New York · United States
Cycling in New Paltz
Best season: April-October
New Paltz sits where two very different rides meet. The paved-and-crushed-stone Wallkill Valley Rail Trail runs right through town as part of the Empire State Trail, offering easy, mostly flat miles past farms and the Rosendale trestle. Climb west toward ‘the Gunks’ and you reach the carriage roads of Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park Preserve, more than 70 miles of smooth-to-rough gravel best ridden on a mountain or gravel bike.
For a bike-forward stay, Mohonk Mountain House keeps its Wheelworks shop stocked with mountain bikes and e-bikes for guests and runs daily guided rides on its carriage roads in summer and fall. In town, the New Paltz Way Hotel on Water Street offers onsite rentals, including electric trail cruisers, with the rail trail steps from the door.
Renting is easy: New Paltz Biking works from the River-to-Ridge trailhead, Happy Trails Bike Rental sits right on the rail trail, and the full-service Bicycle Depot is on Main Street feet from the trail. A few miles north in Rosendale, TRT Bicycles (Table Rock Tours) rents bikes and runs guided tours. Aim for April through October; carriage roads and preserves are at their best from late spring through peak fall foliage.
New Paltz hosts the Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair at the Ulster County Fairgrounds over both Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, a juried show of hundreds of makers set against the Shawangunk ridge that draws Gunks-bound cyclists.
Weather in New Paltz
Live · NWSLoading current conditions…
Typical by month
avg high/low · 1991–2020 normals · MOHONK LAKE- Jan 34° 19° 3.8"
- Feb 37° 20° 3.2"
- Mar 46° 28° 4.3"
- Apr 60° 39° 4.0"
- May 70° 50° 4.0"
- Jun 78° 59° 4.8"
- Jul 83° 64° 4.7"
- Aug 80° 62° 4.8"
- Sep 72° 56° 5.2"
- Oct 61° 45° 5.2"
- Nov 49° 35° 3.8"
- Dec 38° 26° 4.8"
Bike-friendly hotels
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Mohonk Mountain House
Historic castle resort with more than 70 miles of carriage roads connecting to Mohonk Preserve. The onsite Wheelworks Bike Shop rents mountain bikes and e-bikes to guests (helmets included), and the Recreation Department runs daily guided rides in summer and fall, paced for the least experienced rider.
From $$$ (all-inclusive resort)/night
Before you book: Rental prices reported by aggregators at roughly $35/day for standard bikes and $75/day for e-bikes; confirm current pricing and age minimum (12+) with the resort.
Bike program verified via source (2026-07-18)
New Paltz Way Hotel
Downtown New Paltz hotel on Water Street with direct access to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. Bike rentals, including electric trail cruisers, are available onsite for guests.
Before you book: Rental rates and whether rentals are guests-only vs. open to the public not stated on the site; confirm directly.
Bike program verified via source (2026-07-18)
Where to stay in New Paltz
Live rates near New Paltz, powered by Stay22. Prices update in real time; we may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.
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Where to rent or borrow a bike
New Paltz Biking
From $50/half day ($70/full day)
Rentals from the River-to-Ridge trailhead at 41 Springtown Road, with free parking. Fleet includes electric cruisers, Haro mountain bikes, and kids' bikes and trailers. Good access to the rail trail, Mohonk Preserve, Minnewaska, and the Walkway Over the Hudson.
Verified via source (2026-07-18)
Happy Trails Bike Rental
From $15/hour ($70/day)
Located directly on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail at 310 River Road Ext. Open by appointment (call ahead). Adult bikes only; no children's rental bikes, though guests may bring kids' personal bikes.
Verified via source (2026-07-18)
Bicycle Depot
From $40/day (reported, includes helmet)
Full-service shop at 15 Main Street, feet from the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, selling road, mountain, gravel, e-bike, and hybrid bikes and handling repairs. Ulster County tourism lists day rentals.
Call ahead: The shop's own website emphasizes sales and repair and does not list rentals; the $40/day rental figure comes from Ulster County tourism/Yelp. Confirm rental availability and price directly.
Reported via source (2026-07-18)
TRT Bicycles (Table Rock Tours & Bicycles)
Rates by phone
Family-owned Trek dealer in Rosendale, about 7 miles north of New Paltz along the rail-trail corridor. Rents bikes by the day or weekend and also runs guided tours. Not in New Paltz proper but a convenient rail-trail option.
Verified via source (2026-07-18)
Guided bike tours
Guided Adventure Bicycle Tours
TRT Bicycles (Table Rock Tours & Bicycles) · 3h
Guided adventure bicycle tours for all levels of riders out of Rosendale, near the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. Tours include bicycle rental, helmet, and guide.
Mohonk Carriage-Road Guided Rides
Mohonk Mountain House · 2h
Daily guided rides on Mohonk's carriage roads in summer and fall, paced for the least experienced rider in the group. Available to Mohonk Mountain House guests.
Where these are on the map New Paltz
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