Mohonk Preserve

Save The Date for Healthy Ulster! Mohonk Preserve invites Ulster County residents to visit the Preserve and receive a free six-week pass during the Healthy Ulster Pass Program. Visitors with proof of Ulster County residency may obtain their passes at the Preserve’s Visitor Center on Rte 44/55 in Gardiner from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Thursday, March 27 to Sunday, March 30. The passes will be valid until May 11. Passes are limited and available while supplies last. One adult must pick up passes in person for a maximum of four passes per household. Children 15 and under are always free with an accompanying adult passholder and do not require a separate pass. Photo by Tom Weiner Photo description: Two hikers on a historic carriage road at Mohonk Preserve enjoy a walk in a lush green forest #MohonkPreserve #hike #nature #OutdoorAdventures #UlsterCounty

Why do some trees hold on to their leaves past autumn? ?? This is called marcescence, when deciduous trees have delayed leaf drop. This could be a protective mechanism against herbivores like dear. Or a way to shelter young leaf buds from extreme cold. Others theorize that delayed leaf drop adds a boost of nutrients to the soil, just in time for the spring growth spurt. The exact reasons are still debating among scientists. Have you seen marcescence this winter? ?? Video of American Beech trees on the Shawangunk Ridge by Julie Gundersen #MohonkPreserve #Marcescence #thegunks #nature #tree #americanbeech

Join us today at the Visitor Center Gallery from 3 - 5 pm for an Opening Reception for “Inspired by Nature along the Ridge,” a solo exhibit of paintings by Mitchell Saler! Can’t make the opening reception? The exhibit will be on display for the month of March. Learn more about the exhibit on our website (link in bio). #mohonkpreserve #thegunks #hudsonvalleyart #landscapepainting Mitchell Saler

"Mohonk Preserve, New York’s largest nonprofit nature preserve, provides a compelling example of how leveraging Esri’s geographical information system (GIS) tools has revolutionized their operations. In a recent interview, Ed Pestone, the Associate Director of Land Protection and GIS at Mohonk Preserve, detailed its transition from traditional data collection methods to a cutting-edge, integrated digital system..." Thanks TechSoup for a great interview! Read more about how the Preserve is using GIS technology for efficient data collection in our land protection and conservation work: https://lnkd.in/eVp_WUU4 #mohonkpreserve #conservation #landprotection #Esri #GIS Esri Headshot by Bill Winter

Weekend Hikes and Bob Babb Wednesday walks are back! ? ?? Awosting Reserve Purple Waterfall Loop - Saturday, 3/22 ?? Millbrook Mountain to Minnewaska Lake - Sunday, 3/23 ?? Overcliff/Split Rock Loop - Wednesday 3/26 ?? Lemon Squeeze Scramble - Saturday 3/29 ?? High Peterskill Loop - Sunday 3/30 Join one of our knowledgeable volunteer hike leaders and plan your next adventure! Advance registration is required, learn more and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/edECe2HH Photo by John Verner Photo description: small waterfall on the Coxing Kill in the foreground with an early spring forest in the background #mohonkpreserve #hiking #nature #hudsonvalley #getintonature

Join us this Saturday, March 8th at the Visitor Center Gallery from 3 - 5 pm for an Opening Reception for “Inspired by Nature along the Ridge,” a solo exhibit of paintings by Mitchell Saler! The exhibit will be on display for the month of March. About the Artist: Mitchell Saler enjoys conveying vastness, dramatic lighting, and atmospheric effects in his landscape paintings. He has received awards in various art exhibits, including at the Salmagundi Club in NYC, and is a member of the Wallkill River Center for the Arts, Goshen Art League, Orange County Arts Council, Middletown Art Group, and Barryville Area Arts Association. Learn more about the exhibit on our website: https://lnkd.in/e_D3i7VD #mohonkpreserve #thegunks #hudsonvalleyart #landscapepainting Mitchell Saler

Happy World Wildlife Day! ?? ?? Today, we celebrate the incredible biodiversity that calls the Shawangunk Ridge home. From the soaring peregrine falcons to the reclusive porcupine, Mohonk Preserve provides a vital sanctuary for countless species. In partnership with our members, supporters, and volunteers, we protect and manage over 8,200 acres of mountain ridges, forests, fields, streams, ponds, and other unique and beautiful places. By prioritizing conservation and the incorporation of ecological knowledge, Mohonk Preserve strives to balance responsible recreation and preserving the land for future generations. On this #WorldWildlifeDay, we invite you to explore, appreciate and help protect the wildlife that makes the Shawangunk Ridge so special. Share your favorite wildlife sightings with us in the comments! Photos: Peregrine falcon by Christian Fracchia; Porcupine by Bill Winter; Snapping turtle by June Archer; Monarch butterfly on swamp milkweed by Carol Rietsma; Red foxes by Karen Maloy Brady #mohonkpreserve #conservation #wildlifephotography #hudsonvalleny #thegunks

Calling All Local Business Owners... Become a Rock The Ridge Sponsor! We’re gearing up for our largest fundraising event, Rock The Ridge on May 3, 2025, and are looking for sponsorship support from local businesses. Now in year 12, Rock The Ridge continues to grow, attracting more than 700 ultra-runners, hikers and race walkers to the area for one uplifting and memorable day. Many of our Ridge Rockers are from out of town and support local business while they are here. Get your business noticed and support conservation on the ridge! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ejPtDDb3 Photo: Rock The Ridge finish line seen from from the Testimonial Gateway Tower by Bill Winter #rocktheridge #mohonkpreserve #sponsorship #localbusiness #sponsorshipopportunity

The application deadline for the 2025 Scheuer Visitor Experience Internship is next Thursday, March 6th! Join our high-performing, professional Ranger team and gain skills in visitor experience planning and managing sustainable recreation! The is a paid internship with on-site housing available. This position is within the Patrol Ranger program of our Visitor Experience department and runs for 10 weeks (~June-August, flexible start date). The Scheuer Internship is open to students currently enrolled in their sophomore or junior years of college (or equivalent credit hours) who are majoring in Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Science, Land and Natural Resource Management, Geography, Forestry or other related fields of study. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ecSEs_Uf Photo: Shawangunk Ridge by Gerald Berliner #mohonkpreserve #thegunks #internship #hudsonvalleyny

This winter has featured a bit of four-season weather – sometimes all in the same day! Enjoy the winter photo gallery from the Mohonk Preserve Volunteer Photographers featuring scenic images of the Shawangunk Ridge: https://lnkd.in/eD57XcQA Photos: Winter at West Trapps by Andrea MacScott; Cardinal in Flight by Karen Maloy Brady; View of Mohonk From Olana by Steve Aaron; Winter Hiking at Mohonk Preserve by June Archer #mohonkpreserve #thegunks #hudsonvalleyny #landscapephotography #wildlifephotography #winterhiking