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    Minnewaska State Park Preserve

    4.5 (169 reviews)

    Minnewaska State Park Preserve Photos

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    2/5/24 Lake Minewaska frozen over
    Rich B.

    This is my eighth review of MSPP, and each one has been 5 stars. Today was no different. Came by w best friend, Pots & Pans AKA, The Missing Ink. We had designs on hiking to Lake Awosting and swimming, but today was very hot and humid w the only breeze coming from fluttering butterfly wings. Plus LA is over an 8-mile round-trip. So, discretion being the better part of valor, we looped around Lake Minnewaska (about 2 miles), and rewarded ourselves w a very refreshing dip in that lake. Beautiful scenery as well. Please remember to leave no trace (carry out what you carry in). Also, good idea to bring bug spray as this is black fly season. Sunscreen as well. 5 scenic, refreshing stars

    Minnewaska State Preserve Waterfalls
    Dr. Conrad U.

    Far from the rat race and museums of New York is an hour drive away from the hustle and bustle of life. Winnewaska State Preserve is an iconic wonder where the air is fresh, waterfalls are all over and the beautiful sounds of water flowing endlessly fills your soul. Minnewaska State Preserve Waterfalls has one of the most soothing trails alongside water dripping from the hills and mountains that makes you feel relaxed and hypnotized for its unending sounds of heaven. After a half a day of walking, we set up in one of the tables and had lunch around the beautiful landscape of trees and birds signing their songs. Bathrooms are available and parking was more than sufficient. Entrance is 10 dollars per car and the Park Rangers are the best in the world.

    path for the lake trail
    Ramen

    I love this place, so many great trails and places to go. All seasons it's a great place to go- in summer you can swim in the lake at the beach. If you passed the swimming test you can swim farther in the lake- but otherwise you swim at the beach. In the winter there are ice falls and snowshoeing and in the spring and fall you can do picnics and other things!

    Micah M.

    There are countless hiking/biking trails, restrooms and picnic tables. The shortest hike to a waterfall, Awosting Falls, is just over half a mile. This park is a great place to visit in the fall and see beautiful Autumn leaves. In the summer, it affords swimming opportunities. When there is snow, cross country skiing is an enjoyable activity to engage in. My only complaint is that if you don't get to the park early, there will be no parking until others depart.

    The Lake of course
    Amanda G.

    This place is ridiculously beautiful and I finally got a chance to check it out when two of my plus size hiking groups did a collab earlier this month. We did the Carriage Road Loop which took us from low-lying beach and water features to dramatic cliffs and sheer rock faces. A ton of bang for your buck in 2 miles! The hard pack trail was at least partially accessible. I saw a person in a power chair and a couple of folks with strollers. There are plenty of inviting rocks to have a rest break. There's also a beautiful visitor center with flush toilets and historical exhibits. Things to know: -Parking fills up so you need to be at that gate at least 20 minutes before opening. -$10 payable by cash or card at gate There are a ton of trails so you can add on as you see fit! 20/10 will return!

    The lake
    Mandi S.

    What a beautiful state park! Another gem that is part of the NYS park system so grab your Empire pass and hit the trial. While in the Hudson Valley area on spring break we came here on a hike with the family. If you have young kids it is not super stroller friendly, so I absolutely recommend a baby carrier if you have littles. I'll make the journey a bit easier. About halfway through the trail opens up and there are large fields you can sit and relax or have the kids run free for a bit. Perfect spot for a snack and a water break. The main building when you walk in is beautiful, modern and informative. They have booklets where you can go to the different stations and create leaf embossings on leaves that are native to the area. Really beautiful and a nice keepsake. In April there was still a little snow on the trail so keep that in mind. You may want to dress in layers. Definitely worth checking out and then hit up New Paltz for lots of delicious lunch options.

    Carolyn F.

    On the way home with my daughter who loves the "hairpin turn" Route 44/55 just east of Minnewaska state preserve park. Entrances and exits, parking all along 44 and 55. Just before the hairpin turn, we stopped for our traditional photograph overlooking the "Gunks" ( Shawungunk mountains) a favorite spot for adventurous and fearless, Rick climbers. TIP: don't let the people behind you make you feel rushed. One missed up on this winding road and it's about 150 feet down, if you're lucky. ROCK CLIMBING ENTHUSIASTS: Please visit one of the official places to get up-to-date information about potential rockslides and dangers. Be observant and cautious.

    The Critical J.

