Bike Rental in Highland, NY
Bike Rental in Highland
Tony Williams Park
Our Bike Rental services are now accessible at the picturesque Tony Williams Park located in Highland, NY. The Park offers ample parking, open fields for soccer and baseball, basketball courts, a large playground for kids, and public bathrooms. Located just steps from the many eateries in the hamlet and equipped with many picnic tables, this park is the perfect place for your bike outing and a sunny day picnic.
Our Bike Rentals are available to be picked up in the Parking Lot where the Park connects to the Hudson Valley Rail trail. Offering a picturesque and family-friendly adventure, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail stretches 7.1 miles through hardwood forests, over Black Creek, and under two spectacular stone-arch bridges. Connecting the towns of New Paltz, Lloyd, and Highland, the rail-trail follows the former right-of-way of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Two trailside cabooses, one dating to 1915 and the other to 1926, offer nods to the corridor’s railroading past.
From North Putt Corners Road in New Paltz, you’ll head east, paralleling NY 299 through a mixture of commercial areas and wooded canopy. A highlight of this section is passage through Tony Williams Park, where you’ll find athletic facilities, picnic tables, and restrooms. Less than 0.5 mile from the park, the trail crosses over Black Creek, which is a popular waterway for kayakers and canoeists. Farther on, the trail runs along a rock cut, where you’ll find wildflowers blooming in the crevices in the spring. The cut also provides a cool spot to relax on hot summer days.
Near the trail’s midpoint, two magnificent arched bridges carry New Paltz Road over the corridor. Shortly thereafter, you’ll reach the Highland Rotary Pavilion, named for the Highland Rotary Club, which has made the Hudson Valley Rail Trail a primary project for more than a decade. The park setting offers restrooms, a large parking lot, picnic tables, and drinking water.
Along the route, signage invites you to explore the history of the trail and the communities it connects, while trailside exercise stations encourage you to pause for a health and wellness moment. You are now entering the hamlet of Highland and a more residential trail experience. A pedestrian bridge provides safe passage over US 44/NY 55/Vineyard Avenue as you continue through these more populated surroundings.
At its eastern end, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail meets the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, which offers spectacular views from 212 feet above the Hudson River. Once on the east side of the river, travelers can make a seamless connection to the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail to continue riding another 13 miles from Poughkeepsie to Hopewell Junction. Together, the three trails were welcomed into Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2016 and offer a seamless, combined route of just over 20 miles. They are also part of the Empire State Trail, a developing 750-mile trail network spanning the state from New York City to Canada and Buffalo to Albany.
Parking and Trail Access
Toward the west end of the trail, ample parking is provided in Tony Williams Park in Lloyd. To reach the park from I-87, take Exit 18 for Poughkeepsie and New Paltz. At the traffic light at the end of the exit, turn right onto NY 299 E, and go 2.3 miles. Turn right onto New Paltz Road, and go 0.7 mile. Turn left onto South Riverside Road; after 0.1 mile turn right into the parking lot entrance for Tony Williams Park.
Bike Equipment
Hours of Operation
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Give the gift of the outdoors! Your family, friends and loved ones will love biking on the scenic trails in New Paltz, NY.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have biking tours?
Yes. We have the River to Ridge Trail, which offers over 90 miles of scenic bike trail opportunities. It is ideal for both beginner and experienced cyclists as it is relatively flat with some rolling hills. The trail takes you from New Paltz to the Shawangunk Ridge.
In addition, we also offer the Monhonk Preserve Bike Trip. This is a group ride on Saturday mornings.
Can I bring my dog/pet with me?
We now offer pet trails for dogs 50Lbs or less.
What if there is bad weather?
Almost any weather can be challenging for biking if you are not prepared. Since we are moving toward summer, let’s talk about sun, heat, rain, wind and wet roads.
If you are going to ride your bike during the time of day that the sun is in your eyes or it is really bright out, make sure you have a good pair of UV blocking sunglasses. There are sunglasses specially designed to stay on your face while you ride.
Make sure you have plenty of water. If you are planning to be out for more than an hour, take something with electrolytes in it and a snack to prevent dehydration and hunger.
We all know that spring weather can be very changeable. Take a small backpack with you. You can put a packable raincoat and fleece in it in case the weather turns rainy or cold.
If it gets really windy and wet, then you may need to pull over and wait in a sheltered area until the storm lightens up. You should have a few friends or relatives you can call if you get into a situation where you need a ride home. If you get into an accident, you should call the police.
What are the best biking trails in the area?
Two of the best trails in New Paltz are the River to Ridge Trail and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail (AKA The Empire State Trail). NPB is located on the river to ridge trail and is a short ride on a trail to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.
Other great local places are Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Preserve, Walkway over the Hudson and the Ashokan Trail.
What size road bike should I rent?
We rent bikes in a variety of sizes for adults and children. We offer a size chart so you will know what size bike you need. The chart is in the section “Book Now” so you will have it in front of you when you reserve your bike.
Can I go anywhere in New Paltz after getting my bike or do I need to only stay on the rail trail?
We recommend staying on the trails. There are many great shops in New Paltz, but you are paying for the bikes by the hour, so you should plan on checking out the shops before or after your scheduled trip.
Is there any pump station along the trail?
All bikes should be ready to ride when you pick them up. If something goes wrong with one of our bikes while out on the trail, we will come and take care of the problem.
What if there is bad weather?
Almost any weather can be challenging for biking if you are not prepared. Since we are moving toward summer, let’s talk about sun, heat, rain, wind and wet roads.
If you are going to ride your bike during the time of day that the sun is in your eyes or it is really bright out, make sure you have a good pair of UV blocking sunglasses. There are sunglasses specially designed to stay on your face while you ride.
Make sure you have plenty of water. If you are planning to be out for more than an hour, take something with electrolytes in it and a snack to prevent dehydration and hunger.
We all know that spring weather can be very changeable. Take a small backpack with you. You can put a packable raincoat and fleece in it in case the weather turns rainy or cold.
If it gets really windy and wet, then you may need to pull over and wait in a sheltered area until the storm lightens up. You should have a few friends or relatives you can call if you get into a situation where you need a ride home. If you get into an accident, you should call the police.
What are the best biking trails in the area?
Two of the best trails in New Paltz are the River to Ridge Trail and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail (AKA The Empire State Trail). NPB is located on the river to ridge trail and is a short ride on a trail to the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.
Other great local places are Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Preserve, Walkway over the Hudson and the Ashokan Trail.
What would I do if I damaged the equipment?
All bikes are checked for damages when returned. If it’s determined that a bike was damaged due to the rider’s actions, you will be liable for the damage.
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