New Paltz / Gardiner, NY - I have hiked and biked through the Mohonk Preserve many a times over the years, in all seasons, and it is one of my favorite wild places! Some of the trails I love the most are the Bonticrou Crag & Table Rocks (breathtaking views; the rock scramble is fun and challenging but there is an easier way up via the Bonticou ascent path), Labyrinth & Lemon Squeeze, and Sky Top Trail by the Mohonk Mountain House. On weekends and in the warmer seasons/good weather especially, the parking lots fill up early (like by 8:30-9am). There are 5 main trailheads, and the day use fee is at current writing $15 for hikers or $20 for cyclists/climbers/horseback riders (children 15 & under are free). At the heart of the preserve lies the Mohonk Mountain House, which is actually a private property. The area around the mountain house is amazing but unfortunately it is rather arduous to visit for many due to the parking lot distance, as it's a bit of a hike in from the preserve's trailheads (pleasant & easy, but about 4.5 miles in so that's ~9 miles roundtrip), unless you're a paying guest at this all-inclusive resort property and are allowed to park in the on-site lot. I've done it both the hard & easy ways, so to avoid sweat if not tears, I'll let my Yelp community in on some hacks of less strenuous ways to see the mountain house and its surroundings (short of paying $1Kpp as an overnight guest)... 1. $ - You can buy a $35 hiking day pass, to park at the "closer" parking lot at the Gatehouse, which is still 2.1 miles out from the mountain house (4.2 miles roundtrip, but better than 9 miles). 2. $$$ - Be a day guest and book a dining or spa experience at the property, and you can park on site. 3. $ - Visit during their special annual events like the gingerbread house competition in December or the tulip festival in April-May, passes for which are a much more affordable $15-$35 (2025 rates). This allows you to park at the mountain house and not have to hike in. So there! Mohonk Preserve is one of the most beautiful places in the Hudson Valley, with so much incredible scenery (including fall foliage!) and things to do - hiking, biking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, row boating, and even a via ferrata though that's only for hotel guests - and is a dream for outdoor lovers! read more

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A well-maintained and scenic area for hiking, walking and biking and just being in nature. There are multiple hikes and biking opportunities in the preserve and is a cheaper option to access trails than staying at the mountain house. We had a pass from the local library which covered one car but typically its $35 per car. If you park at the mountain house it's that much per hiker. Since they get this money they can ensure the trails are well marked, there are friendly faces to greet you and they had a bike repair station too. Parking at the preserve and hiking in will add a few miles but you can still see the lemon squeeze, eagle cliff and Skytop. Portopotties are at the trailhead. We got to the trailhead around 8:30 am and there were still spots available. Since it had rained a lot the day before, the trail was a bit muddy and slippery (surprisingly made it through without falling!). Parts of the hike were easy (on carriage roads) and other parts like the labrynth and lemon squeeze were challenging with lots of rock scrambling and tight crevices. You can climb to Skytop tower and snap iconic photos below. By the mountain house, they had a pretty garden, spa, tennis, archery, rowing activities and lots of little viewpoints. Everyone recommends getting there early as when the weather is nice, it will get crowded. After hiking, you can go into New Paltz and try some of the local restaurants in town. read more

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Mohonk Preserve has 8,000 square miles of land under preservation with 70 miles of trails. Walking, running, biking as well as snow shoeing and crossing country skiing are many of the activity that are available almost year round. The shear enormity and magnificent slender of this park is awe inspiring and should not be missed by anyone especially outdoor nature enthusiasts. read more

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I love Mohonk Preserve!!!! It is so pretty and the mission very important. You can easily spend hours in the nature at this park with many activities waiting for you to explore! read more