    PROS: Amazing place to go hiking. the scenery is unbeatable, place is super clean, all kinds of hiking trails (short to long, easy to hard). Nice amount of parking and even a visitor center CONS: Not one single garbage can anywhere, not even in or around the visitor center. Also, they demand $10 per car, $100 per bus which is a ripoff since many other places provide free parking OVERALL: Throw away your trash in the bathroom and get some cash from the ATM cause this is one of my favorite hiking spots now

    Minnewaska State Park Preserve in New Paltz, NY.
    Tom D.

    A beautiful and well maintained state park preserve. We enjoyed our short hike around the lake this afternoon, while taking in the incredible scenic views. Not crowded at all (but it is currently mid-September also). Dogs on a leash are allowed. "A must see" if you are in the New Paltz area.

    Ada W.

    Beautiful park in the autumn! Came on a tuesday oct 11,2022 and the fall colors were nice, but I think its still a tad early before peak colors. Maybe by next week it'll look more vibrant. Its a $10 parking fee per car. We got there around 115pm and parked by the visitors center. Visitors center is nice with bathrooms and has various info about the area but I didnt get a chance to read it. The center and the trails werent too busy at this time and day. I came with my 10 month old baby in a carrier and took the easy carriage road trail around the lake. Its about 2 miles and trail was wide and super easy. Its a beautiful nature walk for family and my baby enjoyed looking at the trees. The leisurely stroll probably takes less than an hour if u rush through it but it took me about 1.5 hours because of pictures and just sitting by the lake enjoying the views. The trail branches out to numerous other trails but we didn't take them. There are also bikers so just be mindful of them. After finishing the loop around the lake, we drove down to the awosting falls parking lot. Its a short mile walk to the awosting falls. Also wide and easy trail. The falls were beautiful. Baby loved looking at them. The trail continues further past the falls but after we reached the falls, we just walked back to the car and left for home. So I have no idea whats beyond. We spent a nice 3.5 hours at the state park even with stopping to feed the baby and whatnot.

    High Peter Kill Trail, Oct 2020
    Sanjna S.

    Awesome trails and wonderful vistas! Just hour and half away from NYC this park has that classic New England feel with crisp air and smell of fresh pine. I really enjoyed the trail "Bull Wheel to High Peter Kill" - we did this with a few friends on a perfect fall day to see all the autumn colors. We parked in the Peter Kill parking lot and started the trail from there - which I highly recommend since the "harder" portion of the trail is encountered first when momentum is high and then ends with a softer easier path. We packed a some sandwiches and enjoyed them on a sunny edge of the cliff about 40min into the trail - it was perfect! We ended the trail near the edge of the road and walked over to Lower Awosting Parking lot, from where we went to the waterfall. The waterfall was "ok" not as amazing as a the trial and heavy foot traffic as it's easily accessible from the lot. Biggest reason why I refused to give that last star is because of the attitude of the park rangers. I get it, people are equally aggressive in trying to get into the lots but I dunno there could be some sort of form of better management. Like after driving 90min imagine having to only wait another hour or more to get a spot to park?!! insane but also very much a consequence of the pandemic restrictions. Anyways, I was able to secure my spot by getting out of the car and walking through peter kill lot - and I found a empty spot in the back even though the ranger in front wouldn't allow anyone in. I told him I found a spot so let my car come in - at which point my husband who was waiting along the shoulder a little further came up. Phone signal is terrible in the park so cross ya fingers that you find a way to manage and coordinate!

    Lourdes M.

    This park is highly recommended ... a family and pet friendly. The trail around the lake is fairly doable and accommodates any age. Magnificent view of the lake from the top . The trail to the falls is an easy mile hike too. I could imagine how beautiful the mountains will look like during fall. There is a limited parking to guests during the visit as we all know that due to Covid , state parks are only open at 25% capacity. We did not make it to the ice cave part of the state park . We will do it next time around. There is a swimming / beach area on the lower point. There are various trails that will lead to different parts of the preserve. A construction is going on , it seems they are putting up something interesting for the visitors . Carry in , carry out kind of park . Lots of porta toilets aside from standard toilets. $10 to get in. $5 for a map. Bring your own drinks and food. There are no place to get it inside the park.

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    This place is awesome, only advice you need is come EARLY otherwise parking can be a nightmare. You're welcome.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Minnewaska State Park Preserve

    Can you swim by the falls?

    I don't believe so. The water by the fall isn't that deep and I did not see anyone swimming by the fall at the time I went (FYI - I went in last August).

    Can you swim in the lake?

    Yes, however, there are barriers to stay within and lifeguards are provided for a plus.

