Rock The Ridge | May 2, 2026
Save the Date!
The Rock The Ridge course provides participants with a fun, exciting and rewarding 50-mile endurance challenge highlighting the best of Mohonk Preserve and Mohonk Mountain House features!
50 Mile Course Record:
2025, Gregory Close, 5:55:22
Relay Team Course Record:
2022, Breaking the Cycle, 5:42:28
The original course record (2013 – 2019) was set by Ben Nephew in 2014 with a time of 5:58:29.
Please note that the course described below is subject to slight modifications. Strava app maps for each leg can be viewed below. Please contact rocktheridge@mohonkpreserve.org to request GPX files.
Total Course Elevation Gain: +4,619 Total Course Elevation Loss: -4,619
Leg 1: Testimonial Gateway/Eagle Cliff/Pine Road
Leg 1: Testimonial Gateway/Eagle Cliff/Pine Road
13.1 Miles
Participants start at the Testimonial Gateway Tower and continue on Lenape Lane toward Duck Pond. Then, they ascend uphill on Glory Hill Road. The course levels out on Oakwood Drive to Rhododendron Bridge and begins climbing gradually on Laurel Ledge. Participants take Copes Lookout Road to the highlight of this leg – Eagle Cliff. With spectacular views of Skytop and Mohonk Lake, this route features the grandeur of the Mohonk Mountain House and a remarkable new view of Skytop.
From there, participants take the following carriage roads to the end of leg 1 at Pine Road: Humpty Dumpty Road, Short Woodland Drive, Old Minnewaska, Home Farm Drive, Home Farm Circle, Forest Drive, Kleinekill Drive, Oakwood Drive, Lenape Lane and Lower Duck Pond Road. The shuttle will stop at Pine Road for Relay participants. Spectator access is not permitted at Pine Road.
Elevation Gain: +1,331 ft; Elevation Loss -1,181 ft
Leg 2: Pine Road/Skytop/Slingerland Pavilion
Leg 2: Pine Road/Skytop/Slingerland Pavilion
13.3 Miles
Skytop is the highlight of leg 2. Participants will begin at Lower Duck Pond Road to go uphill on Lenape Lane. They will turn onto Kleinekill Farm Road and follow Upper Duck Pond Road uphill, cross Oakwood Drive, and turn left onto Kleinekill Road. Next, they will turn left onto Forest Drive. The route will leave the carriage road for a short single track trail. It will be well marked like the rest of the course. After .1 mile, participants will exit the trail and turn right onto Forest Drive. Participants will turn onto Lake Shore Road and pass Mohonk Lake near the Mohonk Mountain House. The course continues onto Huguenot Drive and Skytop Road to the iconic Skytop Tower. From there, participants retrace their steps to Huegonot Drive and turn right to Hemlock Lane, crossing Garden Road to N. Lookout Road. The course continues on N. Lookout Road to Mossy Brook Road before turning downhill to Cedar Drive. It follows Cedar Drive toward Spring Farm. Next, participants cross Mohonk Road on the Cedar Drive Bridge, turn uphill on Spring Farm Road, take Bonticou Road for views of the Bonticou Crag, and turn on Cedar Drive to decline steeply before continuing onto Cedar Drive Loop and turning downhill onto Spring Farm Road.
Participants finish this leg at Slingerland Pavilion, a large cedar pavilion with outstanding views of the Catskill Mountains. This major aid station will serve as the bag drop location and Marathon finish. The shuttle will stop at Spring Farm for Relay participants. Spectator access is permitted at Spring Farm. Parking is limited.
Elevation Gain: +1,464 ft; Elevation Loss -1,228 ft
Cutoff Time: Participants will be pulled from the course if they do not depart from Spring Farm to begin leg 3 by 3:30 pm.
Leg 3: Spring Farm/Old Minnewaska/Lyons Road
Leg 3: Spring Farm/Old Minnewaska/Lyons Road
13.2 Miles
Participants begin at the Slingerland Pavilion and take Cedar Drive to Old Glen Anna, Bonticou Road, N. Lookout Road, Hemlock Lane, and cross Garden Road for the second and final time.
Participants will continue on Huegonot Drive, Kleinekill Road, Forest Drive, Oakwood Drive, Old Stage Road, Forest Drive, Home Farm Circle, Home Farm Drive, Old Minnewaska Road, Rhododendron Bridge, Overcliff Road, and Trapps Road until reaching the aid station at Lyons Road, a major aid station. The shuttle will stop at Lyons Road for Relay participants. There will be no public access at Lyons Road.
Highlights of this leg include the view of the ridge from Home Farm Circle, the fast and steep descent on “Godzilla,” the rollercoaster terrain of Old Stage Road, and the views of the Catskill Mountains from Overcliff Road.
Elevation Gain: +1,339 ft; Elevation Loss -912 ft
Cutoff Time: Participants will be pulled from the course if they do not depart from Lyons Road to begin the final leg by 8:00 pm.
Leg 4: Lyons Road/Undercliff/Testimonial Gateway
Leg 4: Lyons Road/Undercliff/Testimonial Gateway
10.7 Miles
At just 10.7 miles, with an elevation loss of 1,118 feet, this leg – the homestretch – is short and fast. It features views east facing views back towards New Paltz and Gardiner, as well as rock climbers and boulderers if runners arrive before dark.
Starting from Lyons Rd, participants will take the following path to the Testimonial Gateway: Trapps Road, Undercliff Road, Oakwood Drive, Duck Pond Road, Lower Duck Pond Road and Lenape Lane. All participants will have until midnight to complete the course.
Elevation Gain: +224 ft; Elevation Loss –1,028 ft
Photos: Banner photo and Leg 1 by Gerald Berliner; Leg 2 by Maryalice Citera; Leg 3 by Marianne Markle; Leg 4 by Michael Neil O’Donnell