New Paltz, NY: Catskills Reservoirs Loop

New Paltz, NY: Catskills Reservoirs Loop

Departing from New Paltz, this century-plus road ride climbs through the Catskills, passing two scenic reservoirs on upstate New York backroads.

Author:	RaphaContinental
Date:	5 Mar 2009 4:18:51 PM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	New York (NY)
Distance:	113.24 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 9488 ft Total Loss: 9490 ft Net Change: -2 ft
Difficulty:	9 / 10
Tags:	New York City, Catskills, New York, High Falls
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

Photos courtesy of the Rapha Continental

After grabbing an espresso at the Muddy Cup (on the western end of Main Street in New Paltz), saddle up for a long and ultra-scenic day in upstate New York's Catskill State Park. Just 3.5 miles west of town, the route meets its first challenge on the 4-mile climb through a pass in the Shawagunk Mountain Range (look south for long countryside views).

After descending the Gunk's eastern ridge, the route continues west to trace the northern shore of Rondout Reservoir. When the ride leaves Rondout—heading north, deeper into mountainous heart of the Catksills—the climbing begins in earnest up Sugarloaf and Red Hill Roads. This 4-plus-mile stretch is a lung-burner, with few standard gear set-ups offering relief.

Descending into Frost Valley, the route then traces the West Branch Neversink River on a gradual climb through a blissfully quiet Catkskill canyon. At mile 64, be sure to take advantage of the Big Indian Deli before the 14.5-mile stretch along NY-28—the traffic inconvenience of the ride. Begging off the busy road in Boiceville, the route traces Ashokan Reservoir before spinning through more backroads rollers (past the World's Largest Gnome!) and one more pass over the Gunks on the return trip to New Paltz.

-Mapped by the Rapha Continental

TO TRAILHEAD: This ride departs from the Muddy Cup Cafe on Main St. in New Paltz, NY.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Catskills Reservoirs Loop

Dist: 113.24 mi	Points: 1812	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
5.98 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at Route 44 55/RT-55/US-44	Then go 10.37 mi
16.35 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Route 209/RT-55/US-209	Then go 4.39 mi
20.74 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at RT-55	Then go 5.31 mi
26.05 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at B W S Rd/Board of Water Supply Rd/RT-55A Continue to follow Board of Water Supply Rd/RT-55A	Then go 7.56 mi
33.61 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at Board of Water Supply Rd/Sundown Rd	Then go 0.23 mi
33.84 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Sugar Loaf Rd	Then go 3.99 mi
37.84 mi		Sharp left at Red Hill Rd	Then go 1.45 mi
39.29 mi	Turn Right	Turn right to stay on Red Hill Rd	Then go 1.71 mi
41.00 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Denning Rd	Then go 1.33 mi
42.33 mi		Continue on Claryville Rd/County Rte 19/Neversink Rd	Then go 0.70 mi
43.03 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at W Branch Rd/County Rte 157	Then go 10.77 mi
53.80 mi		Continue on County Rte 47/County Rte 92/Oliverea Rd	Then go 9.93 mi
63.73 mi	Bear Right	Slight right at RT-28	Then go 14.51 mi
78.23 mi	Bear Right	Slight right at RT-28A	Then go 8.53 mi
86.76 mi	Bear Right	Slight right at County Rte 4/RT-213	Then go 1.14 mi
87.90 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at County Rte 2A/Kripplebush-Davis Corners/Krumville Rd	Then go 2.99 mi
90.89 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at County Route 2/County Rte 106/County Rte 2	Then go 0.08 mi
90.97 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Lower Sahler Mill Rd/Sahler Mill Rd	Then go 1.94 mi
92.91 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Sahler Mill Rd/Sundale Rd	Then go 1.91 mi
94.81 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Queens Hwy	Then go 4.50 mi
99.32 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at Route 209/RT-55/US-209 Continue to follow US-20	Then go 1.72 mi
101.03 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at County Rte 27/Granite Rd/Main St	Then go 0.25 mi
101.28 mi		Continue on Tow Path Rd	Then go 3.66 mi
104.94 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at Berme Rd/County Rte 6/Tow Path Rd	Then go 1.95 mi
106.89 mi	Turn Right	Turn right to stay on Clove Rd/County Route 6/County Rte 6	Then go 0.20 mi
107.09 mi	Turn Right	Turn right at County Rte 6/Mohonk Rd/Mountain Rest Rd	Then go 5.32 mi
112.41 mi	Bear Right	Slight right at County Rte 7/Springtown Rd	Then go 0.48 mi
112.88 mi	Turn Left	Turn left at County Rte 7/New Paltz Plaza/RT-299 Continue to follow RT-29

Points of Interest

Catskills Climbing

Location: 41.992671°, -74.489279°
© Rapha

The Muddy Cup

Location: 41.747718°, -74.086175°
Just east of the Wallkill River in New Paltz, this new age, old school cafe serves as the New Paltz finish point for this Catskills ride. © Rapha

Into the Gunks

Location: 41.738016°, -74.162779°
West of New Paltz, the route climbs into the Shawangunk Mountains. © Rapha

Climbing the Gunks

Location: 41.735326°, -74.188442°
© Rapha

Rondout Reservoir

Location: 41.804398°, -74.422932°
Entering Catskill State Park, the route rolls 6.4 miles along the northern shore of Rondout Reservoir (a major watershed for the New York City water supply).

A Protracted Track Stand

Location: 41.911986°, -74.497261°
The 4.25-mile climb up Sugarloaf and Red Hill is steep to say the least. © Rapha

Putting in an Effort

Location: 41.916394°, -74.500694°
© Rapha

Red Hill Descent

Location: 41.919715°, -74.525371°
The route descends Red Hill Road -- parts of which are dusty gravel riddled with ruts, holes, and covered in rocks. © Rapha

Big Indian Deli Stop

Location: 42.102585°, -74.443145°
Refuel at a deli stop on Route 28 in Big Indian, NY. For the next 15 miles, you'll be riding a much more trafficked stretch of state road.

Frost Valley Road

Location: 41.947235°, -74.572105°
On Frost Valley, the route traces the West Branch Neversink River on blissfully quiet backroads.

Deeper into the Valley

Location: 42.015759°, -74.411602°
Just past Esopus Pond, the route dives down the first major descent of the day. Big sweeping turns and a clean road surface encourage high speeds and optimism.

Quiet Roads

Ashokan Reservoir

Location: 41.989800°, -74.275217°
Turning onto Route 28A, the ride begins tracing the southern shore of Ashokan Reservoir, another major New York City watershed.