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Minnewaska State Park Preserve

    We also took a very pretty hike through the woods down to the Awosting Falls, which was a nice view too.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Mohonk Preserve - Mohonk Mountain House Tulip Festival 2025

    Mohonk Preserve

    4.4(82 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    New Paltz / Gardiner, NY - I have hiked and biked through the Mohonk Preserve many a times over the…read moreyears, in all seasons, and it is one of my favorite wild places! Some of the trails I love the most are the Bonticrou Crag & Table Rocks (breathtaking views; the rock scramble is fun and challenging but there is an easier way up via the Bonticou ascent path), Labyrinth & Lemon Squeeze, and Sky Top Trail by the Mohonk Mountain House. On weekends and in the warmer seasons/good weather especially, the parking lots fill up early (like by 8:30-9am). There are 5 main trailheads, and the day use fee is at current writing $15 for hikers or $20 for cyclists/climbers/horseback riders (children 15 & under are free). At the heart of the preserve lies the Mohonk Mountain House, which is actually a private property. The area around the mountain house is amazing but unfortunately it is rather arduous to visit for many due to the parking lot distance, as it's a bit of a hike in from the preserve's trailheads (pleasant & easy, but about 4.5 miles in so that's ~9 miles roundtrip), unless you're a paying guest at this all-inclusive resort property and are allowed to park in the on-site lot. I've done it both the hard & easy ways, so to avoid sweat if not tears, I'll let my Yelp community in on some hacks of less strenuous ways to see the mountain house and its surroundings (short of paying $1Kpp as an overnight guest)... 1. $ - You can buy a $35 hiking day pass, to park at the "closer" parking lot at the Gatehouse, which is still 2.1 miles out from the mountain house (4.2 miles roundtrip, but better than 9 miles). 2. $$$ - Be a day guest and book a dining or spa experience at the property, and you can park on site. 3. $ - Visit during their special annual events like the gingerbread house competition in December or the tulip festival in April-May, passes for which are a much more affordable $15-$35 (2025 rates). This allows you to park at the mountain house and not have to hike in. So there! Mohonk Preserve is one of the most beautiful places in the Hudson Valley, with so much incredible scenery (including fall foliage!) and things to do - hiking, biking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, row boating, and even a via ferrata though that's only for hotel guests - and is a dream for outdoor lovers!

    A well-maintained and scenic area for hiking, walking and biking and just being in nature…read more There are multiple hikes and biking opportunities in the preserve and is a cheaper option to access trails than staying at the mountain house. We had a pass from the local library which covered one car but typically its $35 per car. If you park at the mountain house it's that much per hiker. Since they get this money they can ensure the trails are well marked, there are friendly faces to greet you and they had a bike repair station too. Parking at the preserve and hiking in will add a few miles but you can still see the lemon squeeze, eagle cliff and Skytop. Portopotties are at the trailhead. We got to the trailhead around 8:30 am and there were still spots available. Since it had rained a lot the day before, the trail was a bit muddy and slippery (surprisingly made it through without falling!). Parts of the hike were easy (on carriage roads) and other parts like the labrynth and lemon squeeze were challenging with lots of rock scrambling and tight crevices. You can climb to Skytop tower and snap iconic photos below. By the mountain house, they had a pretty garden, spa, tennis, archery, rowing activities and lots of little viewpoints. Everyone recommends getting there early as when the weather is nice, it will get crowded. After hiking, you can go into New Paltz and try some of the local restaurants in town.

    Photos
    Mohonk Preserve - Tulip Festival 2025

    Tulip Festival 2025

    Mohonk Preserve - Mohonk Mountain House Tulip Festival 2025

    Mohonk Mountain House Tulip Festival 2025

    Mohonk Preserve - Mohonk Lake boat dock in winter

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    Mohonk Lake boat dock in winter

