Want to leave the city behind for a few days and explore one of the most lovely state parks in all of New York?
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located on the dramatic Shawangunk Mountain Ridge, making it an ideal destination for hikers and rock climbers.
Because Minnewaska is only open for day use, we recommend pitching your tent nearby so you can spend a few days exploring.
Keep reading for a weekend of meandering trails, gushing waterfalls, wine-sipping, and sleeping under the stars. Plan an outdoorsy weekend exploring Minnewaska State Park Preserve — just an hour and a half from New York City!
At-A-Glance: Visiting Minnewaska State Park
Address: 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson, NY 12446
Open: 9 am-9 pm
Fees: $10 per carload
Activities: Hiking, rock climbing, swimming, biking
Dogs: Yes, on-leash
Official Park Website
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a day-use park with 50 miles of trails and 35 miles of carriage roads to explore.
The park also features numerous waterfalls, three beautiful lakes, dense hardwood forests, and sheer cliffs and ledges with awesome views.
Minnewaska State Park encompasses over 22,000 acres of the Shawangunk Mountains in Ulster County.
It’s a paradise for outdoor lovers, with incredible hiking trails, climbing routes, and trails for mountain bikes, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. If you’re looking for solitude, you may need to be creative when choosing the trails you hike on. Minnewaska isn’t exactly a hidden gem.
On a beautiful weekend in April, we shared the carriage roads with many hikers and bikers, but some less popular trails were 100% deserted and so breathtakingly beautiful!
A trip to Minnewaska State Park Preserve makes a great weekend getaway during the summer and early fall when the days and nights are warm.
Here are some highlights from our weekend explorations in Minnewaska State Park, all reasons to fall in love with this gorgeous preserve in the Hudson Valley of New York.
Awosting Falls: Minnewaska’s Jewel
Awosting Falls is pretty famous and easy to get to, well worth the ¼ mile walk on a wide, gravel path.
A few small cascades make up the upper falls, but the lower Awosting Falls look like they should be in a movie. They plunge over a beautiful rock outcropping 65 feet into a small, deep pool.
You can photograph Awosting Falls from all kinds of angles, but unfortunately, you can’t swim in the pool below the falls. This rule is strictly enforced.
Depending on the time of year and the recent rainfall, Awosting Falls can look dramatically different.
During our recent April visit, there was a decent amount of water from the snow that was still melting away, but if you go later in the summer, it may be more of a trickle.
Lake Minnewaska: One of Several Crystalline Sky Lakes
After enjoying Awosting Falls, head back the way you came, hop on the Sunset Carriage Road, and hike another .8 miles to Lake Minnewaska.
Steep white cliffs surround this gorgeous glacial lake. It is one of five sky lakes on the Shawangunk Ridge, four of which lie within the preserve: Lake Minnewaska, Lake Awosting, Mud Pond (also known as Lake Haseco), and Lake Maratanza.
At its widest point, Lake Minnewaska is a bit less than a half-mile (0.8 km) long by one-eighth mile (0.2 km) wide.
Swimming is permitted in Lake Minnewaska at a small, roped-off swimming area, but only when lifeguards are on duty.
The Lake Minnewaska carriage road circles the lake, providing a nice two-mile walk with awesome views all the way around.
Gertrude’s Nose: Minnewaska’s Most Popular Hike
The hike to Gertrude’s Nose has it all: Beautiful views, a heart-pumping climb, and enough diversity to keep things interesting. It’s a 6.7-mile loop that gains about 1,140 feet of elevation. It was doable as a full-day hike for us, but it was definitely a workout!
Be prepared to hike for 4-5 hours for this view.
Follow the red blazes from the carriage road until you reach Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road, which has yellow blazes. Follow the yellow blazes until you hit the triple red blazes, bringing you off the carriage road and onto a more narrow and steep footpath.
So far, the path has been mellow, and the views are amazing. Now, for a climb and even more incredible vistas! Be prepared for a bit of rock scrambling and sore muscles.
Minnewaska Hiking: Upper Awosting and Castle Point Carriage Roads
From the Lake Minnewaska carriage road, you can take either Upper Awosting or the Castle Point carriage Road and hike farther up for some really amazing views of the surrounding mountains. Both roads will bring you to Lake Awosting, another incredible glacial lake worth visiting.
The shortest route to Lake Awosting is the Upper Awosting carriage road, which is 3.1 miles from lake to lake.
Lake Awosting is bigger than Lake Minnewaska, but you won’t encounter as many people because it’s a bit harder to get to. Another option is to take either of the two carriage roads to the nature trails just west of Lake Minnewaska.
