Things to Do in Highland Lakes State Park

Highland Lakes State Park is a 3,115-acre undeveloped state park located in Orange County, New York. It features extensive woodlands and serene lakes, serving as a natural buffer for the Shawangunk Ridge. The park offers a tranquil environment for various outdoor activities.

Highland Lakes State Park provides opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, and touring cycling. Visitors can also enjoy fishing and horseback riding with a permit. Designated open areas are available for model airplane flying.

The park offers opportunities for hiking on informal trails and woodland roads throughout its extensive forested areas. No trails are officially maintained within the park itself. For family-friendly options, explore the Family-friendly hikes in Highland Lakes State Park guide.

Highland Lakes State Park is a notable destination for mountain biking, featuring over 14 miles of singletrack trails. The surrounding area also offers beautiful road cycling and touring cycling routes. These routes vary in duration, elevation gain, and fitness requirements.

While the park's internal roads may be informal, the Highland Lakes area offers various road cycling routes. These routes often feature mostly well-paved surfaces and cater to different fitness levels. Specific routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes in Highland Lakes State Park guide.

The park offers low-impact recreation suitable for families, including informal hiking trails. For specific family-oriented hiking suggestions, refer to the Family-friendly hikes in Highland Lakes State Park guide. The tranquil environment is conducive to peaceful outdoor experiences.

Mountain biking trails in Highland Lakes State Park range from flowy to technical. Sections include rocks, roots, and climbs, accommodating various skill levels. Popular trails include 'Cross Over,' 'Mustang,' and 'Corkscrew'.

Highland Lakes State Park has more than 600 visitors who have shared their experiences on Komoot. The available routes have an average rating of 4.95 out of 5 stars. There are 3 total routes listed for the park.

Komoot offers several guides for the park, including Road Cycling Routes in Highland Lakes State Park and Traffic-free bike rides in Highland Lakes State Park. There is also a guide for Family-friendly hikes in Highland Lakes State Park. For general cycling information, see Cycling in Highland Lakes State Park.

For official information, visitors can refer to the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website. The official website is parks.ny.gov/parks/highlandlakes/details.aspx. The park's phone number is +1-845-786-2701.

The park is characterized by its undeveloped nature, encompassing extensive woodlands and serene lakes. These features provide peaceful forest scenes and picturesque lake views. The landscape acts as a natural buffer to the nearby Shawangunk Mountains.