Home › New York › Gardiner › Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 31 Google reviews · Running trail in Gardiner, New York · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Wallkill Valley Rail Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
“The southern half, by Gardiner, doesn’t get the love that the “empire trail” part does, but it is beautiful.”
“Good for all ages rail line grade path.”
Denniston Rd. to Kingston, NY via a gravel/dirt railroad bed... chunk out the day, stop at New Paltz, Rosendale, Kingston... You’re welcome.
Note the location spot for this Rail Trail is placed at its southern tip, where there is no entrance. The next nearest entrance is off Rt 44/55 (Main Street) in Gardiner. There is parking right along the trail on the north side of Rt 44/55, off 2nd Street.
Parked at New Paltz municipal parking lot and rode south almost to Gardiner. Trails mostly shaded. Trail surface is mostly smooth made of finely ground rock. A few places water came over the trail and washed it out a bit but mostly it's fine. Next day we parked just north of Rosedale.
Great rail trail! Best for mountain or hybrids, not great for road bikes. No parking area at southern end...one option is to use the Shawnangunnk National Grassland which is about 5 miles from the southern end. Food and bike shop available in New Paltz.
Trail conditions & character
“The southern half, by Gardiner, doesn’t get the love that the “empire trail” part does, but it is beautiful.”
“More importantly there is no parking nor is there any really good "make your own spot" unless you own an off road vehicle.”
“For starters the path isn't paved and can be quite muddy and even contain some deep tire ruts in a number of areas.”
“It's also where the crushed gravel path begins making for a more civil walk.”
“There were quite a few dog walkers (dogs are allowed on a leash), a small numbers of hikers and even a few cyclists.”
Plan your run at Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Gardiner
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge
4.7 ★★★★★ 252 reviews
Wildlife refuge featuring trails and an observation platform for spotting owls and other birds.
Thomas Felten Community Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 235 reviews
Modern park with soccer fields, picnic tables, a playground and a trail.
Walden-Wallkill Rail Trail start
5 ★★★★★ 10 reviews
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, New Paltz, NY 12561
4.4 ★★★★☆ 9 reviews
Walden-Wallkill Rail Trail trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 9 reviews
Awosting Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 79 reviews
Park offering hiking trails and opportunities to view lake scenery, including fall foliage.