Things to Do in New Paltz, NY: Huguenot Street, the Gunks, and a Funky Main Street
Water Street Market in New Paltz.
Updated: July 11, 2026
New Paltz is a lively college town, a historic site, a hippie hotspot, and a center of outdoor activity in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York. And it is only 90 miles from NYC, easily accessible from the NY Thruway.
You can check out a Huguenot settlement from the 1700s, shop in the funky Main Street and artsy Water Street Market, bike or hike on the Empire State Trail and enjoy other surrounding nature-related activities.
| 📍 Location | Ulster County, NY. About 90 miles north of Manhattan, off Thruway exit 18. |
| 🚇 Without a Car | Trailways bus from Port Authority, roughly 1 hour 40 minutes. The village is walkable once you arrive. |
| 🏛️ Huguenot Street | Guided tours $15 adult, $12 seniors and students. Wed–Sun through October, weekends in November. |
| 🎫 Free to Do | Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, Water Street Market, Main Street, and the Dorsky Museum. |
| ⏳ Time Needed | A full day for the village. A weekend if you want the Gunks too. |
| 📷 Best For | History, hiking, easy walking, and photographers who like a ridge on the horizon. |
| 🚗 Parking | Street meters downtown (Parkmobile app) plus several public lots. |
Exploring the Historic Huguenot Street District of New Paltz
A designated national landmark, the Historic Huguenot Street District showcases seven stone houses built by the Huguenot settlers in the 1700s that still stand intact. The Huguenots were French Protestant refugees who escaped religious persecution in their home country, and this settlement is considered the oldest continuously inhabited street in America.
When we motored into New Paltz, we first stopped at Lagusta's Luscious Café for coffee and a snack. It’s a vegan pastry & chocolate shop, and I have to say, though I am usually a vegan “scoffer”, it was really good! The people working there were super nice and enthusiastic.
We sat outside with our snacks in pretty surroundings with bikers going by on the Empire State Trail. It was a lovely introduction to this area! I would recommend a stop there. It will definitely put you in a good mood.
It’s not far from Lagusta’s to Huguenot Street, but please don’t use up their few parking spots if you are going to explore around. You can park in the street and walk straight down to the historic Huguenot Street houses, or use one of the well marked public parking lots a little further up Huguenot Street.
What’s interesting about the Huguenot settlement is how it was set up like a little neighborhood by the settlers - it really could be any upscale suburban community of today - just with really old homes! The houses are all made of stone and have withstood the test of time. It was quiet as we walked around and the area is very green and sedate.
We didn't go into the houses, but the guided tours are worth knowing about if that's your thing.
Tours run Wednesday through Sunday through the end of October, then weekends only in November. The last tours of the season are in mid-December. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. Kids six and under go free, as do veterans and active military.
Groups are capped at twelve people and the tour runs about an hour. It takes you inside a few of the structures, including the reconstructed 1717 French Church. Registration opens a week or two before each tour date on the Historic Huguenot Street site.
If you are walking to the settlement from one of the nearby parking lots, you will pass the Walloon Church & burial grounds, also known as the Huguenot Cemetery (Walloons a/k/a Huguenots - you will likely see either word used). Though the church on the site was reconstructed, the burial grounds date back to the 1700s, so if you like old cemeteries, as I weirdly do, it’s interesting to have a look.
What to see in Downtown New Paltz
John Lennon agrees that New Paltz continues to maintain its "funky" reputation.
Just a short drive away from the Huguenot district is the funky downtown of the Village of New Paltz. Main Street has lots of eclectic shops and restaurants. There is a very artsy feel to it; it’s a rather hippie-ish town and people dress the part!
Nearby SUNY New Paltz brings in college students and the culture that comes with that. Art galleries, pizza shops, and bars. The university's Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art is free and open to everyone. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Education is a big part of New Paltz's culture and economy.
We found parking easily on the street but there are also several public lots. The Parkmobile app can be used for meters downtown. The town was hopping in mid-July when we last visited but you could still easily find parking or tables at restaurants.
Located on Main Street is the Water Street Market. This is a fun area to explore: it prides itself in being a European-inspired shopping village and a community gathering place, where every eclectic little shop is independently owned by locals. I totally enjoyed browsing around here and made a few purchases - prices were very reasonable.
We also saw some tasty-looking eateries, particularly Lola’s Cafe.
Sculpture outside the Water Street Market.
Outdoor activities in and around New Paltz
New Paltz attracts an outdoorsy crowd, for good reason. There are lots of ways to enjoy nature nearby.
Minnewaska State Park offers lots of great outdoor experiences in the scenic Shawangunk Mountains. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, swimming &, scuba-diving, boating, rock-climbing, bouldering, or simply picnicking and appreciating the views. Horseback riding and cross-country ski trails are available as well.
Many people come to New Paltz to enjoy the Wallkill River, a tributary of the Hudson River that flows north from Sparta, NJ into New Paltz, NY before emptying into the Rondout Creek in nearby Kingston. (Pssst - you can read more about Kingston in our post about it - A Visit to Kingston, NY: what to see and do.)
Kayaking is the most popular way to see it.
Sojourner Truth Park on Plains Road is the easiest launch point. It's a small village park right on the Wallkill with a boat launch, a parking area, and picnic tables. New Paltz Kayaking rents kayaks and canoes right there in the park. They also do sunset paddles in summer.
