The Cold Spring gravel loop is a classic New York City cycling day trip. Cold Spring is a bucolic town located 100km north of NYC on the eastern banks of the Hudson River in the heart of the Hudson Highlands. The 70-mile gravel routes starts right outside of the Cold Spring train station. It’s the best gravel route around New York for road cyclists looking to discover our gravel riding scene.

Minnewaska State Park and the adjacent Mohonk Preserve offer some of the most spectacular gravel riding anywhere in New York State. Situated along the Shawangunk Ridge, the region is colloquially referred to by New York cyclists as “The Gunks.”

Dozens of bike trails of varying technical difficulty, incredible lookouts, exposed sandstone and quartz rocks, and waterfalls come to provide one the best experiences you’ll ever have on a bike. As you reach the top of Minnewaska 2,000 feet above sea level, your riding will be rewarded by one of the most beautiful views in the Northeast: The Catskills to the west and the Taconics to the east. Pack your gravel bike well, and make sure to bring plenty of water. A day in the Gunks involves 50+ demanding miles with no refueling stops. Wide gravel tires are recommended.

The region with perhaps the most amount of gravel roads around New York City is Westchester County. Located 20 miles north of the city, Westchester County is comprised of a number of bucolic countryside towns and hamlets that contain endless miles of undulating, backcountry gravel roads.

Nestled between the Hudson River to the west and Connecticut to the east, Northern Westchester can easily satisfy any New York cyclists’ thirst for non-stop gravel exploration. A favorite cycling destination within the county is the Croton Dam, which forms the New Croton Reservoir that supplies much of New York City’s fresh water supply. The Dam rises 300 feet above its base and is the northern terminus of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail.

The Hudson Highlands and Putnam County, NY offer gravel riders an abundance of scenic gravel roads for wider-tire exploration. This route departs from the bucolic town of Cold Spring on the banks of the Hudson River and travels East through the lower Hudson River Valley. Steady gravel climbs, expansive farmland and world class equestrian centers are all featured on this route. The route can be completed in approximately 3 hours and covers just under 3,500ft of elevation gain over 35 miles. 

This route is an excellent introduction to gravel riding, and is also the perfect route for a morning or afternoon's worth of adventure North of the city. The gravel roads are relatively smooth and there is no truly technical terrain, the route is 100% rideable. 

Difficulty Level: 3.5 out of 5