Catskill Mountain Routes
Winding and sedate, the mountain roads — with views that stretch for miles to distant vanishing points — make the Catskills so special.
The Minnewaska: A ‘Gunks Ride
Wide-open views of the Shawangunk valley, stunted pines clinging to cliffsides, pristine lakes and gently rising carriageways combine for the most spectacular ride in the collection.
Mohonk Preserve E-Bike Route
A magnificent ride through the jewel of the Shawangunk Mountains: The Mohonk Preserve. With tempting carriageways, rocky cliffs, whimsical gazebos perched at the edge of shimmering Mohonk Lake, this ride is all about quiet beauty and vivid landscapes.
The Vernooy Kill: A Southern Catskills Ride
A rushing stream with intermittent waterfalls follows the early part of this loop ride in Kerhonkson, in the Southern Catskills. Then the woods give way to farmland and grazing cattle.
The Ashokan: A Catskills Ride
Climb High Point Mountain Road, briefly; then enjoy a mostly-downhill roll through the foothills, all while surrounded by the Catskill Mountains. This 13-mile ride is lovely in autumn.
More e-bike routes you might like:
The Garrison
Watch carefully for signs of the Revolutionary War — canon balls, milestones and markers — along this lovely wooded route in Putnam County. Bring the wide tires, and watch out for washboard rough roads.
The Fahnestock
Ride alongside a gorge and under a canopy of hemlock and pine. This ride takes you past otter ponds, a centuries-old inn and the site of an old Revolutionary War inoculation station.
The Steep Rock
This isn’t farm country, but rolling woods and dirt roads for miles. Streams and the Shepaug River flow under bridges at several turns, and in the fall, the rivers are lit from above by the golden leaves of massive sugar maples and yellow birch. 11.5 miles.
Further Afield: Stokes State Forest and Tillman Ravine
The off-season is the perfect time for this electric bike adventure in Stokes State Forest. In winter, the gated roads are off-limits to cars, but not to your electric bike. This is when the sense of isolation is deepest, and the hillsides, thick with hemlocks, provide a welcome contrast to the blahs of winter.