Not So Urban Athletics: Fall Foliage Rock Stomping Hike

We're going start winding down this hiking season by doing one of the most spectacular hikes in the Northeast and one of my personal favorites--the Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze in the Shawangunk Mountains. The hike is going to be made extra special because of the time of the year we're doing this, in the middle of fall foliage season, when the dazzling hues of the red, yellow, and brown leaves on the trees around us almost make us forget how exciting this trek is.

We'll start our hike off in the Mohonk Preserve where we're going to stroll the gentle Undercliff trail, a magnificent spectacle with amazing rock formations to our left and sweeping views of the Hudson Valley to our right. If I ended the hike here, you'd head home feeling satisfied, but this is only the appetizer for the visual and physical feast to come. We will continue on to hike the rock formations known as the Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze. What the heck are they? They are insane views, a crazy knuckle and knee scraping rock labyrinth, and a claustrophobia-defying climb up a deep crevice capped off by 360 degree views from a sky top tower. Yeah, I know, sounds awesome. And it doesn't end there, I'm going to throw in several more amazing rock scrambles -- four for the price of two, the best deal in town.

The important stuff...

• By RSVPing for this event, you agree to the following waiver of liability https://bit.ly/3atj0C5

• This is going to be an ADVANCED loop hike of about 11 miles round trip. You don't need to be a world-class athlete to participate, but you need to be in decent physical shape as this is one of the more challenging treks in area with a bit of elevation gain and a few rock scrambles. We will be out all day so leave your afternoon/evening open.

• This is a social hike, the pace will be moderate -- we'll be stopping to take in the views and smell the flowers. If you yearn to channel your inner Mountain Goat and feel the need to race everyone to the top of the mountain, this is not the hiking trip for you.

• Dress in layers of non-cotton clothing, wear hiking boots or trail shoes (I wouldn't recommend sneakers but that is at your discretion), a hat, bring 2-3 liters of fluid, a packed lunch and/or snacks, and sunscreen.

• There is a preserve day use fee of $15.00 per person.

• Rain cancels the hike.

• No guests allowed, sorry.

• RSVP only if you seriously plan to attend as space is limited.

How to get there...

Take the New Paltz exit 18 off of the NYS Thruway. Go 7 miles west (through New Paltz) on Route 299 to the end: make right on Route 44-55 and then 1/2 mile to the Visitor Center on right.