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22 miles of scenic riding connecting Gardiner, New Paltz, Rosendale, Ulster and Kingston.


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Map Key

22.2

Miles

35.8

KM

Doubletrack

338' 103 m

High

93' 28 m

Low

414' 126 m

Up

523' 159 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (0°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Family Friendly Tons of history, great views, bridges, parks and towns for rest stops, food and events. Check the wvrta.org website for event postings.

The WVRT never closes during daylight hours. Though running and biking events are occasionally hosted on the trail, it remains open to other users. Hikers and bikers, however, must yield to horses on the shared trail.

Description

Limited road-side parking at Denniston Road, but ample parking two miles north in Gardiner. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail has mile markers every half mile from Denniston Road.

Along the way, the trail passes near Skydive the Ranch then Gardiner Center, Majestic Park, orchards and forests. Also nearby are organic farms and farmer's markets. Stop at Plattekill Creek for a great view of the Gunks at mile 6.5. At mile 8 is Sojourner Truth Park with kayak launch. The WVRT then passes Water Street Market in New Paltz with restaurants and shops and Main Street businesses and at mile 9 is the Huguenot Historic District, oldest continuously inhabited street in the US. Woods and farms dot way until the spectacular Rosendale Trestle at mile 15.5. Once the highest bridge in the US, Rosendale was the source of the cement that would build the Brooklyn Bridge and the world's first skyscrapers. Further north are lakes and the home turf of the sociological and infamous "Jukes" clan. There, numerous old cement mines emitting chilly breezes (and bats at night) along the way.

The trail's northern end currently terminates at a large parking area. Take a road route to Kingston's historic Stockade District with its restaurants and small shops. Currently there is a route to the 20+ mile O&W (aka D&H) Rail Trail at Washington Avenue and at the back end of the Motel 6 parking lot.

Contacts

Shared By:

Michael Reade

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 6 votes

#1719

Overall
  4.8 from 6 votes
5 Star
83%
4 Star
17%
3 Star
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Trail Rankings

#10

in New York

#1,719

Overall
3 Views Last Month
4,799 Since Feb 16, 2016
Easy Easy

100%
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Photos

Dusk on a lake.
Sep 7, 2019 near Rosenda…, NY
The Rosendale Trestle on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail as seen from atop Joppenburgh Mountain in Rosendale. When built is was the highest bridge in the United States. The Joppenburgh Mountain trail is accessible from the parking lot behind Main Street in Rosendale. Very steep for biking.
Feb 17, 2016 near Rosenda…, NY
Definitely a tour and not a trail ride. Great scenery, small towns...plenty of great things to see including mines and extremely high bridge crossings.
Aug 4, 2020 near Rosenda…, NY
View from one of the bridge crossings.
Aug 4, 2020 near Rosenda…, NY
At mile 10.5 is the trail bridge at Springtown Road. It offers peaceful views of the often swiftly-moving Wallkill River as it flows north. You can see the shadow of the bridge on the water below in this photo.
Feb 24, 2016 near New Paltz, NY
View during the winter of the Shawangunk Ridge as seen from the Plattekill Creek Bridge at mile 6.5 on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. Nearby on Plains Road is Talifero Farm, an organic farm with produce and other organic prepared foodstuffs for sale.
Feb 17, 2016 near New Paltz, NY
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