The miles of footpaths crisscross all over the place, taking you through meadows, around ponds, and through acres and acres of high-bush blueberries. I can’t wait to head back up in August and indulge!
Camping Near Minnewaska State Park
As I mentioned above, camping is not permitted in Minnewaska State Park, but you’ve got a few options for camping nearby.
We pitched our tent at Robibero Winery in New Paltz during our visit, just a short drive from the park. The Robibero family has been running the vineyard and winery since 2007, creating outstanding whites and reds on 42 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley.
Campers can visit for a wine tasting between Thursday and Sunday and then pitch a tent in the field behind the winery for the ultimate private camping. This experience was a first for us, but I think wine tastings and camping are a perfect match.
We booked our stay through Hipcamp, an online camping platform that matches landowners nationwide with campers looking for unique experiences. You can pretty much choose your spot in the huge field behind the vineyard.
The winery has running water, bathrooms, and a communal fire ring.
The best part? Well-behaved dogs are totally welcome. We took advantage of that and brought our German Shepherd, Flash.
There’s not much in this world that can compare to sipping wine in a field with your favorite person (and your favorite dog) as the sun kisses the world goodnight.
We watched the stars appear one by one, played a little fetch with Flash, and Eric tuned his guitar for a little night music.
Tips for Camping at Robibero Winery in New Paltz
Here are some more tips for camping at Robibero Winery for your Hudson Valley weekend.
Do a wine tasting. If you visit between May and October, the winery is open seven days a week, from 11 to 6. You can sample the wine offerings and buy a bottle to bring back to your campsite.
Wood-fired pizza is available on the weekends. One less meal that you have to cook!
Robibero Winery is dog-friendly! I know I already mentioned it, but I think it’s important.
Bring a little table and some camp chairs. You will be camping in a field, which is lovely, but there are no picnic tables.
You can’t have a fire at your campsite. But you can use the fire pit at the winery and the picnic tables, too. It’s about a 5-minute walk from where your tent is pitched.
Getting there: Robibero Family Vineyards is located at 714 Albany Post Rd. in New Paltz (exit 18 off of I-87). It’s less than two hours north of New York City.
Cost: Camping at Robibero Winery is $70 per night. Wine tastings are $20 per person and include a sample of four different wines.
More camping near Minnewaska State Park Preserve
We loved our stay at Robiberio Winery, but you have plenty of options. Here are some more campgrounds near Minnewaska State Park Preserve that we’d recommend.
- Gunks Gateway Campground: Run by the American Alpine Club, The Shawangunk Gateway Campground is located in Gardiner, New York, near the Shawangunks climbing area. This popular campground is open between April and November, and primitive sites are $28.
- Jellystone Park: Family-friendly camping with Yogi Bear in Gardiner, New York. If you enjoy campgrounds with full amenities, including a waterpark and mini golf, this is the spot for you!
- Private camping on a horse farm in Kerhonksen: This is another Hipcamp spot very close to Minnewaska. Private sites with fire pits are $25 a night.
More Wineries Near Minnewaska State Park
If you take visiting wineries, breweries, and cideries seriously when you travel, here are a few more suggestions for your weekend adventure in the Hudson Valley:
Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery, Gardiner, New York: Open daily from June to October with a selection of award-winning reds and whites.
Kettleborough Cider House, New Paltz, New York: A small-batch cidery that uses Hudson Valley Apples.
Rough Cut Brewing Company, Kerhonkson, New York: Craft beer on tap and local comfort food for what ails you.
More places to stay near Minnewaska State Park
Camping not your thing? There are some great vacation rentals near Minnewaska State Park and some good hotels in the town of New Paltz. Here are some that we’d recommend.
Minnewaska Lodge: Enjoy watching the morning sun illuminate the sheer 1,200-foot cliff face of the Shawangunk Mountain range when you stay at Minnewaska Lodge. Splurge on a room with a balcony for incredible sunrise views!
Hampton Inn New Paltz: No-nonsense and affordable lodging right in New Paltz. This is a great choice for families. The rooms are clean and there’s an indoor pool and fitness center.
Want to read more about weekend adventuring in New York? Check out these posts:
- 10 Incredible New York Yurts for Your Next Vacation
- Winter Glamping in New York
- The Best Glamping in the Catskills
- Wine and Waterfalls in the Finger Lakes of New York
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and travel blogger with a passion for outdoor adventures. She is the co-author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont and currently blogs at Back Road Ramblers and Vermont Explored, where she shares travel tips, adventure destinations, and vacation ideas for the wanderer in everyone.
