Reservoir views and rail trail · Near New Paltz, NY
Cannabis Dispensary Near Ashokan Reservoir
What is Ashokan Reservoir?
The Ashokan Reservoir is the great inland sea of the Catskills, a New York City drinking-water reservoir finished in the 1910s that drowned a valley and left behind twelve square miles of open water with the high peaks stacked along its northern shore. Two walks define a visit: the paved Ashokan Promenade on the south shore, running along the Olivebridge Dam and its dikes with the Catskill high peaks across the water, and the Ashokan Rail Trail, eleven and a half miles of crushed stone on the old Ulster and Delaware rail bed between West Hurley and Boiceville, opened in 2019 and free every day of the year.
Why it is worth the trip
The promenade puts Slide Mountain and the Burroughs Range across open water for very little effort, sunset turns the reservoir to hammered copper, and bald eagles are often seen over the water. The rail trail is a long, flat ride, ideal for an easy out-and-back where the miles disappear into woods, wetland boardwalks, and sudden water views. It is the classic big-sky antidote to a valley full of close ridgelines, and photographers treat the promenade as a year-round studio.
Plan your visit
From Farmers Choice New Paltz, the pretty route runs through Rosendale and High Falls on Routes 32 and 213, then up Route 209 and the reservoir roads to the promenade's parking area, about thirty-five minutes of stone houses and Catskill foothills. Rail trail parking lots sit at Woodstock Dike, Ashokan Station, and Boiceville, and DEP's map shows the promenade's parking area at its southwest end near Olivebridge, off Route 28A. The rail trail is open sunrise to sunset, the promenade's hours are posted on site, dogs must be leashed where signs allow them, swimming and wading are prohibited, and fishing requires a DEP access permit. Bring layers, the wind on the dam runs colder than the valley.
Good to know
The reservoir sits on protected watershed land, so services are thin by design: no food, little shade on the promenade, and portable restrooms at the rail trail trailheads, which is exactly why it stays quiet. Fall foliage over the water is the marquee show and the busiest stretch, winter brings eagles and empty parking lots, and summer evenings bring the best light. High Falls and Stone Ridge make natural stops on the drive back for food and coffee, and the whole outing pairs with a slow roll through Rosendale's main street rather than a rush down the Thruway.
Make Farmers Choice part of the day
An Ashokan day starts and ends on the same country roads that pass the farm stand's corner of the valley, so the easy play is to Order Now from the New Paltz menu once the walk is done and collect it on the way home; most orders are ready inside an hour. Bring a valid 21+ ID, keep purchases sealed for the ride, and remember the watershed lands and your vehicle are both off limits for consuming under New York law.
1 Old Route 299, New Paltz, NY 12561, get directionsDaily 8AM to 10PM845-419-2420Find us on the way
Farmers Choice New Paltz sits at 1 Old Route 299, right where Route 299 meets NYS Thruway Exit 18, about 20 miles from Ashokan Reservoir.
Ashokan Reservoir questions
Is there a dispensary near the Ashokan Reservoir?
Yes. Farmers Choice New Paltz is about 20 miles south of the promenade, roughly a thirty-five-minute drive through High Falls and Rosendale to Route 299 at Thruway Exit 18.
What is the best easy walk at the Ashokan Reservoir?
The Ashokan Promenade on the reservoir's south side, a paved walkway along the Olivebridge Dam and its dikes with the Catskill high peaks across the water. DEP's map shows its parking area at the southwest end near Olivebridge, and its hours are posted on site.
How long is the Ashokan Rail Trail?
About eleven and a half miles of crushed stone between West Hurley and Boiceville along the reservoir's north shore, with trailhead lots at Woodstock Dike, Ashokan Station, and Boiceville. It is flat enough for any bike.
Can you swim or paddle in the Ashokan Reservoir?
No swimming or wading: it is New York City's drinking water. Boats are allowed only under DEP's permit rules, mainly for fishing, so check DEP's recreation pages before bringing one. The walking and riding are the draw here.
Can I consume cannabis at the Ashokan Reservoir?
No. The reservoir and its trails sit on protected watershed land where consuming is prohibited, and New York law also bars consuming in public and in vehicles. Enjoy your purchase at home afterwards.
When is the Ashokan Reservoir at its best?
Fall for foliage over the water, winter for bald eagles and solitude, and summer evenings for the light. Weekday mornings are quiet in every season, and the wind on the promenade always runs a layer colder than the valley.