I was fortunate enough to score a spot at North Face Trail Days so I got to enter the preserve for free courtesy of North Face. Normally there is a charge of $15 per person on for hiking and $20 if biking climbing or horseback riding. Base camp was set up in a private area just beyond the Spring Farm Trailhead. Chris from North Face led our group on the 3 mile hike up to Bonticou Crag. The views were stunning from the top of the Crag. It is a moderately difficult trail with one tricky rock scramble. Hiking shoes recommended. I likely will explore more of the preserve in the future so I looked more into it. You can put the cost of a day pass towards the purchase of a membership within 2 weeks of purchase. The membership would be worth it if going 5 or more times in a year. It is tax deductible and comes with discounts to local businesses. The trails of the preserve connect to the grounds of the Mohonk Mountain House which is a separate property from the Mohonk Preserve and would require advanced booking with an additional fee if accessing the grounds by car, but there is no cost to access via the preserve trails. There is no fee for the visitor center and its grounds containing a few short and easy educational trails. read more

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My second review for my second trip here. The prices are now $35 a person.... THIRTY FIVE, what on earth? Make sure you go online and book ahead of time!! We did not. So we get to the booth and are told the parking lot is full. Thankfully the girl was very nice and said if we go online and order tickets for another day she will let us in, I'm not sure how that works because there 3/4 of the parking lot was very much available for parking despite it being claimed as full (maybe too many tickets purchased online? No idea!). Despite the outrageous price to go hiking... it truly is an absolutely beautiful hike with amazing views along the mountain. We did the lemon squeeze hike and i don't remember it being so scary last time! We did watch a poor lady in front of us slip and bust her forehead open. This was right before we got to the actual "squeeze" part of the hike and so I was a little more unsettled after that. There were lots of families with little kids in sneakers doing it which was very confusing to me... this was not an easy hike, you could easily slip on a rock or the wet ladder and really get injured. It was exhilarating but please don't take your children who might be terrified halfway climbing up and then hold up the entire line of hikers, the only way to get them out at that point is to tell them to keep going. I thought the lady in front of me (not the one who busted her forehead open) was going to hyperventilate from waiting between rock crevices to get her turn on the ladder to bring us out to the top...ANYWAYS... I wouldn't travel here to do this all the time cause I just can't fathom paying that price very often, but if you get the chance to do it... it's truly memorable! read more

Review for the Hiking Trails Day Pass: I visited Mohonk (for lunch) a few years ago which included access to the Mountain House and the Trails in the surrounding area. I have since wanted to return for the hiking trails and to get some photos of the amazing vews surrounding the Mountain House. And...the best time to visit...is when the leaves change colors in the fall. I purchased a hiking trail day-pass ($30 for adults, $25 children)...and it was a challenge... The passes are released 72 hours in advance....so if you wanted to get tickets for 10 AM on Sunday, they become available at 10 AM on the Thursday before the Sunday. And let me tell you....within a minute or two during the fall weekends, they are completely gone! I was surpised at how quickly they went...you may have to look into the weekday days if you are looking to get tickets for a larger group. Nonetheless, I was able to get a hiking day-pass for 10 AM this past Sunday. I drove up from the Bronx (one hour and forty five minutes) to the hiking pass gate, gave them my name and showed my printed (or mobile) pass confirmation. I was given a trail map, a wrist bracelet and directed to park in the hiking trail parking lot which had a lot of spaces at that time (I think the earliest tickets are offered for 9 AM). There are some vending machines and bathrooms there as well. Now the hike to the Mountain House area is 2.5 miles or so...which takes about 45-60 minutes for the average walker. The main path from the hiking pass parking lot to the Mountain House area is marked along the way with a little green house icon nailed into trees along the route. The hike back, is similarly marked with a red car icon along the route...while these are ingenious and very helpful, I wish the other route were also marked...at least with colored flags. There is a shortcut along the way; the fox path which is pretty strenuous and quite a workout but will save you about 15-20 minutes of walking...but that route wasn't well marked...except for some faint red paint on trees and rocks which have faded significantly...so be sure to keep referring to the hiking map...it comes in very handy. You may also want to download the .pdf map from Mohonk's website...that way you always have it on your phone and can zoom in if needed... I suggest going to the Mountain House first and exploring that area. Day hikers are NOT allowed to access the house, only the surrounding trails. From there, you can take the trail up to the Sky Tower, or for those adventurous enough...take the Labyrinth path...which is essentiall a 45-minute obstacle course that connect the Mountiain House area with the Sky Top. Once at the Skytop, be sure to explore and ascend the tower (about 100 steps) for some spectacular views. Had an amazing time and got some excellent photos. I highly suggest going in the fall...it may be a bit chilly, but dress in layers as I found myself removing and then putting back layers of clothing throughout my trip. Bathrooms are near the mountain house so be sure to stop off there before you trek back to the parking lot...unless you want to wait another 45-60 minutes. 4 It didn't feel "crowded" despite being a sold-out fall Sunday...there is lots of space to distance...and most people were respectful of each other's space and time in certain target areas which are coveted for photos... I understand the price is a bit much...(i.e. family of four would pay $110) given what is offered...which is my only gripe wth this experience. A $20/$15 price or discounted weekday rate may be more appropriate. read more

