Ulster County Now Offering Free Nature Bus Rides for Residents

Ulster County is offering free rides and admission to some of the county's beautiful natural, scenic, and recreational destinations on their newly launched "Nature Bus!"

Ulster County is one of New York state's most scenic and beautiful counites offering visitors and residents some of the best views, hikes, and national treasures anywhere. If you've been you already know....LOL, but if you haven't yet the county is kicking off Earth Week and giving residents the chance to explore the county for FREE!

Ulster County's Nature Bus

Ulster County is home to some amazing destinations like Sam’s Point, the Ashokan Rail Trail, the Walkway Over the Hudson, Minnewaska, and the Catskills Visitor Center, to name a few. If you live in the county and are looking for a way to visit, the county has just launched a new program. The Ulster County Nature Bus is set to kick off on Saturday, April 27th, and will allow residents to visit some of the county’s beautiful natural, scenic, and recreational destinations, for free.

The Nature Bus program was initiated by County Executive Jen Metzger in collaboration with Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) and the Office of Tourism to give all residents, including those without a car or who do not drive the opportunity to enjoy the County's pristine natural treasures and outdoor recreational destinations according to the county's website. The program is entirely free for both transportation and admission to the sites, and all Nature Bus routes include destinations for people of all ages and abilities.

After the April 27 launch, the bus will rotate routes, and run every Saturday through mid-October.

Nature Bus Routes in Ulster County, New York

The program includes three different Nature Bus routes, with two starting in the City of Kingston (the River Route and Mountain Route) and one in the Village of Ellenville (the Ridge Route). Each route will offer different stops along the way. The River Route will begin and end with pick up/drop off at Kingston Plaza and Garraghan Drive and include destination stops at Kingston Point Beach, Sojourner Truth State Park, Shaupeneak Ridge, Walkway Over the Hudson, Black Creek Preserve, and the Esopus Meadows Preserve.

The Mountain Route will also begin and end with pick up/drop off at Kingston Plaza and Garraghan Drive and include destination stops at points on the Ashokan Rail Trail and the Catskills Visitor Center in Mt Tremper, NY.

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The Ridge Route will begin and end with pick up/drop off at Liberty Square in Ellenville and include destination stops at Sam’s Point, Lippman Park, and Minnewaska State Park Preserve. After the April 27 launch, the River, Ridge, and Mountain routes will run on a rotating basis on Saturdays through October 12.

For more information on the Nature Bus including its schedule, all the stops on each route, and more check out Ulster County online here.