Biking & Hiking
For the best hiking (certainly some of the finest in the state), check out the Mohonk and Minnewaska preserves near New Paltz . The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail stretches 12 miles from the New Paltz/Rosendale town line to Gardiner. Bicycling Magazine has details of a great (100-mile-plus) reservoir loop for hardcore road cyclists, starting in New Paltz (www.bicycling.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=355113). The widely available free brochure Hiking Ulster County has details of plenty more trails in the Catskill Forest Preserve and Overlook Mountain Wild Forest, near Woodstock; visit www.co.ulster.ny.us. Bike rentals are available from Favata's Table Rock Tours and Bicycle Shop, 386 Main St., Rosendale (tel. 845/658-7832; www.trtbicycles.com); Bicycle Depot, 15 Main St., New Paltz (tel. 845/255-3859; www.bicycledepot.blogspot.com); Overlook Mountain Bikes, 93 Tinker St., Woodstock (tel. 845/679-2122; www.overlookmountainbikes.com); or Revolution Bicycles, 196 Main St., Saugerties (tel. 845/687-3570; www.revolutionbicycles.webs.com).
Kayaking/Tubing
Atlantic Kayak Tours, 320 W. Saugerties Rd., Saugerties (tel. 845/246-2187; www.atlantickayaktours.com), guides experts and novices on 40 different tours along the Hudson. Rent a kayak at Bernetta's Kayaks, 12 Calderone Dr., Wallkill (tel. 845/464-5106). The Town Tinker, Bridge Street, Phoenicia (tel. 845/688-5553; www.towntinker.com), does inner tube rentals for floating down a 5-mile stretch of the Esopus River (including a course with rapids and flumes). Tubes are $12 per day, tube taxi transportation $5.
Rock Climbing
EMS, 3124 Rte. 44/55, Gardiner (tel. 800/310-4504), has equipment and climbing lessons.
Skiing
Northwest of Phoenicia, Belleayre Mountain, Route 28, Highmount (tel. 845/254-5600; www.belleayre.com), has the highest skiable peak and longest trail in the Catskills, with 36 other trails and eight lifts, but also a lower mountain that's perfect for beginners and intermediates.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
