Shawangunk Ridge State Forest

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Hiking Trails

A 1.8-mile section of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (leaves DEC website) and the Long Path (leaves DEC website) pass through the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. To the south, the trail continues on into Roosa Gap State Forest. To the north the trail continues onto private land and eventually onto Minnewaska State Park to the north of Route 52.

Multiple Use Trails

Old Mountain Road is a 1.8-mile woods road that extends southwest from NYS Route 52. The trail connects to both the Long Path and the Old Plank Road Trail. The trail is an unpaved road maintained as a hiking trail and open to other non-motorized recreation such as mountain biking and horseback riding. The parking area on Mountain Road is not large enough to accommodate horse and snowmobile trailers.

Old Plank Road is a 1-mile multiple use trail that connects Old Plank Road/Old Rt. 52 to the Old Mountain Road multiple use trail. The trail is an unpaved road maintained as a hiking trail and open to other non-motorized recreation such as mountain biking and horseback riding.

General information on primitive camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

There are no designated campsite on this state forest; however, primitive camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.

General information on fishing includes fishing tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

The Platte Kill (or Holliday Brook) in the southeast corner of the unit is a small stream that has been documented to contain brook trout, brown trout, blacknose dace, common shiner, and slimy sculpin. Brown trout are stocked annually by DEC approximately four miles downstream from the unit. There are several other streams of varying size that may contain fish.

Southeastern NY Fishing provides information on fishing in the area and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.

Wildlife Management Unit: 3J and 3M

General Information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include small game (especially squirrels), turkey, deer, and bear. 

Wildlife Management Unit: 3J and 3M

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Trapping is allowed during appropriate seasons. There are trapping opportunities for wide‐ranging predator species such as fisher, bobcat, and coyote, but trappers won't find very many aquatic furbearers such as beaver or muskrat.

General information on cross-country skiing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest is open to cross-country skiing in the winter. There are no groomed or maintained trails, however cross-country skiing is permitted on all hiking trails.

General information on snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Shawangunk Ridge State Forest is open to snowshoeing in the winter. There are no groomed or maintained trails, however snowshoeing is permitted on all hiking trails.

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state

A variety of wildlife can be found within the unit. In addition to the notable game species such as small game, turkey, deer, bear, fisher, bobcat, and coyote, various birds may be found. These include common raven, bald eagle, osprey, warblers, owls, flycatchers, hawks, and other songbirds, plus at-risk species such as peregrine falcon, Cooper's hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and golden-winged warbler. Reptiles and amphibians that may be found include a variety of turtles, snakes, salamanders, frogs and toads, plus the at-risk timber rattlesnake, marbled salamander, Jefferson salamander, wood turtle and eastern box turtle.