Parking & Directions

Parking at Minnewaska State Park Preserve costs $10 per vehicle, paid at the gate, and an Empire Pass covers it. The main entrance is at 5281 Route 44-55 in Kerhonkson, about five miles west of the Route 299 intersection in Gardiner. On good-weather days the lots at Lake Minnewaska and at Sam's Point fill up and the park closes the entrance until cars leave, so arrive soon after the 9 a.m. opening. Sam's Point also needs a parking reservation on weekends and holidays from mid-April to November 15.

The Lots at the Main Entrance

NY State Parks' trail map shows two lots past the main gate on Route 44-55. The Lower Parking Area sits at about 1,400 feet, beside the Awosting Falls carriage road. The Upper Parking Area is at about 1,650 feet, next to the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, restrooms and the lake. If you want the lake loop or the visitor center, you want the upper lot; if you are walking to Awosting Falls, the lower lot is closest.

A separate entrance serves the Peter's Kill Area, a short way east on Route 44-55. It is the trailhead for High Peter's Kill and the only place in the preserve where rock climbing is allowed. See rock climbing.

When the Lots Fill

NY State Parks warns that Lake Minnewaska and Sam's Point see heavy congestion on good-weather days and that both are subject to intermittent closures as lots reach capacity. In practice that means a closed gate and a wait, or a turnaround. Summer weekends, holiday weekends and the fall foliage weeks are the days to plan around.

How to get in:

• Arrive at opening. The preserve opens at 9 a.m. every day of the year.
• Go on a weekday if you can. Buses and horses are also limited to weekdays, which tells you how busy weekends get.
• Have a second plan. If Lake Minnewaska is closed, Mohonk Preserve's trailheads are minutes away on Route 44-55, though they also fill early on peak weekends. See Mohonk Preserve.

Do Not Park on the Road

NY State Parks asks visitors not to park on the shoulders of nearby roads, out of respect for neighbours. At Sam's Point it is plainer: park on the road shoulder and you will be ticketed or towed. On Route 44-55 below the cliffs, the state transportation department posts half-hour limits at the Scenic Overlook and the Hairpin Turn, so those are not all-day options either.

Sam's Point: Reserve Ahead

The Sam's Point Area, at 400 Sam's Point Road in Cragsmoor, has a small lot by design, to protect its rare dwarf pine ridges. Parking reservations are required on weekends and holidays from mid-April through November 15 (NY State Parks lists April 18 on its 2026 alert and April 15 in its fee table). Book on ReserveAmerica or by calling 1-800-777-9644, up to two weeks ahead. On weekdays, arrive early. The fee is the same $10 per vehicle. More on the Sam's Point page.

Directions

• Main entrance (Lake Minnewaska): Route 44-55, five miles west of its intersection with Route 299 in Gardiner. Route 299 runs west from New Paltz.
• Peter's Kill Area: a separate gate on Route 44-55 east of the main entrance.
• Sam's Point: 2.8 miles off State Route 52 in the hamlet of Cragsmoor. NY State Parks asks drivers to go slowly and quietly through the hamlet.

Without a Car

Ulster County's free Nature Bus runs on Saturdays from late April to the end of September, with a Ridge Route from New Paltz and from Ellenville that stops at Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Rides and park admission are free. Check routes with Ulster County or call UCAT at (845) 334-8458.

Groups and Buses

Groups larger than 25 should call the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at (845) 255-0752 before they come. A bus permit costs $60 if scheduled in advance and $150 if not, and buses are not allowed on weekends or holidays.