Mohonk is a name of Native American origin first given to a lake high in the Shawangunk Mountains of Ulster County. Mohonk Lake was sculpted eons ago by the crushing weight of advancing glaciers. Nature's handiwork resulted in a crystal blue lake rimmed by stately hemlock trees and sheer conglomerate cliffs. Mohonk Mountain House was established at the lake in 1869 by Quaker twins Albert and Alfred Smiley. They and younger half-brother, Daniel Smiley, created a mountaintop haven for their guests-a 251-room hotel set on acres of woodlands and gardens. Today Daniel Smiley's descendants welcome visitors to the last of the grand Victorian hotels in the Shawangunk and Catskill Mountain region. The Mohonk Preserve was carved from lands of the Mountain House beginning in 1963 and bears witness to the vision of the Smiley family. Its mission is to protect over 6,400 acres of semi-wilderness through its education, research, and land stewardship programs. Today, it is the largest nature preserve supported by members and visitors in New York State.

Located halfway between New York City and Albany, the Gardiner and Minnewaska region is a bucolic mountain community, rich in dairy and fruit.Located halfway between New York City and Albany, the Gardiner and Minnewaska region is a bucolic mountain community, rich in dairy and fruit. The picturesque area also includes the Wallkill Valley lowlands, Lake Minnewaska, and the wonders of the surrounding mountains. Settled some 300 years ago by French Huguenots and Dutch immigrants, the region has supported itself with dairy and fruit farming in the valley, and with millstone cutting and berry picking in the mountains, since its inception. In stunning photographs, Gardiner and Lake Minnewaska portrays the history of this region: the Tuthilltown gristmill, in operation for more than 200 years; the Gardiner boarding houses and Minnewaska mountain hotels; the state park that offers a vast network of hiking trails; and the rise of rock climbing and skydiving in the area.

This comprehensive trail guide describes hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing routes on more than 200 miles of trails in New York State's legendary Shawangunk Mountain Range.