The Trapps Cliff along the Shawangunk Ridge. (Wikimedia Photo)
The roughly 74-mile long Shawangunk Ridge Trail is a spectacularly scenic trail running along the entire length of the Shawangunk Ridgeline beginning at High Point State Park in New Jersey and running north to Roslindale, New York.
The trail was started by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in 1989 and it continues to be a work in progress. New sections continue to be added to the trail, so you’re likely to find varying lengths listed when researching it. The trail features breathtaking scenery with dramatic cliffs, amazing views of the Catskills, mountain lakes and extensive opportunities for wildlife and bird watching. The SRT also connects to the Appalachian Trail and New York’s Long Path.
For those who want to crank up the challenge of traversing the SRT, a run/hike is held on the ridge in September with options ranging from a 20-mile course to the entire 74-mile length of the trail. You can learn more about that at SRTRunHike.com.
Download free maps of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail.
The Shawangunk Ridge. (Wikimedia Photo)