Minnewaska State Park Preserve

About 1.5 hours north of downtown New York City, Minnewaska State Park Preserve offers over 22,000 acres of protected land for public enjoyment. This region contains the famous Shawangunk Mountains (known as the Gunks), sandwiched between the Hudson Highlands and the Catskill Mountains. With signature white cliffs and stunning views, these mountains are popular among mountain bikers and rock climbers from around the world.

Biking and climbing may be its claims to fame, but the preserve has more than 50 miles of footpaths and over 35 miles of carriage roads that cater to all visitors, making it one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the state. Tucked in the woods, the Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground is a main attraction, as well, with more than 50 campsites available.

But if it hadn’t been for a strong partnership between Shawangunk Ridge communities, the state’s governor, Open Space Institute (OSI), and Trust for Public Land, this upstate treasure could have become a luxury housing development accessible only to those who owned homes there. In 2006, as “Save the Ridge,” signs began popping up as far away as Manhattan, TPL helped acquire 2,500 acres of the Awosting Reserve, which former OSIP president Joe Martens called “the holy grail of the Shawangunks.” That land is now part of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, protected forever for future generations.