--- In bikemh@yahoogroups.com, "niskyironmom" <niskyironmom@...>
wrote:
>
> I am planning to ride from Albany to Westchester area. If you
find a
> good route please let me know.
>
>
> --- In bikemh@yahoogroups.com, "ppederson25" <ppederson25@> wrote:
> >

> > Hi all,
> > I am planning an Albany-NYC ride in August sometime between the
16th> > and the 22nd.

> > I assumed I would try to get a couple of pannier bags and a
small tent and just ride down the river.


RE: > > Is there a good paved trail network?


here is info I had sent someone last year
for touring info and other long distance routes check out Adventure
Cycling at www.adventurecycling.org - 2 of their long distance
routes pass through NY - the Atlantic Coast Route and the Northern
Tier Route

this info was based on a south to north direction IE: NYC to Albany -
just reverse info for other direction

re: planed self contained camping tour along Hudson River

the river route via BR9 has very limited options for camping - the
only state park with camping that is along BR9
is 11 miles north of here in Poughkeepsie - Mills Norie SP in
Staatsburg

I would sugest for more camping options you would have to be willing
to go inland away from the river - see below for several
options - however even with these options you may have to be
willing to stay at a motel at least one (or 2?) night

OPTION 1 - Taconic Mountains (take note) / Harlem Valley
you would follow NYS BR9 NORTH PAST Bear Mountain Inn -
{the Bear Mtn Inn was closed last year for renovations K.E.N. 06/08}
check first before making any plans to stay there - across the
Hudson River to the village of COLD SPRINGS - then uphill
on SR301 (which is still BR9 up to US rt. 9) to Clarence Fahnstock
SP - then via my mostly town and county roads route to
the village of PAWLING - see attached files bm2pwl01_b.txt and
pwl2shrn_b.txt for routes
after Pawling would continue north to the village of WASSAIC - the
route for this is detailed in the pwl2shrn_b.txt file
there you would take the paved Harlem Valley Rail Trail 11 miles to
Milerton NY - the southern RUDD POND section of
Taconic SP with camping is 2 miles north on county rt. 62 - the
northern COPAKE FALLS section is farther north in
Columbia County - from Milerton NY in northern Dutchess County
follow sr#22 / NYS BR22 30-40 miles to
US rt.20 NYS BIKE ROUTE 5 - this route should take you west across
the river into Albany or at least very close - the
HV B&T guide indicates this route goes all the way to Buffalo NY

OPTION 2 Catskill Mountains (take note)
this would be the most beautiful and most chalenging of route
options to Albany

you would follow the NYS BR9 up to here Poughkeepsie NY then the
Atlantic Coast Route (section 2 map 19) to New Paltz NY and
then SR 32 to KINGSTON then WEST on SR 28 which is also BR28 follow
WEST past the Ashoken reservoir to SHANDAKEN
there is a state CG north of the hwy. just after WEST HURLEY (from
Kingston) on Ulster cnty. rt. 40 - the Keneth Wilson
state CG - turn R just after West Hurley on CR# 41 for a bit then
left onto CR 40 Witenburg Rd.
then r onto SR 42 through a gorge all the way up to SR 23A -
west/north on 23A to PRATTSVILLE
there might be a comercial CG near here - as this area is still
mostly in the Catskill Park - there is very little commercial
development
- just outside of this village R onto Greene
County rt. 7 to begin a ride along the east side of the Scoharie
Reservoir becomes a differant county rt. number as route
goes into Scoharie County - continue along reservoir to left near
Conesville then a left at Gilboa to SR 30
R SR 30 NORTH to Mav V Shaul SP camping
BREAKABEEN just before state park
FOOD grocery store ?? (may or may NOT still be there) this would be
last chance before camp ground

