The Mohonk Preserve is located in the Shawangunk Ridge, a section of the Appalachian Mountains, ninety miles north of New York City and five miles west of New Paltz, New York. It protects over 6,000 acres (24 km²) of cliffs, forests, streams and ponds and manages 25 miles (40 km) of carriage roads and 31 miles (50 km) of hiking trails. The Preserve includes some world famous rock climbing cliffs, the Trapps.
The Mohonk Preserve was founded in 1963 as the Mohonk Trust. It is the largest member and visitor-supported nature preserve in New York State and was the first land trust established to protect the northern Shawangunk Ridge. The Preserve's mission is to protect the sensitive ecology of the area and to provide for public environmental education and recreation. The Mohonk Trust was formed by guests of the Mohonk Mountain House and the Smiley family, the founders and owners of the Mountain House. The Mohonk Preserve surrounds the Mohonk Mountain House property (legally known as Mohonk Lake Resort).
The Mohonk Mountain House is a separate, 2,200 acre (8.9 km²) property, a private resort owned since 1870 by the Smiley family. This world famous resort and it's landmark victorian hotel was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. A reciprocal agreement allows Preserve members and day visitors to visit the resort grounds.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve adjoins the Preserve lands to the south, and protects another 12,000 acres (49 km²) of former property of another member of the Smiley family as a state park and Sam's Point Preserve adds another 4,600 acre (19 km²) parcel owned by The Nature Conservancy.
External links
- Mohonk Preserve: http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/
- Mohonk Mountain House: http://www.mohonk.com/
- http://newpaltz.hvnet.com/hikeclimb/mohonk.htm