Continuing a tradition of thanking local residents
while also offering them relief from growing living
costs, the Mohonk Preserve will hold its third Eleven
Towns Appreciation Weekend on Saturday, August 23 and
Sunday, August 24. On these days, free one-month memberships
will be issued to Preserve visitors residing in the
towns of Crawford, Gardiner, Marbletown, Montgomery,
New Paltz, Rochester, Rosendale, Shawangunk, and Wawarsing,
and the villages of Ellenville and New Paltz.
“With gas and travel costs on the rise, the Preserve
is a great way for residents to enjoy outdoor recreation
and all that nature has to offer while staying close
to home,” says Joe Alfano, Development Director
at the Preserve. “The Mohonk Preserve is grateful
for the support we receive from visitors and businesses
across the region, so we’re happy to be able to
give something back.”
The eleven towns are all part of the 82-mile Shawangunk
Mountains Scenic Byway, a network of roads through areas
recognized for their scenic, cultural, and ecological
importance. (The free passes have long been provided
on spring and late-summer weekends to residents of the
five towns surrounding the Shawangunk Ridge, but the
offer was expanded last year to include all the Byway
towns.)
Visitors with proof of residency can obtain their free
membership between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on either day at
any trailhead or at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center.
Visitors without proof of residency in one of the eleven
towns must pay the standard $9 day use fee for hikers
and bikers ($15 for climbers) or can purchase an annual
membership. Children 12 and under may visit the Preserve
for free, but must be accompanied by an adult.
The SHAWANGUNK SCENIC BYWAY is an 82-mile network of
country roads that surrounds and passes through the
northern Shawangunk Mountains. Located at the heart
of the Byway, the MOHONK PRESERVE is the largest member-
and visitor-supported nature preserve in New York State.
Managing and protecting nearly 7,000 acres of the Shawangunk
Ridge, the Preserve works to inspire people to care
for, enjoy, and explore the natural world. Preserve
lands are open sunrise to sunset every day; a current
membership or day entry pass is required to access the
lands. Admission to the Visitor Center (with exhibits,
a gift shop, and nature trails) is always free. For
more information, visit www.mohonkpreserve.org or call
(845) 255-0919.
To get to the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center: From
Route 209, turn on Route 44/55 and go 10 miles east;
Visitor Center is 1 mile past West Trapps Entry; turn
into second lot. From New Paltz, take Route 299 west
for 7 miles; turn right on Route 44/55; go ½
mile and turn into first lot at the Visitor Center.