}}} to New Paltz:
after crossing the river via the FDR Mid Hudson Bridge ped walkway
note:walk bike
re-mount ride out of Johnson Iorio park uphill 7% grade
CROSS US rt. 9W
onto Tilison Ave. uphill
CAUTION! very steep downhill 12% dwn grade *MUST STOP AT BOTTOM OF
HILL*
R onto SR 55 / US rt. 44 Vineyard Ave. downhill
HIGHLAND
L Church St. CR# 12 New Paltz Rd.
follow to SR 299 at TCL
L SR 299 FOOD convenience store
QUICK R onto Old New Paltz Rd.
L Ohioville Rd.
FOOD convenience store
R SR 299
CAUTION entrance and exit for I 87
must get in left/middle lane
* NEW PALTZ *
CAUTION! high traffic esp. on weekends
down hill RNCT Main St. in village (still SR 299)
FOOD supermarket Shop Rite
numerous restaurants and motels - comercial campgrounds some
distance from village - camping in Minnewaska SP off
SR55 / US rt 44 on TOP of the 2,000 ft. high Shawangunk
(the 'Gunks') ridge overlooking the village and the Wallkill Valley
about 10 miles and 1,400 ft UP, from New Paltz - see Minewaska
option below

* Gilded Oter restaurant / brewery * - at bottom of Main St. past SR
32 turn off at Walkil Rail Trail
bike shops - there is one near bottom of Main St. about 100 ft
uphill from above
> R SR 32 (as per my HV B&T guide SR 32 is also NY BR32) follow all
the way north to Kingston - see above
to avoid a bit of riding on SR 32 continue on Main St.- 299 out of
village
CAUTION! narrow bridge over Wallkill River high traffic no shoulder
R Ulster Cnty. rt. 7 Springtown Rd. follow all the way about 7 miles
to Rosendale - OR... ride the un-paved Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
to Rosendale - exit at CR# 7 just before trail head parking lot -
for a view of the village continue on the RT out onto the
old RR bridge - this is the end of the trail to date - RT crosses
county road at below
CROSS Wallkill Rail Trail
CAUTION! steep downhill hairpin turn MUST STOP AT BOTTOM OF HILL
CROSS OVER Roundout Creek
R Main St. SR 213
follow Main St. through village to SR 32
note:Rosendale is a charming village nestled (jamed would be more
precise) between the hills with the creek running through
it and the old RR bridge as a backdrop and is worth the bit of
bypass of SR 32
L SR 32

* ROSENDALE *

FOOD one or 2 cafes convenience store STEWARTS at SR 32 bike shop


>>> MINNEWASKA OPTION <<<
if you are up - and I do mean up - for the chalenge and/or you do
not want to stay at a motel and find yourself in a situation
where Minnewaska would be the lesser of 2 evils - continue on and
do like 100 miles that day or get some groceries at the
Shop Rite,grit your teeth,get some extra memory sticks for your
camera,and do the climb up to the state CG - the grade on the
main hwy. is ,after the very steep switchback,is a steady but not
too steep grade BUT that park road - a real have-to-see-to-believe,
it is about 20% grade (I have yet to do this climb with my
relatively new inclineometer and so I have yet to document just
precisely how steep it is)

CONTINUE ON SR 299 out of New Paltz toward ridge
CAUTION! narrow bridge over Wallkill River high traffic no shoulder
CAUTION! on SR299 high speed traffic no shoulder
continue slight uphill grade to SR 55 / US rt. 44 for 7 mi aprox
R SR 55 / US rt. 44
begin 4.8 mile climb to park entrance very steep grade at switchback
* good view at overlooks *
CAUTION! when crossing road for overlooks - on oposite side vehicles
going downhill
* waterfalls * about 4 miles up climb - lower section of park
L park entrance Minnewaska SP extremely steep grade next 3/4 mile
while the ridge tops out at just over 2,000 ft.,the camping area,
and mtn. lake with swiming is "only"at an elevation of 1,800 ft.

TO CONTINUE NORTH TOWARD ALBANY
CONTINUE WEST ON SR 55 / US rt. 44 downhill to KERHONKSON
DO NOT GO EAST BACK DOWN TO NEW PALTZ
CAUTION! on descent hairpin turns
* overlooks *
CAUTION! overlooks on downgrade
follow all the way down to US rt. 209
R US rt. 209
L SR 213
L SR 28A (note A) along south side of the Ashoken Reservoir
note: for the Keneth Wilson state CG would turn RIGHT on 28A and
follow to SR28 then LEFT on SR 28 to WEST HURLEY then
see above
now in Catskill Park note: very little commercial developement -
semi wildnerness in sections
L SR28 NYS BR28 (now on route from Kingston)