Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center (map)
This is a hike I have never done that I have always wanted to try.
Website: http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/
The plan is to do rock scramble #1: Climb up the crevices of Giant's Workshop. Afterwards, turn left onto the red Arching Rocks Path (walking under the impressive cliff overhangs). Turn right onto the blue Cathedral Path.
Rock scramble #2: Climb up the crevices of the cliff face. At the top, stop for a breather at the Cope's Lookout Summerhouse, offering one of the most breathtaking views in the Gunks. Walk up the stairs and turn right onto Humpty Dumpty Road. Turn left at Short Woodland Drive. Turn left for the red Eagle Cliff Ascent Path.
Rock Scramble #3: climb up through the boulders to the top of Eagle Cliff. Turn right onto Eagle Cliff Road. Admire the great views of Lake Mohonk, the Mohonk Mountain House, and Sky Top from the many summerhouses along the cliff edge. Turn left on Lambden's Path and take the wooden stairs down to the Lakeshore Trail. Turn right and walk around the lake. Take the Lakeshore Road and turn right at the entrance to the red Labyrinth Path.
Rock scramble #4: climb up the ladders and through the crevices and caves at the base of Sky Top. Follow red markers to to the Crevice. Climb the ladders and squeeze up through the "Lemon Squeeze." Take a breather at the top of the cliff, then walk up to the Smiley Tower. If you're up to the 101 steps, climb up to the top of the tower and admire the view of six states. You've earned it!
Distance and Rating: 6 miles.
Parking:
Park at the Coxing (Split Rock) Parking area ($9 Mohonk Preserve entry fee). Take the red Shongum trail to the Trapps Bridge. Hike along Undercliff Road (admiring the bravery of the climbers on the cliff face above) to Rhododendron Bridge. Take Laurel Ledge Road. Turn right onto the blue Giant's Path.
Food: Pack a lunch
This is a cool place. See the pics from a previous time we hiked there. http://www.meetup.com/20-30s-Social-Group/photos/1069923/...![]()
When we went there was a $10 fee for a wrist band. You could either pay the $10, or pay more (I forget how much $) to get a membership for the year that allows unlimited hiking.
2 recommendations:1) Use a smallish backpack - bigger packs get in the way when squeezing through the labyrinth. 2) Meet first in New Paltz (the McD's worked well on previous hikes at Mohonk & Minnewaska) then do the final drive to Mohonk as a group of cars, cuz the signs leading to Mohonk can be confusing (multiple attractions named Mohonk in different directions), and some road closures & parking lot closures in the past. Cell service can be spotty if someone gets lost/separated driving.
You could always go up on sat and spend the night so you don't have to wake up so early.
Assuming I can still go on Sunday instead of Saturday ill have 3 seats available.
If you are interested in car pooling and are willing to drive please post the area you live in and how many people you can fit.
Here is a the hike we are going to do. It's actually 8.5 miles.
http://bp2.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=47557...![]()
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To make life easy we are going to meet at in town at the Rock and Snow Parking lot and then Drive up to the Mohonk preserve. We will leave at 10:15 to Drive to the Mohonk preserve Parking lot.
http://www.google.com/maps?q=ice+and+snow+new+paltz+ny&am...![]()
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Ive done two hikes there. Several sections i want to see. Btw scramble could get tricky if icy. Microspikes very good idea if any chance of weather or icy conditions.