Get Ready to Rock The Ridge
Set in the natural beauty of the Shawangunk Mountains of New York’s Hudson Valley, an area described as “one of Earth’s last great places,” the goal is to run or hike a 50-mile course within 18 hours – on your own or as part of a two, three or four-person relay team. What better way to spend a day than winding along well-maintained carriage roads, through lush forests and over ridgelines with magnificent vistas. Whether you’re an experienced ultra-runner, a first timer, or part of a relay team, Rock The Ridge is simply an unforgettable experience.
- Fantastic well-marked course on wide carriage roads;
- Generous cutoff times and 18 hours to finish;
- Well-stocked and closely spaced aid stations;
- Amazing volunteers;
- Personalized fundraising support;
- Fun finish-line party; and the
- Knowledge that you’re helping to save the land for life!
You’ll raise money for a great cause…and we make it super easy!
Now in its eleventh year, Rock The Ridge is a major fundraiser to support Mohonk Preserve’s mission to protect the Shawangunk Mountains region and inspire people to care for, enjoy and explore their natural world. With more than 8,000 acres of mountain ridges, forests, fields, streams, ponds and other unique and beautiful places, Mohonk Preserve is the largest member and visitor-supported nature preserve in New York State. Each year funds raised during Rock The Ridge help Mohonk Preserve continue to provide:
Fundraising for Rock The Ridge helps support:
Conservation Programs
More than fifty years after we began, our goals remain unchanged: we protect the Shawangunk Mountains by conserving key recreation areas, fragile habitats and scenic viewsheds. Working together with you, we’re leaving a conservation legacy that will remain for generations to come, fulfilling our promise of saving the land for life.
In order to protect and perpetuate life on the Preserve’s lands, we use the latest generation of scientific research techniques, and support our research staff, visiting scientists, and interns who monitor the environmental systems of the Shawangunk Ridge as part of our “living laboratory.”
Environmental Education
For over three decades, Mohonk Preserve has been providing outdoor education programs that have gotten over 100,000 children into nature. Our award-winning NatureAccess® program provides quality outdoor education for people of all abilities, our School Field Study and Outreach programs help children discover the wonders of the natural world, and our public programs and events support lifelong learning.
We continue to work on new methods of reaching people in ways that enhance understanding, expand access, and strengthen their commitments to nature in our community, our region, and our world.
Land Stewardship
Mohonk Preserve’s Stewardship team maintains our lands and infrastructure, balancing our commitment to conservation with recreational access, managing over 8,000 acres of property including 70 miles of historic carriage roads and trails, along with five trailheads, the Visitor Center, and more.
The growing impacts of nature, including destructive weather episodes related to climate change, require us to continue to invest in land management capacity to ensure that all of our unique pathways to nature are preserved for you and future generations.
Visitor Experience
The Preserve’s Visitor Experience team focuses on the human dynamic at the Preserve with recreation, safety and support services. With recent increases in visitation, including new audiences, nurturing the experiences members and visitors have at the Preserve is more important than ever.
The Visitor Experience team is committed to maintaining the critical balance between recreation and conservation, while promoting low-impact, Leave-No-Trace principles for all visitors.
For questions about Rock The Ridge, please contact Tom Leader, Special Events Manager at tleader@mohonkpreserve.org or 845-255-0919 ext. 1241.
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Banner photo by Gerald Berliner; Conservation Programs by Tom Weiner; Environmental Education by John Verner; Land Stewardship by June Archer; Visitor Experience by Chuck Reid