Hi folks,
I'm gonna be coming to the gunks in october. I'll be coming from manhattan and won't have a car. Does anyone know how I can find the best way to get out there.

Also, I was thinking of flying out of stewart intl airport in newburgh. Does anyone know if there is public transport from the gunks/new paltz to there?

I would check with airport info about transport. I'm fairly certain that Trailways runs a route from the airport to New Paltz, but that still leaves you a fair bit away. Taxi? Kevin Bein used to ride his bike back and forth each day and I'm sure you can rent one from Mike Newman's shop, but that hill is not easy. I would recommend posting for a partner who might be able to pick you up or asking around at the gyms.

For decades, I took the Trailways bus from the PA bus terminal in midtown Manhattan. It's quick, stopping only at Ridgewood to pick up passengers -- if the driver sees none (usually the case) he doesn't stop. From the New Paltz station, I'd walk just past the road junction near the other side of the Walkill bridge and hitchhike from there. I seldom had to wait long.
But ever since the Uberfall ceased to be a concentration point for climbers exiting the Preserve, finding a ride back from there has become problematical. Hitchhiking from Rt. 299 at the Brauhaus is the best way to get back if you must hitchhike.

I would like to put this out there.
I am starting a ride service that would start in Philly and move up to the gunks for each weekend. I haven't worked out the specifics yet but am working on them.
so far.
Leave friday night after 5. I will pick you up at your location and drive to the gunks MUA. rides to the cliff saturday morning and back to the MUA that evening.
Same for Sunday but returning to your location Sunday night.
I have room for 3 pasangers so its first come first serve.

-Karl Trout

Would you require said potential riders to contribute to gas or is just being female adequate payment? Now that you can chase them down again and all...

I hitchhike to the cliffs from in front of the Guilded Otter(a restaurant on Main St. in New Paltz, for the OP. It is a 7-10 minute walk from the bus station).

It's a spot that gives drivers time to see you and think about stopping, and also a safe place to pull over if they do stop.

On the way back, I go to the Overlook(a turn-out/parking area on the road in front of the cliffs, for the OP) and see if anyone is headed towards town. If not, or no one can provide a ride, then I hitch from the road just before the Overlook.

It's a little hairy because it's actually NOT a good spot for drivers to stop, especially if the Overlook lot is very full and they can't pull into it. Isually, the drivers do that, but last time a guy pulling a horse trailer stopped right there on the road, not giving a damn about traffic behind him.... I felt bad, but - hey, I needed a ride!


Question: IS it legal to hitch rides in NP? Last week I was in front of the Otter with my thumb out, and a car crested the hill. I said to myself "That looks like a cop car. But there's no lights on top..." So, I kept my thumb out and...it was a patrol car. Oops.

They didn't stop, either! But they turned right at the corner and I was like "Crap. They're circling around and I am going to be STUCK with no way to get to the cliffs once they tell me I can't hitch rides."

I prayed for the next car to pick me up and lo and behold, they did! Just as I was getting into the car, the patrollers swung back through. HA! I made it away!

Perhaps a different world then, but I used to hitch all over the eastern US in college. Had some great experiences and some that could have been bad but ended OK. It is supposed to be illegal to hitch everywhere now, but I've not ever seen the actual laws, so I'm not sure. I found that it was not enforced unless trying to get on a highway or in a place that might cause a dangerous traffic situation.
Glad to hear it is working for you. Keeping your rope exposed usually gets a fellow climber's attention.

According to this site, hitching is legal in NY except on the Thruway.

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law
Article 23
§1157. Pedestrians soliciting rides, or business.

(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, or to solicit from or sell to an occupant of any vehicle.

(b) No person shall stand on or in proximity to a street or highway for the purpose of soliciting the watching or guarding of any vehicle while parked or about to be parked on a street or highway.

(c) No person shall occupy any part of a state highway, except in a city or village, in any manner for the purpose of selling or soliciting.

Agreed...I hitched up and down the entire eastern seaboard many times in the mid-1970's when there was usually no issues with getting rides. I wouldn't do it now if you paid me.