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This review is form 2017 The best way I can describe my experience at Mohonk Preserve is when you were a hyper kid and your mother told you not to touch anything. Earlier during the weekend, I saw signs saying Mohonk Hiking Trail, 15 dollars for day hikers. I thought that was a bit high seeing how I just paid 10 bucks to park my car in a state park down the road. I read great things about Mohonk. The views, the lake, some of the hiking trails, I thought I'd give it a shot. I thought, "It's 15 bucks why not?". As I pulled up to the gatehouse that "why not?" Turned into "why did I drive up here?". The 15 bucks for day hiking turned into 26 dollars per person with strict rules of no touching anything near the house and benches of all things! The cost doesn't prevent the 35 minute walk to where all the great trails start. It would have been nice to park closer. Maybe they'd bump the price up to $30 then. Ugh. The saving grace of Mohonk Preserve is the rock scramble and the sky tower trail. The rock scramble was so much fun, climbing through small openings in the rocks climbing over rocks to move higher on the trail. It was a great time and a full body work out. The sky tower trail had some of the most beautiful views along its edge. Anyone who loves to take views while walking on a trail that had a slight incline would love it. Continuing walking east will bring out to travels that will take you down to duck pond which is a cool place to relax before heading back up I feel I will not be returning back to Mohonk Preserve because of the price and the fact you can have just as much fun down the road in minnewaska state park. read more

Loved this park so much when I visited the area. Worth every penny! The maps they provide upon entrance are the best I've seen. Still have mine. The views at Bonticou Crag are breathtakingly beautiful. The park was so well maintained, marked and clean overall. Lots of trails and options for any hiker - new, seasoned, intermediate. Their website has lots of helpful info as well. read more

We absolutely love it out here. There are so many different areas and trails and a wide variety of activity for different capabilities. Whether you're after a leisurely walk or more technical climbing, this place is dog-friendly and peaceful as can be. Even when the parking lots are totally full (especially summer weekends) it never feels too packed on the trails. read more

Mohonk Preserve - Walking trail - Parks Near Me - Gardiner, New York

Weekday fee is $20. This Preserve seems big and you can do lots of events such as: hiking, biking, bouldering, climbing, and other. It seems to be a nice place to relax and connect with mother nature. I came here for bouldering with friends and there were lots of real and challenging problems in real rocks. I never had so much fun. I will definitely come back again in the summer when rocks are not that cold... XD Next time I will come here again for hiking as I heard there are lots of nice landscape to check out. read more

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I mean how could anyone give a mountain preserve anything less than 5stars? This is Mother Nature at its finest...esp in the fall. We came out for a small hike up the mountain nothing too crazy esp since my 5yo was with us (whom actually zipped right up to the top no problem) and when you get to the welcome center the gentleman there was super helpful and very informative. He told us exactly what was worth our while for the short period of time with our youngin' Totally going back and next time instead of hitting up millbrook Trapps well probably hit up the water fall closer to the summer. read more

