Stay lengths
- 2-night Shawangunk weekend from New York City
- 3–4 night Hudson Valley and mountain retreat
- Week-long multi-season mountain immersion
Wellness getawayMindReach
Mohonk Mountain House
1869 Victorian castle above a glacial lake in the Shawangunks: 85 miles of trails, world-class climbing, and 150 years of Quaker-rooted mountain hospitality 90 miles from Manhattan
New Paltz, NY
Listed on MindReach Getaways, curated wellness stays worldwide
From ~USD $700/room/night — confirm at mohonk.com
At a glance
Everything you need to plan Mohonk Mountain House
Stay length, inclusions, seasons, and travel at a glance before you reach out to book.
Included
- All three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus afternoon tea
- 85 miles of trails (Shawangunk Ridge and Mohonk grounds)
- Lake swimming and non-motorized boating
- Tennis, golf (green fee applies), pool access
- Nature programs and guided walks
Ideal for
- NYC-area guests seeking a historic mountain escape within 90 miles of Manhattan
- Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts wanting access to the Shawangunk Ridge trail network
- Rock climbers based in the eastern USA looking for a luxurious Gunks home base
- Families with multi-generational mountain resort traditions
Seasons
- Autumn (September–November) for peak Shawangunk foliage and ridge views
- Summer (June–August) for lake swimming, gardens, and full trail access
- Winter (December–February) for nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and castle-in-snow atmosphere
- Spring (April–May) for wildflowers, waterfall season, and Victorian garden bloom
Getting there
Mohonk Mountain House is at 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, NY 12561. From NYC: I-87 North to Exit 18 (New Paltz), then Mountain Rest Road to the resort — approximately 90 miles / 1.5–2 hours. By bus: Short Line/Coach USA from Port Authority Bus Terminal to New Paltz, then taxi or Mohonk shuttle. Ample parking on the estate.
From
From ~USD $700/room/night — confirm at mohonk.com
Concierge
Questions before you book?
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Experience highlights
What a stay here actually feels like.
01
Victorian castle above the lake
The turreted 1869 stone castle above Mohonk Lake — a National Historic Landmark and one of the most photographed buildings in the northeastern United States.
02
Shawangunk trail network
85 miles of hiking trails through quartz conglomerate ridge country — from easy lake-level walks to Sky Top Tower summit views across the Hudson Valley.
03
Glacial Mohonk Lake
The crystalline lake at the resort's centre — swimming, canoeing, and simply sitting at the edge of it watching the castle reflect are equally valid activities.
04
Victorian formal garden
The 7-acre National Register garden — one of the finest Victorian formal gardens surviving in the USA, maintained continuously since the 1880s.
Gallery
The setting
Spaces, views, and surroundings at Mohonk Mountain House.
Your journey
Drive up Mountain Rest Road
The final mile of road ascends through Shawangunk forest to the castle gate — the Victorian turreted skyline appears, with the lake below and ridge above.
Mohonk Lake walk
The easy lake loop in the first hour — the crystalline glacial lake, the castle reflected in it, the ridge rising immediately behind. The orientation walk that sets the register.
Sky Top Tower hike
1.5-hour loop to the 1923 stone tower above the castle — views to the Catskills, Adirondacks, Hudson Valley, and on clear days Connecticut. The defining Mohonk view.
Victorian dining room
Dinner in the great lake-view dining room with the Victorian chandelier overhead and the evening light on the Shawangunk ridge outside.
Spa mineral bath
The Mohonk Spa's mineral bath and treatment program — a modern wellness facility in a Victorian setting with ridge and lake views.
About
About this getaway
Mohonk Mountain House is a National Historic Landmark Victorian castle resort on a cliff above a glacial lake in New Paltz, New York — in the Shawangunk Mountains (the 'Gunks'), 90 miles north of Manhattan. The property has been owned and operated by the Smiley family since 1869, making it one of the longest-continuously-owned resort properties in the United States, and its 40,000 acres of Shawangunk Ridge preserve (co-owned with the Mohonk Preserve) one of the most significant private land conservation efforts in the Northeast.
The castle itself — a dramatic Victorian turreted structure rising from the Shawangunk cliffs — houses 259 rooms and suites, a full-service spa and mineral baths facility, and common spaces that retain their 19th-century character with fireplaces, wraparound porches, and lake-view dining rooms. The grounds offer 85 miles of hiking trails through the Shawangunk Ridge, a world-class rock climbing area, lake swimming, tennis, golf, and a 7-acre Victorian formal garden that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mohonk operates on an all-inclusive model that covers meals, non-motorized activities, and access to resort facilities. The combination of historical architecture, conservation landscape, proximity to New York City, Catskills wine country, and genuine mountain air makes Mohonk Mountain House the most distinctive and historically significant wellness retreat in the northeastern United States.
