Hiking at Minnewaska

Minnewaska State Park Preserve has 35 miles of carriage roads and 50 miles of footpaths across the Shawangunk Ridge. The carriage roads are wide and graded, good for an easy walk; the footpaths are rougher and slower. NY State Parks times every classic hike from the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center: the lake loop is 2 miles and about an hour, Awosting Falls 2.5 miles, and Gertrude's Nose 7 miles and about five and a half hours. Start early: lots fill on good-weather days and the preserve closes at a posted seasonal time.

Hikes From the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center

NY State Parks' trail map lists these estimated round trips:

• Lake Minnewaska: 2.0 miles, 1 hour. See Lake Minnewaska.
• Awosting Falls: 2.5 miles, 1.5 hours. See Awosting Falls.
• Kempton Ledge: 2.8 miles, 2 hours.
• Patterson's Pellet: 3.0 miles, 2 hours.
• Echo Rock: 3.8 miles, 2.5 hours.
• Millbrook Mountain: 5.3 miles, 4 hours.
• Gertrude's Nose: 7.0 miles, 5.5 hours. See Gertrude's Nose.
• Hamilton Point: 7.0 miles, 4 hours.
• Castle Point: 7.2 miles, 4.5 hours.
• Awosting Beach (Lake Awosting): 8.2 miles, 4.5 hours. See Lake Awosting.

Hikes From the Sam's Point Visitor Center

• Sam's Point Overlook: 1.2 miles, 45 minutes.
• Loop Road: 2.9 miles, 1.5 hours.
• Ice Caves: 3.4 miles, 2 hours.
• Indian Rock: 4.1 miles, 2 hours.
• Verkeerder Kill Falls: 5.5 miles, 3.5 hours. See Verkeerder Kill Falls.
• High Point: 6.6 miles, 3 hours.
• Verkeerder Kill Falls and High Point loop: 8.3 miles, 5.5 hours.

Sam's Point needs a parking reservation on weekends and holidays from mid-April to November 15. See Sam's Point.

Footpaths Worth Knowing

One-way lengths and blaze colours from NY State Parks' map:

• Rainbow Falls Trail (orange), 2.0 miles, to Rainbow Falls.
• Mossy Glen Trail (yellow), 1.7 miles.
• Jenny Lane (light blue), 2.9 miles.
• High Peter's Kill Trail (blue), 2.8 miles, to the climbing area.
• Beacon Hill Trail (yellow), 0.9 mile.
• Millbrook Mountain Trail (red), 1.2 miles.
• Scenic Trail (violet), 4.3 miles, toward Sam's Point.
• Stony Kill Trail (white), 0.5 mile. See Stony Kill Falls.

Carriage Roads or Footpaths?

Carriage roads are wide gravel roads shared with cyclists and, on weekdays, permitted horses. Footpaths are narrower and rougher, closed to bikes, and slower: compare Hamilton Point (7.0 miles, mostly carriage road, 4 hours) with Gertrude's Nose (7.0 miles, 5.5 hours). See carriage roads.

Free Guided Hikes

NY State Parks says guided hikes and nature programs run every month, free unless noted: in October 2026 they included a four-mile hike to Kempton Ledge and a three-mile Beacon Hill and Lake Minnewaska loop, plus early-morning bird walks. Programs are listed on NY State Parks' events page; call (845) 255-0752.

Trail Safety

• Keep away from cliff edges. NY State Parks warns that falls can cause serious injury or death.
• Stay on designated trails. Many routes cross private land near Sam's Point.
• Watch for vehicles on carriage roads: staff and landowners drive them.
• Carry water and a map. There are no trash cans; carry out everything.
• Be out by closing: 9 p.m. in June, 5 p.m. in winter. See hours.
• Call 911 in an emergency.

Dogs on the Trails

Dogs are welcome on a leash of six feet or less, but not in buildings, picnic or bathing areas, or on groomed ski trails in winter. Clean up after them.