had to pay there, but later found out you can pay at the gate where you plan on hiking. The visitors center is very nicely kept, there are bathrooms and lots of information. The workers took their time to show us the models of the mountains and went through all the paths we could take. The gentleman made many recommendations and tips that were useful. We did the Millbrook Ridge Trail which had a bit of rock scrambling which was not strenuous for us, but gave us more of a challenge than the original trail we planned on doing. There are really gorgeous views up there and we’ll be back on a nice day to get some better pics. We’re already planning our next trip. Wish we could afford to stay at the Mountain House, but it’s way too expensive!

Great place to hike and escape from the city. Just went today as the Fall season is about to start.
Decided to park at the reserve which is $ 12 per person. But it is about 3 mile hike to Mohonk Mountain House. The another 3 miles back. If you dont feel like hiking that long, its $ 25 per person to park and get access to the hotel.
We hiked the overlook and underlook trails. Underlook has more people… where you can go rock climbing.
Took about 2 hrs to get from parking lot at the reserve to mohonk house. When we got there we ate by the lake with our own sandwiches. We went to the labyrinth trail/​lemon squeeze. Its kind of hidden. But itwas the best part of the day. You def need to have the appropriate body frame/​size because there are very tight and small spaces.
Then you end up in an area with a gorgeous view. Afterwards we went to the shop and got an apple cider milkshake.

Truely a awe inspiring location. Any season whether fall, winter, spring, or fall you’ll find some great views and activities. For Mohonk we usually come during the foliage season or the spring time and climb lemon squeeze at the Mohonk mountain house. The lemon squeeze is one of those great hikes where you do rock scrambles up to skytop tower with a great view over mohonk lake and the hotel. You’ll find other activities here such as boating on the lake a great garden and farm area. The carriage roads are great hiking trails and a tip is to come by at 3 for the free afternoon tea and cookies at the hotel.
Other parts of the Preserve you’ll find great rock climbing as the sheer face rock walls provide for great climbing situations and have parking areas that are close by. You’ll find trails for mountain biking as well as the carriage roads provide for great biking.
In the winter you can snowshoe and crosscountry ski for another scenic surroundings. But my favorite is the fall with the changing leaves. Be aware there is a parking fee to park in the Preserve as well.

Beautifully remodeled by renowned architect Lee Skolnick. They have a movie room that shows all of the Mohonk Preserve’s history and development. There is a whole children’s section created by the architect’s wife. The grounds are natural and beautiful and they cleaned up the walking look that has nice views of New Paltz.
They lose a star because every time I come to use the bathrooms, they are filthy. Even today, I came in *just* as the center opened and the bathrooms look as though they haven’t been cleaned since the weekend.
Otherwise this is a great place to stop during your Shawangunk adventure!

This review is for the Bonticou Crag Hike in the Mohonk Preserve.
We wanted a relaxing hike so when I saw this path was listed as moderate to strenuous I was a little weary. However, after completing the hike, I can say that it is extremely easy and not really a hike.
You basically walk a mile and a half to the rock scramble… and then scramble up it! It’s awesome and I would definitely do it again — I wished the scramble lasted longer, actually! However, this hike was by no means challenging or strenuous — and the rock scramble, while it looks scary, is really not once you start up. I wouldn’t even call this route a hike, but more of a trail to get to the fun part.
The scramble is great for people of all ages, but not dogs :(

I want to say that they increased the price to $ 25 but it is well worth the amount if you want a challenge. I had no idea that it will be as challenging and as long as it is. And after looking at the map, there is so much more to explore, I want to see it all, everything is quite beautiful and breath taking, no pictures can really capture what you accomplish and see on the way, up and down the rocks. I’m thinking of getting a membership! I think it’s like $ 55 per person and if you go at least three times it’s paid off!
We were very fortunate to have beautiful 50 degree weather in November. After October they suggest you call before coming. The only down side to when we were there all the leaves had fallen and made the downwards trip a little slippery.
We hiked a couple of trails and completed the Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze. The rock scramble is very challenging and at times I got a little scared of what I was doing and I don’t have a fear of heights or tight spaces, but all was worth it. The mountain house, which day hikers are not allowed in is very beautiful reflecting in the lake, it’s so tranquil up there.
If you are from NYC and have access to a car, this is a great day trip, if you like hiking and rock climbing.

The première climbing destination on the East Coast with some nice hiking trails and opportunities for mountain biking as well.
I’ve been a member for years, even before I lived locally, because I love this place and the folks who take care of it love it too. This is a private preserve which means it is not subsidized by tax dollars but relies on entry fees, memberships, and patronage to fund clean toilets, trail maintenance, nature walks and outreach programs, and to keep garbage (my major pet peeve) off the trials and carriage roads. I mean, how much do you pay for a gym membership, anyway?
As someone previously said, if you’re here on a week-​long climbing trip, you’re better off buying the annual membership. You’ll pay about the same as the daily fees and the membership is good for a year.
OK, now that I’m off the soap box, more about the preserve. If you’re a climber you already know that all the classic routes you’ve heard about are here. There are many, many climbs here that were formative experiences for me and I know for so many others. Really special. The hiking is not as spectacular but there are several nice trails that wind around and along the Shawangunk Ridge. The carriage roads that are at the base of the cliffs provide a pleasant place to take a woodsy stroll and look up at the folks on the rock and wonder how the hell they got up there and what’s wrong with them. For kids, there’s a nature preserve center and some weekends they have guided hikes.

This place is awesome! For $ 12, you can hike up two mountains and get some amazing views. This was my first time rock scrambling and I had a blast. My friends and I completed The Labryrinth which involved going up ladders and climbing up and over rock formations to get to the top of a mountain.
It rained the day before I went, so the rocks were very slippery. You should wear sneakers with traction for the trails. Also wearing a thong (like one of my friends did) that will hike up your butt crack is a terrible idea if you plan to rock scramble.

Great place to go hiking… plus it’s DOG FRIENDLY too!
I found out about this place via bf + his coworkers. Apparently one of them is an extreme hiker… so we ended up on the «strenuous» trail. Eeks. Would have been great if bf had warned me, but no. I ended up with muddy shoes, wet socks, and a very sore bum.
There was one part of the trail where it required everyone to climb rocks… but bf and I plus the dog took another trail to reach the top.
For the extreme hikers that aren’t afraid to get muddy and go rock climbing for a bit, here is the info:
It’s so worth it once you reach the top.
It’s a great one day trip to get out of NYC.