Carriage Roads & Biking

Minnewaska State Park Preserve has 35 miles of carriage roads: wide, graded gravel roads that walkers, cyclists and permitted riders share. They are the only places in the preserve where bikes are allowed. Every rider must wear a helmet and keep to 15 mph, and the only e-bikes allowed are Class 1 pedal-assist bikes. The carriage roads close to bikes when they are snowy, icy or soft in a freeze-thaw.

The Main Carriage Roads

NY State Parks' trail map lists every carriage road with its colour and one-way length:

• Lake Minnewaska (red), 2.0 miles: the loop round the lake from the visitor center. See Lake Minnewaska.
• Awosting Falls (red), 1.4 miles: down to the falls by the lower lot. See Awosting Falls.
• Beacon Hill (orange), 0.7 mile.
• Castle Point (blue), 4.6 miles, to the Castle Point overlook.
• Hamilton Point (yellow), 2.9 miles.
• Upper Awosting (green), 3.1 miles, and Lower Awosting (black), 2.7 miles: the two routes toward Lake Awosting.
• Lake Awosting (black), 3.5 miles, round the lake. See Lake Awosting.
• Millbrook Mountain (yellow), 2.5 miles.
• Scenic Sunset (orange), 0.8 mile.
• Smiley, 7.4 miles, the longest.
• Stony Kill, 1.5 miles, on the north side. See Stony Kill Falls.
• High Point, 2.9 miles; Loop Road, 3.0 miles; and Ice Caves Road, 0.4 mile, in the Sam's Point Area.

Good Bike Rides

• Lake Minnewaska loop: 2 miles, the easy warm-up, busy with walkers.
• Awosting Falls: a short descent to the falls and a climb back.
• Lake Awosting: out on Upper or Lower Awosting, round the lake on the Lake Awosting Carriage Road, back the other way. NY State Parks puts the beach 8.2 miles round trip on foot.
• Castle Point and Hamilton Point: cliff-top overlooks on the blue and yellow roads. Walkers list Castle Point at 7.2 miles round trip from the visitor center.

Bike Rules

NY State Parks' bicycling rules for Minnewaska:

• Carriage roads only. No bikes on footpaths, trails or off-road. Obey every "No Bicycling" sign.
• Helmet on every rider, always.
• 15 mph is the top speed anywhere; slow to 5 mph within 30 feet of pedestrians, and warn them as you approach.
• Horses and carriages have the right of way. Dismount 30 feet away and wait until they pass; ask before overtaking.
• Ride single file, keep right, and ride alone or in small groups.
• Do not ride when roads are muddy, icy or snow-covered, or when the park posts a biking closure.
• Be back by closing. The preserve closes at a posted seasonal time, 5 p.m. in winter.

E-Bike Rules

Only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed, and only on carriage roads open to ordinary bikes. NY State Parks' policy says the bike must carry the manufacturer's Class 1 label, weigh under 100 pounds, have working pedals and wheels at least 11 inches across, use a motor of no more than 750 watts, top out at 20 mph on the motor, and give assistance only while you pedal. Class 2 (throttle) and Class 3 (28 mph) e-bikes are prohibited, as are motorized scooters, skateboards and one-wheels. NY State Parks notes the same Class 1 rule applies on neighbouring Mohonk Preserve, the River-to-Ridge Trail and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.

Horses

Horseback riding needs a permit from Minnewaska ($5 a day or $20 a season), and horses are allowed only on non-holiday weekdays. Horses are not permitted in the Sam's Point Area.

Watch for Vehicles

NY State Parks' map warns that park staff and private landowners drive motor vehicles on the carriage roads. Ride and walk as if a truck could come round the next bend.

Walking the Carriage Roads

The carriage roads are the gentlest walking in the preserve: wide, graded and well marked, unlike the rocky footpaths to Gertrude's Nose. In winter, groomed carriage roads become cross-country ski trails, and dogs are not allowed on them while they are groomed for skiing. See plan your visit.