Great trail maintenance, accurate mapping, crystal clear water - I was impressed. We will return. read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Dog friendly trails. - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

I made my Gunks debut yesterday and was pretty impressed despite the very meh weather situation. This is about 90 minutes from my HQ so probably right at the limit of a convenient day hike, and somehow I've never really been in this area before beyond travelling past it going up and down the NY Thruway. Definitely returning when the sun is actually out. I did the 8.7-mile Castle Point hike (my gut says it wasn't QUITE that long, but I don't want to argue with my book) from the Awosting parking lot down the Mossy Glen Trail (yellow blazes), making a left onto and up Blueberry Run (blue) to Castle Point itself, and then went basically straight down the cliff on the Scenic Trail (lavenderish and formerly light blue), down the Rainbow Falls Trail (orange) and finally making a right on the Lower Awosting Carriageway back to the parking lot. Wasn't crazy about the $10 fee to park - nature shouldn't cost anything - but it is what it is. It's really a shame the weather was crappy because I could tell that viewpoint at Castle Point is legit - it's sprawling and you can see for miles in almost every direction. That's a very cool spot and easily the highlight of the hike. There are some interesting viewpoints throughout the rest of the adventure, but I'd say they're primarily of rock formations and water features, which have their selling points but nothing beats a view at the top. I'm in decent hiking shape right now, and this was just not particularly challenging for me. The only part where I was even a little out of breath (and it was humid, so grain of salt in that regard) was on Blueberry Run, which was a pretty steady incline up, but really not hardcore at all from my perspective. The drop down from Castle Point on the Scenic Trail IS a little tricky and you really want to spend some time there figuring out where your foot is going to go next. Compared to other parks in the tristate area, this one definitely has more hazards, cliffs you could potentially fall down, etc. But same token, it has a ton of these completely flat carriageways as well. It rained while I was on the Rainbow Falls trail and I DID slip/fall on some of the rocks at one point, but that's on me since I willingly came over here knowing what the forecast was. Wasn't impressed by the Rainbow Falls themselves, and neither were the other hikers who were there at the time. Maybe it was just not an ideal situation for them, but it's been rainy the last few days so unclear when you should take advantage of the optics there. The trail blazes were EXCELLENT, easily some of the best I've ever encountered. Each official trail had an accompanying sign that not only gave you the name of the trail, but a map of the nearby area, the grade profile so you can see what types of inclines/declines you'll experience on that trail and tons of basic facts. Really well done stuff. The bathroom situation was pretty good as well, with ample restroom options in the parking lot albeit without plumbing. You get what you get, but I'll take a clean bathroom situation in a heartbeat, regardless. Okay wildlife sightings. The rain I'm sure kept some of the good quality shizzle away, but I got a cool shot of a black vulture and saw an edgy newt. Worth the trek and will return for further investigation shortly. read more

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I think this may be my favorite state park within a short driving distance from my home. There are so many hiking trails of different levels, and carriage road trails too! And the views are amazing, plus there are a bunch of waterfalls! While it does get crowded, especially in the parking lots, I find the hiking trails to be a little less crowded than the parks that are a little closer to NYC. Even though I am not a rock climber I do also enjoy seeing the climbers out there doing their thing. read more

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Beautiful scene but only one very small section that allows swimming. The lake is beautiful and great for hikes, but if you're looking to swim and lounge, I would not come here. read more

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 read more

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What a wonderful park to explore! We began with a stop at the Visitor's Center, which has several exhibits, including a topographical map, native critters, an interactive tree punch activity, and more. This is also a great starting point to plan your other explorations - clean restrooms, maps, and the like. There are a number of trails available in the park, and we sampled a few sections. The Carriage Road loop lets you get some great views of the lake. We also took a very pretty hike through the woods down to the Awosting Falls, which was a nice view too. There's also a swimming beach available on the lake. There are a number of parking lots spread throughout the park. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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Absolutely beautiful. Fun Fact: This is Mr. Milcheck's favorite place to take the refiners for an ORTBO. read more

