The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail follows the former corridor of the Wallkill Valley Railroad for 23.7 miles through Ulster County, running from Rosendale south through New Paltz toward Gardiner and beyond. The trail surface is mostly packed gravel, flat and easy, with the kind of gentle grade you'd expect from an old railroad bed. It passes through farmland, wetlands, and small hamlets, and the views of the Shawangunk Ridge to the west are consistently good.
The New Paltz section of the trail is a popular spot for an easy afternoon ride or a flat run. The trailhead near the village is accessible on foot, which means you don't need a car to access it. Families with children find the surface forgiving, and the lack of elevation change makes it accessible for most fitness levels. Cyclists heading north on the trail can connect to the multi-use paths around Rosendale, while southward the trail passes through open farmland toward the hamlet of Gardiner.