Hudson Valley Outside by PEAK

THE LATEST

Cross Country Skiing in the Hudson Valley

By Jessica Porter
The Hudson Valley, Shawangunk, Catskill Mountain Hudson Highland region is rich with old rail and carriage trails, which were primary means of transportation for tourists in the 1800s. Though the trails are no longer used for railroads or carriages, they now provide great paths for cross country skiing. Read more

A Shot at Nationals Though the Catskill Mountain Series

December 22 kicks off the 2019-20 Catskill Mountain Series of ski and snowboard competitions in the Catskill Mountains with a Rail Jams Slopestyle and Slalom events at Windham Mountain, Hunter Mountain and Belleayre Mountain. Read more

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Winter Events Calendar

Traction Shoes

Fall Events Calendar is Live!

click the image to go to the interactive calendar. If your event is not listed email us at [email protected]com. Walking and hiking events too.

Muddy Trails- Stay the Path

Some folks call it Spring, others just call it Mud Season. This year it’s sure to be a muddy season thanks to lots of snow and unusually warm temps in our February thaw.
With the usual spring rains and the snow melt expect trails to be a quagmire. Read more

The freshly falling snow all over the Hudson Valley has made the world anew, all clean and white. But, remember, there is a layer of ice beneath that snow. Here's a video with an inexpensive way to make traction shoes out of worn out footwear. Remember to dress for the weather.

New York State Parks Passport, Empire Pass

Updated January 2019
Annual Empire Pass: Available for $80, the 2019 Empire Pass is a wallet-sized card that can be shared within a household and not assigned to a specific vehicle.
The annual 2019 Empire Pass is accepted through December 31, 2019. Current Empire Pass holder can renew their old card online here. First time buyers can purchase passes at any Park Office or online here for $80 per year.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation now offers a family pass or a vehicle pass as well as passes for vets, or people with disabilities. Check the website for more information. HERE READ MORE
The 2019 Annual Empire Passes is available online HERE or in-person.

A Shot at Nationals Though the Catskill Mountain Series

December 15 will kick-off the 2018-19 Catskill Mountain Series of ski and snowboard competitions with a Rail Jam 1 at Hunter Mountain. From now until early March this series of boarder and skier-cross, slalom, rail jam, and slopestyle races offer friendly competition to skiers and riders of all ages. No really, if a kid can stand on her board or stay up on his skis, they’re in. Read more

Kingston Classic 10k '18
Video Martin Weiner

Leatherman's Loop

In January three of us agreed to set Leatherman’s Loop as a goal for the spring. Not in terms of distance, more as something to look forward to at the end of the winter.
We met five years ago at the Reach the Beach Relay in New Hampshire and have been friends and running buddies since. Read On

A Look Back at WWCGP '17

The sixth Women's Woodstock Cycling Grand Prix is coming up this Saturday. Take a look back at last year's race to up your psych. “Two years ago I watched the race and I never thought I could do it," local and first timer in the Women’s Woodstock Cycling Grand Prix, Kellie Tyler said. Read more

Spring Back from Winter

3.10.16
By Dick Vincent
For many of us the cold of winter and the long, dark nights means a time of reduced running miles and outside exercise. The warm, spring like weather ignites that urge to get fit and many athletes renew the commitment to training that was made on New Year’s Eve. Read On.

Bridge 2 Bridge 2018

Read On

Triathlon and Duathlon Up and Down the
Hudson Valley

Whether the weather is cold or whether the weather is hot, it's triathlon and duathlon season. We've compiled a list of triathlons and dualthons up and down th Hudson Valley. Read On

Catskill Spring Rush

Run, Bike, Kayak. Video courtesy of Sean Kane.

Spring Tune-Up

By Kris Geier
Winter 2018 has stretched out longer than even the groundhog predicted, but the weather looks like it’s finally going to break and soon we ’ll be out and about, hiking, climbing, cycling, running, and paddling. Before we jump back into our favorite outdoor activities, it's important to be physically, as well as mentally, prepared for our Spring endeavors. Read On.

Running into the Spring of Eighteen -Upcoming Races

The local trails are still recovering from several Nor’easters, but running won’t wait. There are so many race possibilities in the next few months.
Starting the first weekend of spring on March 24 is the Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon. Read On

BC's New Paltz Climbing Gym

Chris Scott is getting a hold of life as a climbing gym owner. Scott took over the former Inner Wall in New Paltz in January with a mind to making the space what it wants to be- a bouldering gym. Read On

Same Old Path

The cawing Blue Jays scare the Cardinals away from the bird feeder in my backyard. Pale and washed-out, the female cardinals are easy to overlook next to the vibrant crimson-against- white –snow show of the males.
I see these sights every day. Read On

A Guide to Outdoors- Leave No Trace

A Viable Outdoor Community

Hiking, camping, rock and ice climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, SUP, and canoeing, open water swimming, and trail running, or just taking a casual stroll, are all fantastic ways of connecting with the natural world. Read more Part One

“Outdoor Recreation depends on investment in America’s public lands and waters,” Read On

EVENTS CALENDAR

Instagram

The Catskill Forest Preserve
It’s Not a Park

It’s not a park. That’s perhaps the first thing visitors need to know about the Catskill Forest Preserve (CFP). Read On

The Jolly Rovers Trail Crew

Single track, double track, carriage trail, technical, jeep trail. Trails are an integral part of outdoor recreation and most of them are built by volunteers. The Jolly Rovers Trail Crew has built trails in Yonkers, New Hampshire Read more

Lean-to Magic

By Moe Lemire
There is something to be said to falling asleep in a Lean-to in the woods. Be it listening Read more

How to Doo Doo in the Woods

How do you doo doo in the woods? For hikers, bikers, trail runners, climbers, kayake, just everyone hanging out outside.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

By Dr. Greg Cecere
How many of us actually get out of our comfort zone regardless of speed or interval/distance? How many of us actually mix it up with other sports on a regular basis? Read more

Dark Chocolate: Performance Enhancing Drug?

Dr. Greg Cecere
Perhaps. At least it is for mice as of a 2011 study. It is not a perfect connection to make to humans but the conclusions from this particular study are not far-fetched either. To this day, Read more

New York State Parks , Empire Pass

For three more weeks the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is offering the Empire Pass for $65. Get your passport to millions of acres of land for the pre-season price until March 31st.
Read On to learn about the 30 State Parks in the Hudson Valley.