    Winding Hills Park - Trail in the woods

    Winding Hills Park

    4.0(8 reviews)
    13.0 mi

    Love this place. We have stayed here multiple times since it's so close to home. Reservations are…read moreneeded only for major holidays during camping season; Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Must book the entire holiday weekend 3 days (90$ for non electric sites add $5 each day for electric). I believe it's 51 camp sites which vary in size and majority has electric hookups. When not going on a holiday it is first come first serve spots which is good if you just need to spend one night here. Pull into whichever site you want and at some point the groundskeepers will come to collect your money. It's deep in the woods of the park so there is good shade which is nice on the hotter days. The campgrounds have two bathroom facilities which have showers. No complaints with the bathrooms from me but I didn't use the shower part. The bathrooms are cleaned daily or every other day it seemed. Some spots are more secluded than others..and there is a bit of a hill to the bathroom if you pick spots 1-7 and 48/9 I think it was. Something to consider if you have mobility issues. There are water spigots around the grounds and attached to the bathroom facilities. But no actual sites with water hookups for RVs. The workers drive around the campsite every few hours and each time we have been there (maybe 4 or 5 times) the local police have made their presence known. No alcohol is allowed at this campground. Each site has a picnic table & fire ring. The sites are gravel/dirt & grass. Quiet hours are from 10pm-7am. We found the sites closer to the Playground side/closer to the bathrooms to be more noisy. Also those sites are closer together which would be good for larger groups. Have never had a problem with noise though we have only stayed further away from those areas. The playground has a volleyball net and other Normal playground equipment that I saw driving past it. There is no longer Boat Rentals at this park.. but there is a large lake to kayak and fish in. NO SWIMMING. The lake is a nice size and has a trail so you walk the entire length with benches around a good portion to sit and/or fish. There is a nice sized pond at the park to fish which also has benches around it. By the pond there is a nice picnic area with many picnic tables and grills. Another playground and a large pavilion. This picnic area also has a bathroom. There is a pond when you first turn into the park. The pond also has benches around it but not all the way around. Fishing license is require to fish here and they do come around to check licenses. This place is great if you want to just get away into the woods. Check the parks website to see site sizes before going or stop and take your pick of what's available.

    it used to be a great place to go camping now. It sucks because they don't accept cash. That's the…read moreproblem with this country.

    Photos
    Winding Hills Park - A view of the lake

    A view of the lake

    Winding Hills Park - Trail

    Trail

    Winding Hills Park - Trail in the woods

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    Trail in the woods

    Wallkill Valley Rail Trail

    Wallkill Valley Rail Trail

    4.5(12 reviews)
    8.6 mi

    It was an absolutely beautiful day, where the attire du jour was t-shirts and shorts (as long as…read morehis wife has no say). Met best friend, Hopalong Casualty. After parking in a big dirt lot just past Rosendale, we walked south for about a half mile (over the trestle over the Rondout River). Then NOBO for a bit over 3 miles past an old abandoned outhouse (2-seater). Past William's Lake on the left, and past an area about 100' long where the temp suddenly drops a good 10 degrees. Weird, but it happens every time we walk past this area. Must be an aura or vortex. At the 18 mile mark (there are posts marked every half-mile), a lunch break. Sal, Kris and Charlie's deli hero. Best of the best. HC brought the brandy, but forgot to decant it. WVRT is absolutely beautiful. Cinder surface. Very gentle terrain. The part north of Rosendale is lightly trafficked. Bring fluids, and please practice Leave No Trace principles. 5 stars

    I hit this trail up for an early morning hike and it was such a solid way to start the day. I…read morestarted from the southernmost point and walked about 2.5 miles north to the Gardiner Library. FYI, that southern start point has zero parking, so you're better off finding a spot near the Gardiner Library and going from there--it'll give you options for heading north or south. The path itself is wide and super chill. It was covered in leaves when I went, which was pretty, with big trees lining both sides. You can actually see some beautiful houses tucked in beyond the trees, which was a fun little treat as you walk. Heads up, though, it's not all nature; you do cross some streets, so stay aware of traffic. This thing is huge--the entire trail is over 20 miles and connects a bunch of towns like Wallkill, Gardiner, and New Paltz. It's a true multi-use path for walkers, runners, cyclists, and equestrians (no motorized vehicles, thank goodness). Quick tips for hitting the trail: Parking: Skip the southern end. Park around the Gardiner Library area; it's the smarter move. The Path: Remember, this is a linear trail, not a loop, so be ready to turn around and backtrack or arrange a ride back! Weather: If it's sunny out, you're set. It's an easy, flat walk. If you're looking for a relaxing, easy walk or ride with some nice scenery and want to knock out a few miles, this trail is a winner. Great for a Saturday morning coffee walk!

    Photos
    Wallkill Valley Rail Trail - November 18, 2024. Wearing pants on a beautiful day$^_&*

    November 18, 2024. Wearing pants on a beautiful day$^_&*

    Wallkill Valley Rail Trail - Bee Hive off the Trail

    Bee Hive off the Trail

    Wallkill Valley Rail Trail - View from the top

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    View from the top

    Minnewaska State Park Preserve - hiking - Updated July 2026

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