Hilly routes

• Harriman Park starter -- 12 miles, hilly. Pretty lakes with islands, forest with views under the trees. Near Stony Point + Sloatsburg. (800 vertical feet, hill index 4.1) -- [ map on Bikely | cue sheet on Bikely | download GPX ]

• Lakes of Harriman Park -- 23 miles, hilly. Pretty lakes with islands, forest with views under the trees, some fun descents. Near Stony Point + Sloatsburg. (1850 vertical feet, hill index 5.0) -- [ map on Bikely | cue sheet on Bikely | download GPX ]

• Stony Point Lakes + River -- 35 miles, hilly. Pretty lakes with islands, forest with views under the trees, some fun descents, also riding along the Hudson River. Near Stony Point + Harriman Park + Sloatsburg. (3000 vertical feet, hill index 5.1) -- [ map on Bikely | cue sheet on Bikely | download GPX ]

• Bear Mountain Bridge to Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, loop on both sides of the Hudson river -- 42 miles, hilly.  Spectacular views of the Hudson River, from every angle.  Rocks, trees, castles, two great bridge crossings, and West Point.  2700 vertical feet, hill index 4.0.  Start points Beacon or Cold Spring Metro North train stations, Bear Mountain State Park, Newburgh. [ Description | Map | GPS ] 
   

• Walkway over the Hudson / Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge loop on both sides of the Hudson river -- 53 miles (or shorter), hilly.  Pretty roads in quiet woods, two big Hudson river bridges, shops and sights at the Rondout waterfront, some quiet riding along the shore with a picnic park, optional side trips to Rhinebeck or New Paltz.  3400 vertical feet (feels like 3900 feet) hill index 4.0 -- also a shorter easier version.  Start points Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Kingston, Highland. [ Description | Map | GPS ]
   

• Newburgh-Beacon Bridge / Mid-Hudson or Walkway loop on both sides of the Hudson river -- 41 miles, hilly.  Some fine views over the orchards on the West side, and of the Hudson river.  2800 vertical feet (feels like 3200 feet, hill index 4.4).  Start points Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Highland, Newburgh. [ Description | Map ] 
   

• Farms of East Dutchess -- 54 miles, hilly.  Many farms, some with animals, much on pleasant roads with less traffic, some rewarding downhills -- reachable by train from Manhattan.  Start points Dover Plains train station, Millbrook, Amenia.  4100 vertical feet, hill index 4.7  [ Description | Map + GPS | Cue sheet ]
   

• Quaker Ridge -- 45 miles, hilly.  Lots of beautiful scenes on quiet back roads -- in southeast Dutchess County and Connecticut.  3300 vertical feet, hill index 4.2.  Start points Pawling, Dover Plains, Brewster, Kent CT.  [ Description | Map ]
   

• GWB and River Road to Nyack -- 44 miles, hilly.  The most popular ride from Manhattan.  Start at the George Washington Bridge, go up the West side of the river through New Jersey into New York.  Views of the Hudson River, lots of fellow cyclists, cruising the long rolling grades of Route 9W.  2300 vertical feet, hill index 5.0.  Start points Manhattan and Fort Lee NJ, also Piermont and Nyack NY. [ Description | Maps + GPS ] 
   

• Hills and Farms of Northeast Dutchess County -- 58 miles, continuously hilly.  Beautiful farms with horses and cows on quiet roads, several fun descents.  Variations with 32, 42, 46, and 71 miles.  Start points Stanfordville, Millerton, Clinton Corners.  4300 vertical feet, hill index 4.3  [ Description | Map ] 
   

• Lakes of Harriman Park -- 23 miles, hilly. Pretty lakes with islands, forest with views under the trees, some fun descents. Near Stony Point + Sloatsburg. (1850 vertical feet, hill index 5.0) -- [ map on Bikely | cue sheet on Bikely | download GPX ]

• Stony Point Lakes + River -- 35 miles, hilly. Pretty lakes with islands, forest with views under the trees, some fun descents, also riding along the Hudson River. Near Stony Point + Harriman Park + Sloatsburg. (3000 vertical feet, hill index 5.1) -- [ map on Bikely | cue sheet on Bikely | download GPX ]

• Farms and Hills of Southeast Columbia County -- 46 miles, hilly.  Some of our very favorite farms and views and descents on lots of back roads.  A visit to another world.  Start points West Taghkanic, Philmont, Hillside, Copake, Ancram, Lake Taghkanic State Park.  3500 vertical feet, hill index 5.9  [ Description | Map ] 
   

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Very Hilly routes

• Seven Lakes + Bear Mt to the River -- 27 miles (or more), very hilly. At least one tricky traffic section, might even be illegal to go through it. Three (optionally four or five) fine descents in Harriman and Bear Mountain state parks.  2800 vertical feet, hill index 6.7 (or 3700 feet in 32 miles with the climb Bear Mountain option). [ Description ]

• Great Shawangunk Hill Loop -- 32 miles, with some big steep hills.  Great descents, beautiful views.  3200 vertical feet, hill index 8.4.  Start points New Paltz, Mohonk Preserve, Minnewaska State Park, Kerhonkson, Accord. [ Description | Map ]
   

• New Paltz to Ashokan Reservoir -- 58 miles, big hills.  Several great descents and climbs with sweeping views over three major watersheds (Wallkill, Rondout, Esopus), lots of quiet back roads and fun little downhills -- and the biggest cliffs, the largest lake, and the highest summits in the Hudson Valley.  5200 vertical feet, hill index 6.9.  Start points New Paltz, Kerhonkson, Ashokan Reservoir, Stone Ridge. [ Description | GPS | Map | Photos ]
   

• Up, Down, and Around Mt Greylock -- 66 miles, including a long climb to the highest summit in Massachusetts.  Also circle the valleys around it, with pretty farms, two historic towns, and three more downhills.  5200 vertical feet, hill index 6.4.  Start points Hancock MA, Stephentown NY, Pittsfield MA, North Adams MA, Williamstown MA.
   

• Great Shawangunk Double -- 53 miles and 5700 vertical feet, some big steep hills (hill index around 9.3).  Great descents, beautiful views -- and what a workout.  Start points New Paltz, Mohonk Preserve, Minnewaska State Park, Kerhonkson, Accord. [ Description | Map ]
   

• Great Climbs of the Hudson Valley -- not a route, but a list of big hill climbs.
   

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