The Rail Trail
Our front-door path into the Wallkill Valley — on foot, on a bike, or on skis.
The basics
- Access just down the road. A few minutes' walk from the house puts you on the trail.
- 22+ miles of flat, crushed-stone path. The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail runs from Gardiner all the way north to Kingston, through New Paltz and Rosendale.
- Bikes are provided — regular and e-bikes in the garage. Helmets too.
- Dogs welcome on leash. Water in warm weather; please pack out what they leave.
Easy outings
- Morning dog walks — quiet, shaded, and flat. You'll see more dogs than people before 8am.
- Trail runs — soft crushed-stone surface, no cars, no stoplights, no decisions to make.
- Evening strolls — birdsong, farm fields, and occasional deer. Bring bug spray in summer.
Winter on the trail
- Cross-country skiing when there's snow — the trail is flat and wide, and usually has tracks set by other skiers within a day of a storm.
- Snowshoeing and winter walks work anytime. Traction spikes help on packed-snow days.
- Quieter in winter, but never empty. You'll always share it with a few locals.
A 15-minute ride, either direction
- South to Gardiner. About 15 minutes on the bikes. Kettleborough Cider House sits right off the trail — a cold cider at sunset in summer is our single favorite thing to do here.
- North to New Paltz. Also about 15 minutes. The trail drops you at Water Street Market, where Mudd Puddle Coffee, Dry Fly Coffee, Grazery (cheese, wine, sandwiches), and The Udder Place ice cream are all steps from the trail. Main Street food and the kayak launch at Sojourner Truth Park are right there too.
For the ambitious
- Bike-and-paddle to New Paltz. Ride in, put a kayak on the Wallkill River, ride back. Best half-day on the property if the weather cooperates.
- North to the Rosendale Trestle. A restored 940-foot railroad bridge, 150 feet above Rondout Creek — the signature view of the whole trail. Reasonable out-and-back from the house.
- All the way to Kingston. The trail runs ~22 miles top to bottom; Kingston's waterfront is the northern end. A full day on a bike, and you've earned dinner.
- South to Riverbend and Full Moon. Head south past Gardiner to Riverbend Trails at Gardiner Park — singletrack along the Wallkill River with ridge views — then loop by Full Moon Farm for grass-fed meat from their 24/7 self-serve stand. Dinner solved.
A few tips
- Let us know before you grab a bike — there's a quick walk-through for tire pressure, lights, and the lock combo.
- Phone coverage is spotty on parts of the trail. Download offline maps before a longer ride.
- Bring water in summer. There are only a few places to refill between towns.
- Check trail conditions after big storms — sections closest to the Wallkill River occasionally flood.
- The trail exists because people protect it. Maintained by the Wallkill Valley Land Trust — worth supporting if you love a day out here.