The park offers beautiful scenery and gregat hiking. However, the swimming area is underwhelming. Swimming "Beach": The designated beach area is quite small and does not comfortably accommodate many visitors. Perfect for young children. Roped-Off Swimming Zones: The permitted areas for swimming are not only limited in size but also lack appeal. Please consider expanding the roped swimming zones to make the area more inviting, and if possible, where people can sit. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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

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. read more

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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. read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

Great location to bring your team for an Outdoor Retreat and Team-Building Occurrence (ORTBO). I enjoyed seeing the tallest waterfall in the world and taming the Four Tempers. This park is BYOT (Bring Your Own Theremin). read more

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 read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

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. read more

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Minnewaska State Park Preserve is absolutely breathtaking! My friends and I visited recently and we walked the 2 mile loop around the lake, which had immaculate views at every turn. The park is very well maintained, with plenty of trails catering to all levels. We appreciated the ample parking, clean facilities, and the helpful visitor center. Being only 1.5 hours away from the city, this state park is an ideal escape into nature. Whether you're here for hiking, leaf peeping, or simply to unwind, this state park will not disappoint! read more

Went on a field trip with a kids camp and had to hand in a check to a young girl in the box office. To keep a really long story short the two staff members one being the girl in the office and her older male supervisor were so disrespectful over nothing and tried to blatantly blame me for being the "aggressor" in the situation when none of them were trying to be helpful from the start ! I've never been there it was my first time ever... made a huge issue over the check we brought had MORE money than needed for the day. When I was told from my boss she spoke to someone and they were expecting that check because we had another field trip and were paying for that in advance. It started to become more of a race thing as I was going back and forth with the supervisor AFTER I paid and just gave a card from another adult on the trip and took the check back.. There was supposed to be an educational part to start the trip and they cancelled so it was just a trip to hike after the guy tells our bus driver where to park he leaves, no one that was employed there gave us a map, said or explained anything and the bus driver happened to go there a lot had one and let us use hers. We took the kids on a 0.2 mile hike fed them lunch in the shade and left. Never ever again. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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Breathtaking. Absolutely stunning. Came here for a day hike on a Saturday arriving right when it opened at 9am. Beware, the parking lot was nearly full when we got here so do come here early! We did the Gertrude's nose hike which is a solid 5-6 hours long hike depending on which specific route you take. Along the path there were a few scrambles so I would consider this trail a moderate in difficulty, despite a lot of trailheads online claiming that this was "difficult" and had a lot of upward and downward scrambles (there was a few, but nothing insurmountable for an infrequent hiker like myself). Views were breathtaking, especially at Gertrudes Nose where you can literally get beautiful panoramas of the Hudson Valley. Highly recommend for the adventurous spirit! read more

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Came here two weeks ago on my time off with a friend and loved my hike here. Came here on a weekday and parking was not an issue. Really great views of nature and its just absolutely beautiful after it snows. It was definitely not a challenging hike which is good because I didn't have snow shoes! I loved going to the waterfall, nothing like that winter crisp air. We stopped by the visitors center afterwards to use the restrooms and the building was very cozy and clean. You can also get a view of the lake from there :) read more

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Simply beautiful. The parking situation changed the last 2 times we went there. They have been closing one lot or another as they do improvements to the lots. One time we parked near the entrance and walked a mile up to the lake. Another time we were able to park up by the lake itself. The hike from the entrance to the lake is a bit steep. But, anyone in decent shape can do it. If you are having problems, you can visit the Awosting falls close to entrance/parking lot. Once at the lake, you will find a small beach. Going around the lake is fairly easy. The carriage road is paved with gravel and is only a bit hilly in certain areas. Should be suitable for everyone. It takes less than an hour to make your way all the way around, including taking time out to take copious amounts of pictures. There are porto potties by the parking lots and also by beach. This is a carry in/carry out park. There are NO trash cans. Please take all of your garbage with you and let's keep our parks clean! And, if you want to hike more than a couple miles, you can always try other trails that branch off from the lake. The trail/loop to lake Awosting and Castle Point is amazing. It's about 8 miles all the way around. Bring lots of water. The views are spectacular. And you'll be glad you accomplished such a hike. read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Looking across the lake toward start of trail and beach - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

