Mohonk Preserve

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The Trapps in the Mohonk Preserve

The Mohonk Preserve is located in the Shawangunk Ridge, a section of the Appalachian Mountains, 90 miles (140 km) north of New York City in Ulster County, New York, USA. The preserve is 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the Village of New Paltz. It protects over 6,000 acres (24 km²) of cliffs, forests, streams and ponds, and manages 25 mi (40 km) of carriage roads and 31 mi (50 km) of hiking trails. Hunting is allowed at the Mohonk Preserve. Shotgun, muzzle loader and bow hunting are permitted and coincide with deer hunting season in New York State. In order to protect the hotel guests of the Mohonk Mountain House, hunting is not permitted on Mountain House Property, and is resticted to the Mohonk Preserve lands. The Preserve includes some world famous rock climbing cliffs, the Trapps. "Mohonk" means "lake in the sky" in the local Native American language. Due to its glacial formation, Mohonk Lake is unusually located on top of a mountain rather than in a valley.

The Mohonk Preserve was founded in 1963 as the Mohonk Trust. It is the largest member and visitor-supported nature preserve in New York State and was the first land trust established to protect the northern Shawangunk Ridge. The Preserve's mission is to protect the sensitive ecology of the area and to provide for public environmental education and recreation. The Mohonk Trust was formed by guests of the Mohonk Mountain House and the Smiley family, who are the founders and present owners of the Mountain House. The Mohonk Preserve surrounds the Mohonk Mountain House property (legally known as Mohonk Lake Resort).

The Mohonk Preserve has been involved in numerous land disputes with their neighbors. The confrontational land grab tactics of the Mohonk Preserve, which includes the use of adverse possession, has led to the formation of the Mohonk Neighbors Association.

The Mohonk Mountain House is a separate 2,200 acres (8.9 km²) property, a private resort owned since 1869 by the Smiley family. This world famous resort and its landmark Victorian hotel was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. A reciprocal agreement allows Preserve members and day visitors to visit the resort grounds, and there is a network of well-maintained trails that visitors can follow in all seasons.

Wildlife on the Mountain include white-tailed deer, turkey, hawks, sparrows, finches, voles, rabbits, peregrine falcons, black bear and more.

Bonticou Crag in the Mohonk Preserve

Minnewaska State Park Preserve adjoins the Preserve lands to the south, and protects another 12,000 acres (49 km²) of former property of another member of the Smiley family as a state park and Sam's Point Preserve adds another 4,600 acres (19 km²) parcel owned by The Nature Conservancy.