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| Back to the ride route archive Ride description: New Paltz, NY Gunks ride New Paltz, NY - 36 miles. A spectacular ride through farmland in New York's Hudson Valley, with stunning views of the Shawangunks (aka the Gunks), which are a popular rock climbing destination. The ride begins and ends in the middle of New Paltz, a nice college town. The route heads south along reasonably lightly traveled roads, climbing as it goes, then cuts across the valley floor before heading back north. There's a lunch spot along the way where sandwiches can be bought for later consumption. Once the turn north has been made, the road surface improves and there's a long stretch of sweeping, mild rollers where you can cruise fast if you want to. Slowly but surely, the terrain starts to rise, though it never really becomes a serious climb. A couple of miles into this there's another store on the left, next door to the EMS climbing school. This is a good place to stop, because it's a convenient place to split up if some of the riders don't want to climb up the face of the mountains; you can turn right at the store and head back to New Paltz across the valley floor, or you can bask in the sun and wait for the hardy souls who have done the climb to return. Those who choose to make the climb will be rewarded by some spectacular sights and some thrilling downhills. This optional part of the route starts climbing immediately after the store and goes right up the face of the Gunks, through a switchback. It's a good two miles of steady climbing (about a 5 percent grade... not steep, but long) before there's some relief in the form of a scenic overlook. After a little more climbing, there's a half-mile downhill run (it starts at the railroad overpass, visible just after you leave the scenic overlook). This gives way to more climbing, as before... not steep, just a long churn. Five miles from the store you get the reward for all that climbing. A trek down a dirt trail (about 1/3 mile, and rideable if it's reasonably dry) leads you to a spectacular waterfall that really is worth the effort to get to. The return from the falls to the store is mostly downhill (dangerously high speeds are possible... the road is in excellent condition). From the store, the route heads back across the valley floor to New Paltz, along a long series of (mostly downhill) rollers. The key to enjoying this ride is to take it easy... sure, there's a lot of climbing, but none of it is that steep. Keep it down to a nice relaxed touring pace, stop if you need to, enjoy the scenery and you'll have a great time. Current ride weather: A detailed forecast for the area can be had by clicking HERE. Directions to Start: Click HERE. Route description/cue sheet: Click HERE. |