The best season to visit Minnewaska State Park Preserve is definitely in Autumn. The mountain is in warm colors with lake views and it was astonishingly beautiful and magnificent. The trails are wide, flat and great for beginners and elders. The direction and signs are also easy to follow. The lake is transparently clean and natural. The only complaint is the maintenance of the facilities, which should be held responsible by all the visitors, especially the restroom. It is really dirty and sticky without any cleaning. read more

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This review is for the lookout on 4455, top of the mountain in Kerhonkson. On the bike, just me and my hubby, just enjoying and feeling what our area and what God has put in front of us..just natural beauty. Don't get lost in it looking for trendy shit, enjoy what's in front of you read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Me and my hubby, on the bike - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

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We have lots of family and friends visit us from out of state and this is always a place we recommend or bring them to. It's just an absolutely stunning view, a walk around the lake that provides beautiful views from up top and down below. It's not strenuous and people of all ages can enjoy! read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Lake - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

Minnewaska State Park Preserve In New Paltz, NY Passed through New Paltz towards the cliffs of Minnewaska, right next to Mohink Preserve. We were lucky enough to park near the lake, and the lot has been renovated, expanded, and newly paved. We started along the carriage road, LM, trail called Lake Minnewaska. Then proceeded onto MC, still the carriage road type, easy for everyone to walk on. Then we started to head to the cliff, GN - Gertrude's Nose, which is a walk all along the cliff. Every point is a Kodak moment. Plenty of spacious spots to take pictures of. LM and MC are all carriage road type, so it is a doable trail. It is pretty long if you want to a good exercise. read more

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The Gertrude's Nose loop is tough, but well worth the views! Wear good shoes, your feet will thank you! No reservations needed on non holiday weeksays read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Beautiful view! - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

Gorgeous state park in the Hudson Valley! not a lot of time? check out Awosting falls and get a ton of bang for your buck with a short walk! More time? Do the loop around the lake at the top! Beautiful year-round!!! read more

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When I arrived, there was a portable construction sign outside the parking lot that read "parking lot full". So I pulled into the parking lot because I'm not the sort of guy who listens to signs. There was a ranger there who told me there was no wait time and I could just go to the parking lot... The lesson here is signs are dumb. So I parked and paid ten dollars at the upper Awosting parking lot. I hiked to the falls and there were all sorts of city folk on the trail with their dogs. The trail STUNK of perfume. I went off the beaten trail to rainbow falls and there were far less people away from the parking areas. Next time you see a sign, make sure you point at it and yell "shut up, you ol goose!" And do the opposite of what it says. Let's goooo! read more

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This place is absolutely breathtaking. It is VERY busy especially weekends & you CANNOT park on the road or they will tow you. We were lucky the first time we passed the entrance it was full so we looked for parking along the road & a bunch of cars were parked pretty far from the entrance & as we were getting out a police car said on a speakerphone: you cannot park here or your car will be towed. We decided to find somewhere else to hike but as we went back they had opened the entrance and said it would be 1 hour wait to get inside but we only waited 20 minutes max. The loop we took was about 2 miles around Minnewaska lake & the scenery was gorgeous, especially around this time with the trees changing color. The pictures doesn't do it justice at all! For a holiday weekend the trail wasn't as busy as I thought it would, given that the parking lot was PACKED, but we could still comfortably take pictures of the landmarks and scenery without people overcrowding it. I will definitely be coming back, probably earlier (we got here at 1pm) and do the longer trails & maybe see the waterfall (the park ranger suggested we skip it today since it hasn't rain & wouldn't be as nice to see.) read more

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I swam in the waters of Lake Minnewaska, got plenty of sun, loved the raw and majesty of Nature there. I could see My Aboriginal Ancestors in hand carved canoes on a sunny day in the far past...It's an absolutely spiritual place and I felt invigorated leaving there. read more

