The Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) is a 70-mile hiking trail that traverses the entire length of the Shawangunk ridgeline, from High Point State Park in New Jersey, where the SRT intersects the Appalachian Trail, all the way to the town of Rosendale, New York, where the trail ends just beyond …
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The Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) is a 70-mile hiking trail that traverses the entire length of the Shawangunk ridgeline, from High Point State Park in New Jersey, where the SRT intersects the Appalachian Trail, all the way to the town of Rosendale, New York, where the trail ends just beyond a restored railroad trestle high above the Rondout Creek.
Along the way, the SRT passes through rolling hills covered in hardwood forests, Southern New York’s largest wetlands, rare dwarf pine barrens, sky lakes, waterfalls, and the distinctive white quartzite conglomerate cliffs of the Shawangunk mountains, which were uplifted almost three hundred million years ago.
From vantage points in these mountains, some 2,000 feet above the Hudson Valley, you’ll experience views that cover five states and reach more than 100 miles on a clear day. Because of its scenic beauty and rare ecosystems, the Nature Conservancy has identified this ridgeline as “one of Earth’s last great places.”
New York’s biggest parks – Catskill Forest Preserve, Adirondack Park, and Harriman State Park – were created by acts of government during the 19th or early 20th century. In contrast, the Shawangunk Ridgeline has been preserved parcel by parcel, in just the last few decades, thanks to the work of the Open Space Institute, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, and other private entities. The SRT was created and is maintained by the Trail Conference and its volunteers. Many portions of the ridgeline are yet threatened with development. We encourage you to make a voluntary donation to the Trail Conference to support future preservation activities along the Shawangunk Ridgeline.
We created this event to celebrate the preservation of the Shawangunk Mountains, or the “Gunks” as they are also called, and to encourage people to come out and experience the beauty of this unique ridgeline.
Shawangunk Ridge Trail Run/Hike includes four separate divisions, which are designed to appeal to athletes with a range of abilities, including both hikers and runners.
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