Assault on the 'Gunks"
Minnewaska (east) climb – rt. 44/55 – documentation
outbound route includes "bonus hill" - Guilford Mtn. Rd.

Kevin Newman
Poughkeepsie NY

KEY:
ACR = A tlantic C oast R oute (Adventure Cycling)
CR = C ounty R oute
LTAH = L eft T urn A cross H ighway
RNCT = R oute N ame C hanges T o
SR = S tate R oute
TCL = T raffic C ontrol L ight
HFH = H ills F rom H ell
UC = U lster C ounty
PO = P ost O ffice
YGTSTB = Y ou've G ot T o S ee T o B elieve


date ridden and documented: 09/01/08
elevations from Google maps terrain – zoomed-in to 40 ft. contour
intervals - 1000'
Sky - Mounti inclinometer (20% max) used for gradient
start:
Wallkill RT – * Gilded Otter brewery restaurant * New Paltz NY

mileage to here via ACR from Pok. RR sta. : 11.1 mi.

computer reset to 00.0
{elevation difference: 1,485 ft. to end of park rd. at Minnewaska
Lake}
WEST on Main St. - SR 299
CROSS Wallkill River
elev. 200 '
CAUTION! Narrow bridge – rough-dirt shoulder no shoulder after
Springtown Rd. CR7 – high speed traffic
(if going straight on SR 299 begin up grade to rt. 44/55 – this
special outbound route turns off SR 299 before beginning of
SR 299 climb while still in valley)
grade just after bridge : 1%
1.0 L CR 7
CAUTION! LTAH
grade here on county hwy.: 6%
*Rivendell Winery* mileage reference point : 5.3

CAUTION! AS OF 09/01/08 CR7 under construction/re-paving – very rough
road surface after county fairgrounds

past Guilford Schoolhouse Rd.
6.2 R Guilford Rd. (NO Schoolhouse)
grade here : 1%
elev. : 280'
*view of Shawangunk ridge* dead-ahead (note direction of travel)
(note: as of 09/01/08 the new road signs do not indicate a change in
name to Guilford Mtn. Rd. - note Mtn. - however the Mtn.
sufix does appear on an old mailbox at one of the farms)
dip down -7% then up
11% grade after turn and before main grade
HFH YGTSTB at 7.7 mi begins after Guilford Schoolhouse Rd.
main grade is a stepped ascent with several "flats"
grade at bottom: 9%
grade at middle: 14%
grade at top near hwy. : 19% (max)
8.2 R US rt. 44/SR 55

BEGIN MAIN CLIMB – MINNEWASKA SP
5.7 mi. from here into park at top of park rd. - main parking lot
FOOD deli - Bistro Mountain Store Mountain Brauhaus Restaurant
* EMS rock climbing school *
grade on hwy. at above turn: 6%
elev. : 520 '
* Mohonk Preserve Trapps Gateway Visitor Center * 8.8
elev. 710 '
(just before switchback)
SWITCHBACK
max grade: 9% (at bottom – entrance into)
grade at middle - curve: 6%
grade just after switchback : 6.5%
elev. 840 ' at top of switchback
9.7 OVERLOOK – Mohonk Preserve
grade at overlook : 8.5 %
elev. 915'
9.8 begin downhill just after above at Trapps Rd. (carriage road)
overpass (looks like RR overpass)
down to 800 ft.
downhill grade : -6%
10.2 sign for Minnewaska Preserve State Park - just before Clove Rd.
back up
begin rolling ascent to max elev. on hwy. of 1400'
11.0 down for 100 yrds.
11.5 up 9% grade at intersection sign
grade lessens a bit
11.9 Peter's Kill area – lower park
elev 1200 '
resume 9% grade just after above
12.6 Awosting water Falls accesible via carriage road trail
13.0 slight downhill – beginning of big downhill to Kerhonkson
13.1 L park entrance
elev. 1400 '
PARK ROAD GRADE
HFH YGTSTB
grade just after toll booth at creek: 4%
grade rapidly increases
gradient just after creek – beginning of main grade :14%
grade at hair-pin 1: 20% max (bottom of hair-pin curve)
grade at hairpin 2: 17%
note: steady grade all the way – 14% to 18%
13.9 upper parking lot
elevation at top of park road and parking lot : 1685 '
14.1 mi. to lake

return via SR 299 to New Paltz approximately 6 mi. - gradual downhill
and rolling to Albany Post Road then more or less flat
from there in valley to the bottom of the Main Street grade – 12% max