If you love to hike, but are looking for a challenging path full of boulders to climb down, then this is not the place for you. I love challenges but taking a chance that I may break a leg isn't one that I'm up for. I'm also clumsy AF and while I may have decent stamina for endurance, again... not the greatest at hiking down uneven or rocky paths. Minnewaska is perfect for me and likely perfect for you if you are a not-all-that adventurous city person. Hey, you can admit it to me. No shame there. It's great to hike in the summer because if it's a hot and sunny day, you've got plenty of shade to keep you cool. Fall-time is glorious because of the spectacular colors around you. Winter. I avoid outside. Couldn't tell you anything about it here, if it's even open. Springtime this year was chock full of quarantine, but I recall it being quite pretty last year. I haven't gone swimming in the lake because I don't really like the idea of swimming in lakes, but I see they have some serious lanes for serious lap swimmers (I think you have to get some kind of permit to show that you're not just clowning around in the lanes making things annoying for actual swimmers. I like that). Finally, rattlesnakes could be a thing here, I've heard, especially in the spring, this year more than ever apparently. Just be careful. Even the idea of that makes me a bit paranoid but I try to pretend that I don't care. See above. City people are streetwise. We ain't snakewise. read more

My friends and I drove from the city to this state park, which was about a two hour drive to reach the park. We got to the park at around 9:30 to hike the Gertrude's Nose Trail and there was already a long line to get into the parking lot. We couldn't even get into the lot that was closest to the trail as it had already closed off within the first 40 minutes of the park's opening. We u-turned and went to the parking lot down the road, which also had a long line of people trying to get in. We paid $10 for parking. Our lot quickly filled and closed off as well. When we finally got ready for our hike, we had to walk the connecting path to Gertrude's Nose Trail since the lot we parked at wasn't at the entrance of the trail. The trail started off paved and you could enjoy the waterfall and lake close to the beginning of the path, but then the path became more terrain. Overall it was about a 12 mile hike and took 6-7 hours total, but worth! I really enjoyed the views from the Nose and the light breeze of nature. The tree colors were beginning to change when I came, so I can only imagine how it'd look like now. If you do decide to hike this trail, I highly recommend getting here early to ensure a parking spot that's close to the trail! The park also had picnic tables for a more relaxing visit! Such a beautiful park!! read more

Minnewaska State Park Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Kerhonkson, New York

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My brother and I decided that Minnewaska would have the honor of being our first motorcycle adventure of the season. The road there is a pretty good ride, with steep ascents and winding turns. We got to the main parking area, but it was full. The guy at the gate let some people in, but turned others away and I don't get why. So we were told to park at the Peterkill lot. The parking fee is $10. My brother and I each had our own motorcycles. Since it's technically a vehicle use fee, they charged us per motorcycle. Which I think is dumb since multiple bikes fit in one parking spot. I didn't even get to park in the paved lot, I had to park in the grassy area. The trails are pretty clear and well marked. We took a quick hike over to Awosting Falls. It's very scenic and well worth the hike. It's not a well kept secret though, and it is an easy hike, so expect to see a lot of people on the trail. read more

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Enjoyed our time here. We went in June. There are several trails to chose from, however due to social distancing guidelines, some were closed so we opted for the walk around the lake. Walking path was wide enough for three cars to travel in the same direction/speed easily. It was a gravel road. We were able to veer off on another trail (Indian rock). We weren't supposed to at the time, but we could clearly understand after doing so why they closed them. There is no space to pass anyone. It was pretty cool as we were walking along this tiny path surrounded by what looked like brush that was intentionally burned. The walk around the lake was really nice, cool breeze, with occasional lookout spots, with great views. Very peaceful, and serene. We took lunch, found a great spot with a view and relaxed for a bit. According to my watch, we walked 4.8 miles, keeping in mind that we veered off the path to around the lake twice so. We wanted to visit the ice caves however it was closed so it gave us an opportunity to return. As I write this am pondering on wether or not to surprise my husband with a trip this weekend, I will follow up with the state park to see if they have reopened, fingers crossed they are. read more

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What a beautiful and serene place to spend the day. There are hiking trails, waterfalls, and a gorgeous lake. The lake has a beach and an area to swim. This place is also perfect for birdwatching. Take advantage of the current situation and visit on a weekday when there are very few visitors. Bring water and snacks and spend the day hiking along the mountain trails. read more

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