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Expensive but worth it. Beautiful park beautifully maintained and well staffed with excellent rangers. There's something for everyone here. The climbing and the watering hole are my fav parts! Get started at dusk and get above the cloud plateau for sunrise, totally worth it. You can self pay if you beat the rangers, it's very casual and friendly. carriage trail can be accessed from the second lot after the bridge (further up road than the visitor center). from that lot you don't need to do the infamous stair master and you can enjoy the trail and views without any strenuous hiking. read more

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: http://www.nynjtc.org/hike/bonticou-crag It's so worth it once you reach the top. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/AXfR8W-1sP1b-EblelFiUw?select=3duJ2imLuyvlLQiPc2ydWg It's a great one day trip to get out of NYC. read more

Mohonk Preserve - Parks Near Me - Gardiner, New York

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. ------------------- FIRST PART: ------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------- LUNCH - Mountain House Resort: -------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------- SECOND PART: ---------------------- 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. ----------------- WAY BACK: ----------------- 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. read more

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Fantastic opportunity for a day hike unlike any other. The rock scramble and lemon squeeze make it so worth it. A true Catskill gem, with a lake in the sky. Note: you do have to walk a considerable distance to the actual trail and labyrinth - from the parking lot. They no longer let you drive to the actual Mountain House, nor shuttle you there. It's about 2 miles. Bring snacks and water. read more

Mohonk Preserve - Parks Near Me - Gardiner, New York

What a beautiful spot to hike and explore, the parking at the base of this place is a joke and will cost you something like 20-30 bux. I've gotten lost and just kept walking in the pitch black until lucking out and somehow surviving, so be prepared for an actual hike as I was not that time. On the mountain sits an old fire tower or something and the views from up there are incredible, this is an all day hike for sure and there are multiple trails and sights to see. Look down at the extravagant and pricey mountain house and you'll wanna come back for sure. read more

Mohonk Preserve - Parks Near Me - Gardiner, New York

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Beautiful places, wide open spaces, and breathtaking views. Trying to figure out what to visit specifically in the Mohonk Preserve can be overwhelming. Stopping at the visitor center can be helpful. Parking at most of the trail heads will run you $15.00 but it is well worth it to have choices on your hikes. Being from Florida, and over 50 I asked the ranger what hikes I could take in for the best views and within my ability. He sent me to the next parking area and told me to follow a "boring" yellow path for a bit then cross a bridge and look the the Ridge Trail with the blue dots then follow the blue dots. He must not have understood that I meant "easy" and this path was by no means easy. I considered skipping his advice when I saw the blue dots were painted on steep rockfaces you had to crawl and pull yourself up by scattered trees, but I ventured on. This path is difficult and best taken by those with plenty of experience and energy. I did make it up to the ridge and took in some amazing views before deciding that I needed to crab crawl my way back down. The regular "boring" path would be much more my speed. At least I have to give the preserve kudos for well marked "trails" even if they are climbing up steep rocks. I left the map in my car and cell service was non existent, so I didn't want to venture away from the dots to find an easier route. I wished I had noticed in the information early enough during the day that you can walk into the Monhonk Mountain House property from the preserve trails. I did not want to purchase a pricey day pace to see the beautiful place, but I might have ventured on a challenging path to take in the view of the lake and property at the top of this mountain if my time had permitted. Overall, worth the visit and would love to prepare myself better for more walks in the woods here next time. read more

Went here for Labor Day Weekend to escape the beach crowds and the city. Make sure you get there early during peak season because the parking lot is small and fills up fast! The hiking trails were easy to navigate and you can choose your level of difficulty. The waterfall was beautiful and the water was crisp, cold and refreshing, just how I like it! There hadn't been much rain so there wasn't much of a fall, more of a trickle, but still lovely. Saw a few Copper Head snakes while swimming, so be on the lookout. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

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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. read more

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The people are very good and informative and caring. I really enjoy learning about the mountians and the nature and seeing all the beautiful landscapes there. Ken and Jane and the rest of the visitor center front desk staff are great. And gene the female is really funny and sweet read more

