If you type "best swimming holes in New York" into a search bar, you’re going to see the same photos over and over. You’ll see that emerald green water, the jagged quartz conglomerate cliffs, and a small waterfall tucked into a rocky gorge. People call it a "hidden gem." Honestly? It hasn't been hidden since the 90s.
Split Rock New Paltz—technically located within the Mohonk Preserve—is one of those places that looks like a postcard but feels like a crowded subway station if you show up at noon on a Saturday in July.
I’ve seen people drive two hours from the city, pay their entrance fee, and then look absolutely crushed when they realize the "peaceful nature retreat" they saw on Instagram is actually a 20-foot stretch of water shared by fifty other people. But if you know how the land actually works, and you understand the weird rules of the Shawangunk Ridge, it’s still one of the best spots in the Hudson Valley. You just have to stop treating it like a backyard pool.
The Reality of the Coxing Kill
Basically, Split Rock is a natural feature on the Coxing Kill stream. It isn't a massive lake. It’s a narrow gorge where the water has carved a deep channel through the stone. The name comes from the way the rock literally looks split in half, creating a deep flume where you can jump in (at your own risk, obviously) or just float between the walls.
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The water is cold. Even in August, when the humidity in New Paltz is sitting at 90%, that water will take your breath away. It’s refreshing, sure, but it’s a shock to the system.
Why the Location Tricky
You’ll find Split Rock at the Coxing Trailhead. Most people make the mistake of putting "Mohonk Mountain House" into their GPS. Don't do that. You’ll end up at a fancy resort gatehouse where they’ll charge you $35 just to look at the trees.
Instead, you want Clove Road in Gardiner.
- Take Route 299 out of the village of New Paltz.
- Follow it until it ends at Route 44/55.
- Go up the mountain, past the hair-pin turn (where the climbers hang out), and look for Clove Road on your right.
- The parking lot is on the left about a mile or two down.
If that lot is full, you are out of luck. The rangers at Mohonk Preserve are strict. They don't want you parking on the shoulder of Clove Road, and they will ticket you faster than you can say "scenic overlook."
The $15 Question: Is it Worth It?
Mohonk Preserve is a private non-profit, not a state park. This confuses people. Your Empire Pass won't work here. You have to pay a day-use fee, which is currently $15 per person for hikers.
Is it worth fifteen bucks to go for a swim?
That depends. If you’re just going to sit in the water for ten minutes, probably not. But the pass covers the whole preserve. You’ve got miles of carriage roads and single-track trails like the Undercliff/Overcliff loop or the hike up to High Peter’s Kill. Most regulars hike for two hours, get sweaty and gross, and then hit Split Rock on the way back to the car. That’s the pro move.
The "Naked" History You Won't See on the Signs
Here is a bit of local lore: for decades, the area just downstream from Split Rock was a "clothing optional" zone. It wasn't official, but it was a known thing. You’d walk five minutes past the main hole and find folks sunbathing on the rocks in the "alt-together."
That ended in 2020.
The Preserve officially banned nudity, citing "inappropriate public behavior" and erosion issues. They even restructured the trails to make the area more "family-friendly." If you go looking for the old naturist spots now, you’ll just find "Restoration Area" signs and very vigilant rangers.
When to Actually Visit
If you show up at 11:00 AM on a Sunday, you’re going to spend your day listening to someone else’s Bluetooth speaker. It’s loud. It’s crowded. It’s not the vibe.
Go on a Tuesday. Or show up at 8:30 AM.
The light hits the gorge beautifully in the early morning, and you might actually get five minutes of silence. Also, check the weather. If it rained heavily the day before, the Coxing Kill turns into a muddy, rushing mess. The water loses that crystal-clear green tint and becomes a "chocolate milk" situation that’s actually pretty dangerous to swim in because of the current.
Safety and the "No Jumping" Rule
There are signs everywhere saying "No Diving" and "No Jumping."
Do people listen? No.
Should you? Probably.
The depth of the water in the split changes constantly based on sediment movement and rainfall. What was ten feet deep last summer might be six feet deep now because of a fallen log or shifted boulders. People have been seriously injured here thinking they knew the depth. Plus, the rocks are covered in a thin layer of algae that is basically nature’s version of a slip-and-slide. Wear water shoes. You’ll look like a dork, but you won't break your tailbone.
Beyond the Swimming Hole
If you get bored of the water, head up the trail toward the High Peter’s Kill. It’s a steep climb, but the views of the Catskills and the Rondout Valley are insane. You get to see the "Gunks" (the Shawangunk Ridge) in all their glory—white conglomerate rock against a massive sky.
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Most tourists stay within 100 yards of the parking lot. If you walk just twenty minutes into the woods, the crowds disappear. You’ll find smaller cascades and little pools where you can at least dip your feet in without being splashed by a toddler.
Practical Logistics for Your Trip
- Bathrooms: There are composting toilets at the trailhead. They are... okay. Bring hand sanitizer.
- Food: There is zero food for sale. New Paltz is a 15-minute drive away. Stop at Brawley’s or Main Street Bistro before you head up the mountain.
- Trash: It is strictly "Carry In, Carry Out." Don't be the person who leaves a White Claw can in the rock crevices.
- Dogs: They are allowed on the trails but must be on a leash. Technically, they aren't supposed to be in the swimming hole itself.
How to Not Get Kicked Out
The rangers at Mohonk Preserve aren't like the chill forest rangers you see in movies. They are land stewards. They will yell at you for having glass bottles. They will yell at you for smoking. They will definitely yell at you if you try to bring a charcoal grill.
Keep it low-key. Pack a sandwich, bring plenty of water, and leave the drone at home (they are banned).
If you want the full experience, spend your morning hiking the Trapps Bridge area, then drive over to Coxing for a late afternoon soak. By 4:00 PM, the families usually start packing up to go get pizza in town, and the gorge gets a little bit of its soul back.
The real magic of Split Rock New Paltz isn't just the water. It’s the fact that this specific type of rock—the Shawangunk Conglomerate—only exists in a few places on Earth. It’s 400-million-year-old river sediment that was pushed up into a mountain. Swimming in it feels like swimming in history, even if you are sharing that history with a hundred strangers.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Mohonk Preserve Website: Before you leave, check their Twitter or website for parking alerts. They post when the Coxing lot is full.
- Buy a Digital Pass: You can buy your $15 day pass online on your phone while you're in the car to save time at the gate.
- Pack Water Shoes: Seriously. The rocks are treacherous.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service is non-existent once you drop down into the Clove. Download the Google Map area or use the Avenza Maps app with the Mohonk Preserve trail map.