Best of the Year: 2026’s Best Historic Mountain Lodge
Mohonk Mountain House Named a 2026 Best Historic Mountain Lodge by Best of the Year
What makes a resort truly memorable? Is it the setting, the accommodations, the activities, the food, the service, or the way all of those pieces come together to create an experience worth returning to?
According to Best of the Year Media, it’s the whole experience. Mohonk Mountain House has been named the 2026 Historic Mountain Lodge winner in Best of the Year’s Travel & Outdoor category. The recognition was announced as part of the 2026 Best of the Year Awards, which selected winners through evaluation by subject-matter experts, consumer testers, and analysts.
For our historic mountain resort, the recognition celebrates something that guests have experienced for generations: a place where a scenic mountain getaway can be as adventurous, relaxing, social, or peaceful as you want it to be.
A New York Resort Designed for Every Generation
Best of the Year specifically recognized Mohonk for its multigenerational travel appeal, noting the wide range of experiences available to guests of different ages and interests. During their stay, consumer testers explored our resort’s amenities, hikes, wellness sessions, entertainment, and dining while evaluating the overall guest experience.
It’s Easy to See Why
A family might start the morning with a hike through the Shawangunk Mountains before spending the afternoon paddling across Mohonk Lake. Children can participate in age-appropriate activities and explore the outdoors, while parents and grandparents can choose from thoughtfully curated wellness experiences, nature programs, golf and other sports activities, or simply find a peaceful place to enjoy the scenery.
Not Every Moment Has to Be Planned
Guests can gather for afternoon tea, spend time by the lake, enjoy music and entertainment, or gather around a fire for s’mores at the end of the day. Best of the Year judges highlighted the ability to create experiences that appeal to different generations while also giving families opportunities to spend meaningful time together.
An All-Inclusive Stay Surrounded by the Shawangunk Mountains
Mohonk’s setting is part of what makes the experience so distinctive. Perched above a glacial lake in New York’s Hudson Valley, our historic castle resort and spa is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected natural beauty. Guests have access to more than 85 miles of hiking trails, along with opportunities for boating, swimming, nature walks, and other outdoor adventures in Upstate NY.
One day might mean hiking through the mountains and kayaking on the lake. Another might be spent enjoying a leisurely breakfast, joining a naturalist walk, relaxing with afternoon tea, and watching the sunset from our lounge. There’s no single right way to experience Mohonk!
Because Mohonk’s overnight experience is all-inclusive, many of those experiences are part of the daily rate. Meals, afternoon tea, and most activities are included with a stay, allowing guests to focus less on keeping track of individual costs and more on deciding how they want to spend their day. Best of the Year specifically identified this transparent approach to pricing as one of our resort’s standout features.
Charming Accommodations with a Story to Tell
The experience begins before guests ever step outside! Mohonk Mountain House has welcomed guests since 1869, and our Victorian architecture remains one of the defining features of a stay. Our New Paltz, NY resort is a designated National Historic Landmark and has remained family-owned and operated across five generations.
Today, guests can choose from a variety of room and suite accommodations throughout the Mountain House, with historic character and views of the lake, mountains, gardens, or surrounding landscape. For those looking for a more intimate setting, Grove Lodge offers six rooms in a separate lodge surrounded by the natural beauty of the property. Our accommodations aren’t meant to separate guests from the destination. Instead, they are part of it, connecting today’s visitors with more than 150 years of Mohonk history.
Adventure, Nature, and the Freedom to Explore
One of the strongest themes in Best of the Year’s review is simply how much there is to do! Guests can hike through the Shawangunks, paddle across Mohonk Lake, swim, play tennis, practice archery, join naturalist walks, participate in fitness activities, and discover seasonal activities throughout the year.
Our New York lake resort’s naturalist programs offer another way to experience the landscape. Rather than simply passing through the forest, guests can learn about the area’s ecology, wildlife, history, and natural environment from knowledgeable guides. Best of the Year testers specifically highlighted a naturalist walk as one of their memorable experiences. For families, these experiences can become shared adventures. For couples, they can provide a reason to step away from everyday routines and explore together. For solo travelers, they offer countless ways to fill a day or simply the freedom to do nothing at all.
Time to Slow Down
Not every memorable vacation moment needs an itinerary! Mohonk’s Spa offers opportunities to slow down through massages and facials, yoga and meditation, fitness programming, and peaceful spaces throughout the property. After a morning on the trails, guests can transition from adventure to relaxation without ever leaving the mountain!
While spa treatments are an additional experience beyond the all-inclusive stay, wellness programming is woven throughout the resort experience. Best of the Year testers specifically explored wellness sessions during their evaluation of the property.
Mohonk’s Afternoon Tea, Meals, and Evenings by the Fire
Food is another important part of the Mohonk experience. Meals are included with an overnight stay, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner without planning every meal away from the resort. Best of the Year testers specifically praised the variety of food available to both adults and children, as well as the resort’s attention to dietary needs.
There are traditions that make a day at our Hudson Valley resort feel distinctly Mohonk: afternoon tea, time spent overlooking the lake, live entertainment, and gathering around a fire for s’mores. These are the moments that can turn a schedule full of activities into a vacation full of memories.
A Destination That Changes With the Seasons
Another reason guests return to Mohonk is that the experience is never quite the same twice!
Spring brings blooming gardens and opportunities to explore the mountains as the landscape awakens. Summer invites guests onto the lake and into the outdoors. Fall transforms the Shawangunk Mountains with vibrant foliage, while winter creates opportunities for ice skating, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, and cozy evenings indoors.
Throughout the year, Mohonk’s Signature Events add another layer to the experience, with programming ranging from wellness and culinary weekends to family activities, music, holiday celebrations, and beloved traditions. There is always another reason to return to our mountain resort!
Recognition for the Experiences Guests Love
The Best of the Year honor joins a growing collection of recent accolades recognizing different aspects of the Mohonk experience.
In 2026, USA Today 10Best recognized Mohonk in categories including Best Hotel Fitness Center, Best Destination Resort, Best All-Inclusive Resort, Best Family Resort, Best Hotel Spa, and Best Historic Hotel/Resort. Travel + Leisure also recognized Mohonk among its Top 5 Best Resorts in New York, while Wine Spectator honored the resort with a 2026 Award of Excellence. Mohonk has also received recent recognition from Hudson Valley Magazine, Capital Region Living, Chronogram, The Zoe Report, Newsweek, and the HSMAI Adrian Awards.
Each honor highlights something different, but together they reflect the breadth of the Mohonk experience, from outdoor recreation and family vacations to wellness, dining, history, and unmatched hospitality.
Come Experience the Best Historic Mountain Resort of 2026
For more than 150 years, Mohonk Mountain House has offered guests a place to step away from everyday life and reconnect with nature, with one another, and sometimes simply with themselves. The 2026 Best of the Year recognition offers another opportunity to celebrate what makes our all-inclusive resort in Hudson Valley, NY so special. From 85-plus miles of trails and a private mountain lake to cozy accommodations, farm-to-table dining, wellness and meditation sessions, seasonal activities, and Signature Events, there are countless ways to make a stay at Mohonk your own.
Whether you’re planning a multigenerational family vacation, a romantic getaway in the Hudson Valley, an outdoor adventure, or a peaceful solo trip, there’s something waiting for you on the mountain.
Discover Mohonk Mountain House and enjoy our award-winning New Paltz mountain resort experiences today!