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A very clean and warm welcome center greets you. But on a wintry January day, a hike that was advised to be 20-25 minuets ended up being a 1.25 hour long. The paths are marked in an understated way. We went to the west traps parking and then did the yellow then blue paths. They were a bit icy and steep since it was snowing. Still quite undisturbed and beautiful. We were alone on the path. That said when we arrived at the lot we went to the restrooms and both of us slipped! Really need to put salt or sawdust there! Will return in the fall or summer! read more

Mohonk Preserve - Hiking path - Parks Near Me - Gardiner, New York

Fabulous and varied trails, great signage, beautifully kept with gorgeous lookout points

DA GUNKS! Not sure what else you can say about this place: it's pivotal to the history of rock climbing and it's still one of the most iconic trad climbing areas in the US. We climbed here for a few days. The climbs are like no other place I've been. Where else can you do multi-pitch 5.3's? Overhanging 5.4's? NOWHERE. We went in early November and the weather was, shockingly, perfect. Still fall colors everywhere and crisp, sunny days. If you're a rock climber, this place is a must visit, but you probably already know that. I here they have hiking here too, but I have no idea how worthwhile it is. Would love to come back, it was surprisingly easy to drive out to New Paltz from NYC. read more

This is by far my favorite hiking and rock scramble spot with beautiful views. We started off on Undercliff Road and onto Laurel Ledge Road. And from Laurel Ledge Road onto the Giant's Path. The Giant's Path was fun and yet a bit dangerous because a wrong step can take you down the hole, it also has a small rocky cave where we had to squeeze into and out the other end. This took us into Cope's Lookout and Eagle Cliff. We took the shortcut to go up the mountain house, which required a lot of fun rock scrambling. The Mountain House has rows of rocking chairs for us to sit on and they even have a fish feeding station. The architecture at the Mountain House was beautiful. From the Mountain House we did the Labyrinth and the Lemon Squeeze. Again, lots of fun rock scrambling and beautiful views. Coming down was suprisingly easy and smooth. There's also a shortcut to come down at the Giant's Path which would require a bit of rock scramble. It took us about 7 to 8 hours considering the breaks and picture times. Adult hiking pass is $12 per person but free if you have an active Military ID. Overall I would definitely recommend and come back again. read more

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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. read more

Great place for hiking, I went for the easy hike with my friends and we hiked for about 5 hours starting from the visitor center down to the mini waterfall and back. The scenery was quite nice, you can also see people rock climbing along the way. I'd recommend this for a weekend getaway from the city. There's a $12 entry fee per person. Make sure you have snacks/sandwiches and water while you're hiking! Also, watch out for snakes on the rocks or bear in the woods! read more

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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! http://lifeonmacro.com/2014/11/09/hiking-the-mohonk-labyrinth-lemon-squeeze-skytop/ read more

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. read more

Mohonk Preserve - Bonticou Crag - Parks Near Me - Gardiner, New York

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Absolutely refreshing and serene. We hiked through Giant's Workshop, Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze. Giant's Workshop may have been my favorite, but all were pretty amazing. Totally worth the 2-hr drive up there. This place is the equivalent of an adult playground. $12 admission ($17 if you're bicycling). This place is also dog-friendly. You've gotta make a day trip out of this for the full experience. Don't forget to bring: hand sanitizer (gloves may be useful because you will be on all fours at times), water, sunscreen, BUG SPRAY!, sunglasses/hat, napkins, lunch/snacks and a plastic bag for trash. And don't wear loose-fitting shoes unless you want a sprained ankle! read more

Came here last week, and did the lemon squeezer with a few friends from New Paltz Lemon squeezer: http://www.outdoorbound.com/index.php/events/sub/mohonk_lemon_squeezer_hike/ This was a pretty intense hike, but there are other less strenuous trails. Regardless of which path you choose though (even if you choose not to hike at all), the scenery here is simply breathtaking. Definitely tons of photo opportunities. I mean to give a little more perspective, at one point we looked down and had a view of the entire Hudson Valley! I also went once last summer, and we were able to rent a paddle boat for cheap. I'm guessing it's just good all year round :) The place is about a two hour drive from NYC. Keep some spare change with you because tolls add up to about ten dollars each way (unless of course you have an E-Z Pass). Every mile and every penny is worth it though, especially if you're looking to get away from the city for a bit. read more