Albert Smiley, a Quaker, purchased the Mohonk property in 1869 for $28,000 — 280 acres of Shawangunk ridge with a small inn and a lake so clear that it looked painted. His vision was a retreat that combined nature, spiritual reflection, and physical activity in a setting of exceptional beauty — a vision that was progressive in 1869 and has only become more relevant since.
Packages & pricing
Rates and availability from the property's official booking page.
All-Inclusive Stay (per room, 2 guests)
From ~USD $700/room/night — confirm at mohonk.com
Victorian room or suite with 3 daily meals, afternoon tea, and full trail, lake, and resort facility access.
Check dates & bookDay Visit Package
From ~USD $200/person — confirm at mohonk.com
Day use of trails, grounds, lunch and dinner, and select resort facilities.
Check dates & bookPlan your trip
Availability notes
- • Autumn foliage weekends (October) book months ahead — peak in late October.
- • Summer holiday weekends fill well in advance.
- • January–March offers the best availability and winter sports programming.
Accommodation
- Victorian castle rooms (various sizes, lake and mountain views)
- Garden wing rooms
- Cottage accommodations adjacent to the main castle
- Spa rooms with premium spa access
Location & travel
- Getting there
- Mohonk Mountain House is at 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, NY 12561. From NYC: I-87 North to Exit 18 (New Paltz), then Mountain Rest Road to the resort — approximately 90 miles / 1.5–2 hours. By bus: Short Line/Coach USA from Port Authority Bus Terminal to New Paltz, then taxi or Mohonk shuttle. Ample parking on the estate.
Policies
- Minimum stay
- 2-night minimum on weekends typical — confirm at mohonk.com.
- Cancellation
- See mohonk.com for current cancellation and deposit terms.
- Children
- Families welcome. Children's programming and rates available — confirm when booking.
Contact & book
Reach the retreat directly or reserve online
FAQ
Good to know
How close is Mohonk Mountain House to New York City?
Mohonk Mountain House is approximately 90 miles north of Manhattan, typically 1.5–2 hours by car (I-87 North to New Paltz exit). It is accessible without a car via the Short Line/Coach USA bus to New Paltz from Port Authority, then a taxi or Mohonk shuttle to the property.
What does all-inclusive mean at Mohonk?
The Mohonk all-inclusive rate covers accommodation, all three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) plus afternoon tea, access to all trails, lake, pools, tennis courts, golf (with modest green fee), non-motorized boating, and scheduled nature and fitness programs. Spa treatments, guided rock climbing, and some specialty activities are billed separately.
What is the Shawangunk ('Gunks') rock climbing?
The Shawangunk Ridge's quartz conglomerate cliffs form one of the most famous rock climbing areas in the eastern United States. The 'Gunks' are known for horizontal cracks, high-friction climbing, and routes of exceptional quality. The Mohonk Preserve adjacent to the resort manages the climbing access — a day-use fee applies. Guides can be arranged through local outfitters.
What are the best hiking trails at Mohonk?
The 85-mile trail network ranges from the easy Mohonk Lake loop (30 minutes) to the North Trapps cliff-edge traverse (half-day) and the Sky Top Tower summit path (1.5 hours, panoramic views). The Sky Top Tower, built in 1923, is the defining icon of the Mohonk landscape — the view from the top extends to the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and Adirondacks on clear days.
Is Mohonk Mountain House suitable for families with children?
Yes. Mohonk has extensive family programming: children's activities, nature programs, lawn games, lake swimming, carriage rides, and a family-friendly dining environment. The resort's family heritage (it has been hosting multi-generational families since 1869) is a genuine part of its character.
What is the best time of year to visit Mohonk Mountain House?
Each season has its character: spring for garden bloom and trail color; summer for lake swimming, full trail access, and the famous Mohonk farm stand; autumn for one of the finest foliage displays in the northeast; winter for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and the castle in snow. The Christmas season (tree-lighting, holiday meals, Victorian decorations) is particularly special.
Can I visit Mohonk Mountain House without staying overnight?
Yes — Mohonk offers day-visit packages that include trail access, meals, and some resort facilities. Day visits are capacity-limited and require advance booking. The full resort experience, however, is best understood as an overnight: the morning trail, the afternoon spa, and the dinner dining room form a rhythm that a day visit only approximates.
How do I book at Mohonk Mountain House?
Book direct at https://www.mohonk.com/plan-your-trip/reservations. MindReach connects ready travellers with Mohonk Mountain House — we do not take room bookings or spa reservations.
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