Venture Outfitters

The Best Biking in the Hudson Valley

Before you begin

Here are a few tips to get you started:

  1. Check out local Hudson Valley Bike Rental Shops
  2. Check out our Biking Gear Guide
  3. Check out our road biking “how to guide”, to learn how to bike on roads that are shared with vehicles

Best Paved Bike Trail

The Hudson Valley Rail Trail from Poughkeepsie or Highland to New Paltz is your best bet for a paved bike path.  This path is level and easy, with plenty of stops in towns along the way, and convenient parking lots at both ends of the trail.  If you wish to stay on the pavement, you can head North on the Wallkill Valley Trail along the Wallkill River.

Best Journey

Nothing beats the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail from New Paltz to Kingston.  This ride will take a little over an hour on a bike.  Be sure to ride a bike with “fat” tires or mountain bike tires, not a dedicated road bike with narrow tires because the trail turns into gravel.  The Poughkeepsie end of the trail has plenty of parking and two bike rental shops.  Parking is tight at the Kingston end of the trail, but the restaurants, nightlife, scenery, and museums along Kingston’s Roundout Creek will not disappoint.  The Hudson River Maritime Museum is worth the trip.  Likewise, the Trolley Museum of New York is an unexpected treasure focusing on New York City transit.

Best for Mountain Biking

Nothing beats the mountain scenery of Minnewaska State Park.  In any season, but especially in the fall, this park seems like another world.  You would never think this is about 90 minutes from New York City.  There are a few important rules to follow in this state park.  Bikes must keep to the designated “carriage roads, which are marked by a solid line on the park map.  Bicycle helmets are required, and reservations are required on weekends and holidays from April 15th to November 15th.  Vehicle parking will cost $10 per day, but these inconveniences prevent overcrowding.  

The best route is to point your GPS to the Sam’s Point Visitors Center at 400 Sam’s Point Rd, Cragsmoor, NY.  Bike the High Point trail for a scenic, six-mile round trip.

Ride and bike

Ride and Bike

Trains and bikes fit together like peas and carrots.  From Manhattan or points North, Bikes are usually allowed on the Metro North, subject to a few limitations (click for more details).   Adding Metro North to your bike route opens dozens of opportunities, especially if you are comfortable with road biking.  Check out our road biking “how to” guide to learn the ins-and-and-outs of road biking safely.  

Here are a few suggestions to get you started, but the entire Metro North Map presents plenty of “ride and bike” adventures:  

  • Manitou–Take Metro North to Manitou and bike across the Bear Mountain Bridge, then continue to Bear Mountain State Park or to the Black Rock Forest if you are Mountain Biking.
  • Beacon–Take Metro North to Beacon, then bike to Mount Beacon or take your bike on the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry and bike to the Newburgh waterfront.
  • Poughkeepsie–Take Metro North to Poughkeepsie, then bike across the Walkway Over the Hudson, you can continue to New Paltz.  The total time for this trip, and back to New York City is about five hours, without stopping for lunch.