Undercliff/Overcliff
Undercliff/Overcliff - An easy hike, run or mountain bike at the Mohonk Preserve
Groomed for Xcountry skiing in the winter.
The Underclliff/Overcliff Carriage Road on the Mohonk Preserve is a perfect, easy, way to spend a few hours hiking. The carriage road is wide and smooth with a gravel surface. Dogs are allowed on leash on the 5 mile circuit.
Give yourself a couple of hours and take some water and a camera.
Park in the West Trapps Lot off State Route 44/55. Coming from Kerhonkson it’s on the left a few miles past Minnewaska. Coming from New Paltz it’s the first right after the hairpin turn and the steel bridge.
A day use pass is $12, the fee can be paid to the friendly person at the gate. They will also give you a map if you ask. Lifetime and yearly passes are available at the visitor center, also on 44/55 about a quarter of a mile away or http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/.
The tufts of green plastic that you will see protruding from the ground in the parking area are the Mohonk Preserve’s new method of making parking spots (the jury is still out on this).
After parking head to the opposite end of the parking lot and follow the trail up the stone steps. At the top of the steps turn left you will see an informational sign and the start of the carriage road. The Undercliff path bears left, Overcliff goes to the right. It really doesn’t matter which way you take, but my description follows Undercliff first.
The loop was first built in 1903 specifically so that guests at the Mohonk Mountain House could take carriage rides and admire the views of the two valleys that embrace the Shawangunk Ridge, the Wallkill Valley and the Rondout Valley.
Groomed for Xcountry skiing in the winter.
The Underclliff/Overcliff Carriage Road on the Mohonk Preserve is a perfect, easy, way to spend a few hours hiking. The carriage road is wide and smooth with a gravel surface. Dogs are allowed on leash on the 5 mile circuit.
Give yourself a couple of hours and take some water and a camera.
Park in the West Trapps Lot off State Route 44/55. Coming from Kerhonkson it’s on the left a few miles past Minnewaska. Coming from New Paltz it’s the first right after the hairpin turn and the steel bridge.
A day use pass is $12, the fee can be paid to the friendly person at the gate. They will also give you a map if you ask. Lifetime and yearly passes are available at the visitor center, also on 44/55 about a quarter of a mile away or http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/.
The tufts of green plastic that you will see protruding from the ground in the parking area are the Mohonk Preserve’s new method of making parking spots (the jury is still out on this).
After parking head to the opposite end of the parking lot and follow the trail up the stone steps. At the top of the steps turn left you will see an informational sign and the start of the carriage road. The Undercliff path bears left, Overcliff goes to the right. It really doesn’t matter which way you take, but my description follows Undercliff first.
The loop was first built in 1903 specifically so that guests at the Mohonk Mountain House could take carriage rides and admire the views of the two valleys that embrace the Shawangunk Ridge, the Wallkill Valley and the Rondout Valley.
Wallkill Valley from Undercliff
Not far after passing between two huge boulders the trail opens up and the Wallkill Valley can be seen to your right.
As you hike down the carriage road you may see or hear rock climbers. They are yelling because a large part of climbing is communication between the climber and the belayer (person holding the rope). If you have questions ask the climbers, the only thing climbers like better than climbing is talking about climbing.
The Gunks has some of the best rock climbing in the world. There are more than 300 possible climbing routes on the Trapps Cliff, the name of the cliff on your left, and it’s also the most popular (see I told you climbers love to talk about climbing).
There is a composting toilet on the right, and as you hike the next mile and a half or so you’ll see a couple of round, yellow metal boxes where rescue equipment is kept. These are spaced out along the cliff to be accessible in case of a climbing accident.
The carriage trail begins to veer away from the cliff and the trees become a bit denser, you’ll cross a little creek and go around two s-curves.
About half-way through the hike you come to the intersection of Undercliff/Overcliff, and Laurel Ledge. Rhododendron Bridge is on the right, curiously there’s not a rhododendron in sight.
Stay to the left and go up a slight incline.
For me this is the toughest part, partially because of the uphill, but mostly because there isn’t as much to look at to distract me from the uphill.
Clove Valley from Overcliff
You are now on the Overcliff path, which is not technically on the top of the cliff but let’s not quibble. When the tree line breaks you will be offered some stunning views of the Clove Valley and the Catskill Mountain range off in the distance.
Nearer the end of the hike you will be able to see new growth coming in after a controlled burn on the ridge a few springs ago.
While somewhat controversial, the ecological rational for a controlled burn is that naturally lightning will strike and the underbrush will burn on its own. The health of forest depends on this. When the underbrush is too thick many types of upper carriage tress cannot get enough sun light and fail to thrive. So the Preserve, in cooperation with the State DEC, burns sections each year to mimic natural conditions, allow new growth, and lessen the possibility of an uncontrollable fire.
Just pass this area the trail does another series of s-curves. Try to count them and determine how many times the trail switches back.
At the end/beginning of the trail there is a giant boulder, known as the welcome boulder, in the path. The finishing touch of the hike is to tag the boulder before returning down the stone stairs to the parking area.
Nearer the end of the hike you will be able to see new growth coming in after a controlled burn on the ridge a few springs ago.
While somewhat controversial, the ecological rational for a controlled burn is that naturally lightning will strike and the underbrush will burn on its own. The health of forest depends on this. When the underbrush is too thick many types of upper carriage tress cannot get enough sun light and fail to thrive. So the Preserve, in cooperation with the State DEC, burns sections each year to mimic natural conditions, allow new growth, and lessen the possibility of an uncontrollable fire.
Just pass this area the trail does another series of s-curves. Try to count them and determine how many times the trail switches back.
At the end/beginning of the trail there is a giant boulder, known as the welcome boulder, in the path. The finishing touch of the hike is to tag the boulder before returning down the stone stairs to the parking area.