Parking at the park is limited and fills up on weekends. There's overflow parking on Huguenot Street, about a half mile away, with a walk back along the rail trail.
You can also walk across the Hudson River nearby: Walking Across the Hudson River: GWB, Tappan Zee and Walkway Over the Hudson
If you are building a Hudson Valley trip, New Paltz pairs well with the east side of the river. Rhinebeck makes a good base, and the FDR Library and Val-Kill are about 40 minutes away.
Bikers on the Empire State Trail.
What is the Empire State Trail?
Earlier I mentioned the Empire State Trail - and this is a hidden gem. Well maybe not too hidden, but still a gem!
Completed in 2020, this multi-use trail connects several regional bicycling and hiking trails from Manhattan all the way north to the Canada–US border! The regional trails maintain their identity but benefit from being connected, with several new sections of trail constructed specifically for this purpose. Maps and more detailed information can be found on the Empire State Trail website.
In connecting New Paltz to Kingston, the Empire State Trail includes the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, which runs along the former Wallkill Valley Railroad rail corridor, which had ceased regular traffic in 1977.
This is the bit of trail we saw from Lagusta’s, and from what we saw of it, the trail looks very well maintained. What a great re-use of an already laid-out rail line!
Hiking around New Paltz
Here's the thing nobody explains clearly. "Mohonk" means three different places, and they cost three different amounts.
Mohonk Preserve is a nonprofit nature preserve. Over 8,000 acres of the Shawangunk Ridge, with trails, carriage roads, and the cliffs the climbers come for.
Mohonk Mountain House is the private Victorian resort with its own separate trail network. A hiking pass gets you on those trails, but it does not get you inside the hotel.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is the state park a bit further west, with the sky lakes and the waterfalls.
They are all different. Your pass for one does not work at the others.
| Where | 2026 Day Fee | Parking | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohonk Preserve | $15 hikers | $20 bikers, climbers, riders | First come, first served | 8,000 acres of the Gunks. Lots fill early on weekends. |
| Mohonk Mountain House trails | $35 adult | $30 ages 4–12 | Gatehouse lot, 2.2 miles from the hotel | NO HOTEL ACCESS. Arrive by 3pm. Book 72 hours ahead. |
| Minnewaska State Park | $10 per vehicle | Lots fill by mid-morning on weekends | Sky lakes and waterfalls. Empire Pass accepted. |
| Wallkill Valley Rail Trail | FREE | Water Street Market | Flat and easy. Part of the Empire State Trail. |
Mohonk Mountain House itself is a sight. The resort calls itself a Victorian castle in 40,000 acres of protected forest, sitting over a glacial lake. There are tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, and fine dining.
If you want the classic Mohonk experience with the lake, the tower, and tea and cookies on the porch, the hiking pass alone won't get you there. You need a dining or spa reservation, which includes access to the house. Their day pass page lays out the options.
Perrine's Covered Bridge
One more little gem. If you're driving between New Paltz and Kingston, there's a quaint covered bridge that looks straight out of The Bridges of Madison County. Or, I suppose, the Bridges of Ulster County.
Perrine's Covered Bridge is one of five covered bridges still standing in Ulster County. It was built in 1844 and still carries pedestrians across the Wallkill River.
You'll find it in Rifton, near where Route 32 meets Route 213. Here's the fun part. It sits right alongside the New York State Thruway, between mile markers 81 and 82. So you get this old-timey wooden bridge with traffic roaring past just a few feet away.
Worth a stop for a photo or two. And it's cute.
So definitely check out New Paltz while in the Hudson Valley region. We found it better than expected!
New Paltz FAQ
Is New Paltz worth visiting?
We think so, and we went in not expecting much. It's a rare town that gives you a National Historic Landmark, a genuinely funky Main Street, and world-class hiking all within a few minutes of each other.
How far is New Paltz from New York City?
About 90 miles, which is roughly 90 minutes by car up the Thruway to exit 18.
Can you visit New Paltz without a car?
Yes. The Trailways bus from Port Authority takes about an hour and forty minutes and drops you right in the village. The downtown is walkable. You'd want a car or a rideshare to reach the Gunks or any of the other nearby attractions.
Do you have to pay to hike at Mohonk?
Yes. Mohonk Preserve charges $15 for hikers. The Mohonk Mountain House trails are a separate $35 pass, and that one does not include entry to the hotel.
How long do you need in New Paltz?
A full day covers Huguenot Street, Main Street, and Water Street Market comfortably. Make it a weekend if you want to hike.
About the Authors
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John and Debbie O'Boyle are the team behind The Empty Nest Explorers. John is a professional photographer whose work has been published by The New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers, has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has received two New York Emmy nominations. Debbie is a writer with 30+ years of professional photography experience, formerly with The Star-Ledger and NJ.com. Together, they create in-depth travel guides for couples and empty-nest travelers who want to make the most of every destination. |
Where to stay near New Paltz:
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Rhinebeck is a perfect base for your Hudson Valley visit.
The village is small enough to walk in twenty minutes. But Route 9 runs right through it, so the FDR sites, the Vanderbilt Mansion, and Kingston are all a short drive away.