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Have been coming here to climb for the last year or so, and have been here in the summer and fall. It's a climber's haven, with large wooded areas that provide shade for when you're chilling, and many different levels of rock faces for climbers both amateur and skilled to climb. Def come prepared with adequate equipment and people, but if you ever find yourself needing assistance with knots or beaner positioning, everyone else in the area is very friendly and willing to help. The climbing community is strong here, and it's lovely to see so many of these truly dedicated people who love the sport and enjoy the challenge that is outdoor climbing. read more

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. read more

Mohonk Preserve - The Mountain House reflecting in Mohonk Lake - Parks Near Me - Gardiner, New York

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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. read more

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Beautiful place to go hiking and get away from everyone. There is a charge to hike the trails so go early. The main welcome house is nice to visit. There are restrooms available at the welcome house and you can pay for the trail usage there as well. You can feel at one with nature here read more

We wanted to take a walk around Mohawk and go to the gift shop and perhaps get something to eat. When we got there we were told it was I need $7 per person just park the car at the bottom of the mountain and we had to walk up 2 miles. $54 just to park? And they say that with a straight face. The whole place is way over priced but this is just olain greedy. read more

Super fun hike! We parked in the parking lot a bit further away (because it's cheaper at $15 per person rather than $26 per person), and we had to walk a long time to get to the preserve. We went on the underhill path which was flat along the rock climbers but almost two miles. When we finally got to the lake, we went up for the Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze! The Labyrinth was really fun as we climbed up rocks and went through tight walls. I loved that hike, and the lake was really pretty too! We went during fall colors so we saw a lot of really pretty colors (a nice mix of green and fall colors). The Labyrinth and Lemon Squeeze was a good time but the underhill path was tedious and not that fun. I also really dislike the fact that we have to pay for hiking! read more

One of the folks at the visitor center yelled at me one day earlier this year. Totally unacceptable. I was asking about more information from someone else entirely and he butted in and literally raised his voice at me. Shocking, as I have been regularly visiting the preserve for years and no one had treated me that way before, in fact most of the people who work there have been very kind. Quite traumatizing if I'm being honest. Really is an asterisk when I talk about the Gunks to anyone now. Its a beautiful place, full of great climbing, but this one interaction really marred my experience with the preserve. It quickly went from one of my favorite places, to a place where I try to avoid interacting with staff, which is really sad. The Gunks is the reason I stayed in New York long after I was ready to leave. And this interaction, well, it made me want to not go back. read more

Rip offs At $15 a person Highway robbery And the trails are NOT maintained at all Lord knows the state probably paid for the bridge over 44/55 despite both sides being Mohonk property At $10 a car there are PLENTY beautiful trails in the NYS parks At $15 a person Mohonk is NOT a family friendly place or its only for the ri read more

The joy of hiking in Mohonk Preserve was worth its $27/ person on weekends. I packed some ham&cheese, PB&J and even nutella sandwich since you have no access to the Mohonk House, for those hiking only. Bring lots of water, but bear in mind that restrooms are limited to the small parking lot, and one near Mohonk House, by the lake. The fall weather was perfect for long walks and for even longer photo-ops. The view just got better as you moved up higher. Walking around the serene lake can be romantic for those still inspired by this notion. There were times when you would be enveloped in colours of yellow, green and red which was only possible during autumn. Though there were people when we started, we rarely encountered them along the trail. Eagle Cliff Trail was perfect for non hikers like me as it proved to be such a long, but leisurely walk leading you up to the view of Sky Top Tower and the lake below. However, for most adventurers the Labyrinth Trail to the Sky Top Tower is the way to go. read more

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