Rock The Ridge  |  May 3, 2025

 

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:
2021, Travis Hawkins, 6:04:01

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. PDF and Footpath 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: +1,396 ft; Elevation Loss -1,283 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 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 of a mile, participants will exit the trail and turn right onto Kleinekill Farm Road and follow Upper Duck Road uphill, cross Oakwood Drive, and turn left onto Kleinekill Road. Next, they will turn left onto Forest Drive. 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. The shuttle will stop at Spring Farm for Relay participants. Spectator access is permitted at Spring Farm. Parking is limited.

Elevation Gain: +1,558 ft; Elevation Loss -1,281 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

13.5 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. 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: +1,371 ft; Elevation Loss -940 ft

Cutoff Time: Participants will be pulled from the course if they do not depart from Lyons Road to being the final leg by 8:00 pm. 

Leg 4: Lyons Road/Undercliff/Testimonial Gateway

Leg 4: Lyons Road/Overcliff/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 of Lost City and the Catskills for runners who finish before dark. Some participants will see the sunset over Lost City. And those hiking it in the dark will have the comfort of a mostly downhill walk to the finish at the Testimonial Gateway Tower.

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: +296 ft; Elevation Loss -1,118 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