Address: | 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson, NY 12446, USA |
Phone: | +1 845-255-0752 |
Site: | nysparks.com |
Rating: | 4.8 |
Working: | 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM |
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Istvan Szabo
Minnewaska State Park is a great place to spend a day. Its a good place 4 bikers who are riding recreationally. For bikers some of the carriage roads a little bit challenging but overall its a great experience. The park is very nice, neat & clean and well-maintained. The entrance fee is $10/car/day. (Cash only!) The park closes promptly at 8 p.m. swimming is allowed at 2 Lakes: Lake Minnewaska & Lake Awosting. Lake Minnewaska is pretty close to the parking lots however it is very deep. The first couple of feets is only 3 feet deep, however after that the death of water suddenly drops - 6, 12...and 22 feet. The swimming area is not too big. The Minnewaska Beach is open from 11:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Both beaches are attended with lifeguard. Lake Awosting is kind of further in the Park from the parking lots that can be approached only via bike or hike. The Lake Awosting Beach is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This beach is visited mostly by bikers. This beach is bigger then the one at Lake Awosting. The water is very pleasant, the beach is very clean and well-maintained. There are changing rooms and bathrooms in the close vicinity of both beaches. Mountain bikers cannot find single-track trail in the park. So, if you are looking for challenges and great excitement then you have to look for a place somewhere else. :( It is still a great place to ride on a mountain bike in the park. If you ride anti-clockwise on a bike around Lake Awosting, it is mostly downhill, so its mostly fun. There is a slight elevation if you riding a bike from Lake Awosting to Hamilton Point, however from that point on its all downhill on a gravel road until Lake Minnewaska. In the hours of sunset you might encounter with bears and wild turkeys along the way. (I did.) I could write more however I got to go to work... :) Have fun & and enjoy the nature at this beautiful park!
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Jack Aiello
Beautiful, steep hiking trails, gorgeous waterfall, Minnewaska State Park is worth the road trip to New Paltz. Though I never hiked it all the way to the lakes (Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting), I hear its gorgeous. The trails are color coded and depending on which one you choose, they can be long and hilly, so be sure to bring good hiking shoes, lots of water, sunscreen and energy bars. The waterfall is especially magical. The way its formed, you can sit just feet away from the top of the falls and witness the water cascading down in a thunderous rush. Im giving a poor-fair rating on facilities because I have a phobia of port-a-johns, and unfortunately the park has nothing but. Ill explain briefly: When I was about 8 or 9, I had to pee badly and had to use one for the first time. Bad enough it reminded me of a claustrophobic Catholic confessional booth, but I wasnt prepared for the hair curling stench, and I certainly wasnt prepared for that small unceremonious hole out of which a hulking black turd stood staring back at me. It wasnt even submerged in the day-glo blue water. There had been a mountain of solid materials that accumulated above the water line, and that cruel black log stood at the peak as if it had just won a game of "King of the Hill". She had flies swarming about her like minions doing her bidding. She was mocking me, challenging me as she dispatched her drone flies on a recon mission to inspect my foreign presence. I was traumatized. I was undone. Anyway, all Im saying is a central bathroom facility couldnt hurt. Otherwise, Minnewaska is scenic, gorgeous, and a great way to spend the day.
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Damian Lake
This place is truly one of the most beautiful and sacred nature areas that I have ever been to ...I keep coming back here ...one time is not nearly enough ... The views I saw today after a deep mountain bike and hike into the deeper part of the park were so beautiful that ...artificials beware ...you will vomit ...hipsters can hang out in the parking lot and wander why they even care ...to really see the park I suggest bring your bicycle and also a helmet ... Come early and plan to stay here all day . Also dont leave your shirts unnatennded . Other hikers will take it and set it on fire and throw it in the dirt ..this actually happened to me today with my favorite shirt ...I literally biked after the 3 hikers that set my shirt on fire and asked them to reimburse me for my loss ...so beware people dont leave your shirts behind because they will be burned .
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Bobby Brook
I have visited this area for some (WOW) 40 years. I started out by camping out at the, now defunct, Ski lodge, which was about a mile away from Lake Minnewaska. I have, along with my Wife and children, visited Lake Minnewaska many times, it is absolutely beautiful there, trails, lakes, we even saw a group of deer up close. I highly recommend this State Park to everyone. It makes you realize how awesome God really is to create such beauty. As long as God gives me breath I will visit again and again. If you want to exercise by walking or biking the trails or if you just want to relax and take in the quiet and beauty, this is the place.
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Henry Montalto
What an absolutely breathtaking and truly amazing place to go. So many secrets so many special hikes and trails throughout this state park. If you live near Connecticut Westchester or even parts of PA and New Jersey land highly recommend making the trip out here! In the summer you can come and eat wild blueberries so your heart is content. In the spring this wild raspberries. A great place to swim with ice cold water. Hiking the gunks and their cliffs are just great! Reach out to me if you want any info on some great hikes and secret places including the cave that spews out freezing cold air when its hot in the summer.
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A.T.8
There is only one, but VERY meaningful downside to the park: on a nice weekend, the place becomes a mass of humanity due to its accessibility. All of the parking is swallowed up by people with very little intention of doing ANY hiking! They just park and mill about the various scenic outlooks. Spectacular scenery, and many long hiking trails that can take you deep into the bowels of the Gunks. Unfortunately though, the thousands of people that take up parking to do nothing but stand around make accessing trailheads significantly more difficult.
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David Fratzke
The park is just gorgeous! Many hikes for all different experience levels. Ive experienced it now twice, that the park rangers are very unfriendly. The last time I was standing in the water (ankle high) and the ranger yelled at me to get out of the water because there is now SWIMMING allowed. I am usually in favor to support parks with parking fees, especially if theyre putting the money back into the park (like Minnewaska does!), but because of these experiences I will think twice next time before spending 10$ for parking.
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Conor Logan
I went here yesterday and let me just start off by saying its amazing. The majority of the trail I took (which was almost the entire trail of the park) was just enough challenge to inspired you but yet beautiful. There was a good enough amount of people but not crowded and the entire experience was beautiful from start to finish. I would suggest bringing a map because there are a couple of stretches where you might get lost for a little. Enjoy guys and gals and check out the lakes and Awosting Falls when youre there.