Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

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Sun 29 Jun
Out to Patterson’s Pellet and back along the Cliffs at Minnewaska
Sunday, June 29, 2025 09:30 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Abigail Hedler, Student Conservation Association/AmeriCorps Environmental Educator, for a morning stroll to check out the cliffside views of the Palmaghatt Ravine from Patterson's Pellet, a glacial erratic perched on the cliffs above this scenic ravine. From here, we'll return to Lake Minnewaska, following the carriage road around from west to east, until we encounter the Beacon Hill Footpath. This lovely trail, which does include hills and some tricky footing, snakes along the cliff edge looking east towards New Paltz. The total distance for this walk is approximately six miles. Please bring enough water and food to sustain you and dress for the season, wearing boots with good traction. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Fri 27 Jun
Birding at the Gardiner Library
Friday, June 27, 2025 08:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Are you interested in birds or birdwatching? Join Nick Martin, Park Preserve Educator, for bird walks starting at the Gardiner Library, every Friday in June. During this program, we will take an approximately one mile walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and wander through Majestic Park, which can be muddy and wet, especially after a rainfall. Participants are encouraged to wear waterproof boots or shoes, bring binoculars, and a birding field guide, or field guide installed onto a smart device. Interested participants are welcome to attend one or every program. Meet at the Gardiner Library, in the Lower Parking Area. No pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact the Gardiner Library directly at 845-255-1255 or email Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov.
Registration: Not required
Thu 26 Jun
Family Bike Ride: Blooms and Bike to Swim at Lake Awosting Beach at Minnewaska
Thursday, June 26, 2025 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Grab your bike and join the Minnewaska Educators for a fun and educational bike outing to witness blooming mountain laurel bushes and swim in Lake Awosting. Starting on Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, we'll ride to Upper Awosting Carriage Road, which we'll follow until it ends at Lake Awosting. From here, we'll continue along the Lake Awosting Carriage Road until we reach the beach area, where we'll lock our bikes on a bike rack. This quiet, rock-slab beach is surrounded by nothing but forest. Then, everyone will have an opportunity to dip into the cool, clear lake followed by lunch at the beach. For our return ride, we'll cruise along a short section of Castle Point Carriage Road until we connect with Hamilton Point Carriage Road, which offers gorgeous, sweeping views of the Palmaghatt Ravine. The total distance for this bike ride is approximately nine miles and we'll take multiple rest stops along our route as needed. Participants must bring their own bikes, equipment, swim gear, towels, food and water. The Lake Awosting Swim Area has a changing area and composting toilets. Only Class 1, pedal-assist, electric bikes are allowed in the Park Preserve. This program is recommended for families with children old enough and able enough to bike this distance and route. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center Upper Parking Lot. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Tue 24 Jun
Hike to a Cliff and through a Forest of Flowers at Minnewaska
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 09:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for a morning hike to see the gorgeous, pink and white blooms of the mountain laurel bushes. We'll begin our outing by walking around the west side of Lake Minnewaska, until we reach Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road, which we'll follow to reach the Hamilton Point Carriage Road. From here, we'll walk along the edge of the Palmaghatt Ravine until we get to Echo Rock, which offers cliff edge views of this deep ravine. Then, we'll retrace our steps until we return to Lake Minnewaska, where we'll continue walking from west to east until we reach the Beacon Hill Footpath. We'll hike this cliff-edge trail, amidst a riot of blooming mountain laurel until we reach the Beacon Hill Carriage Road, which features a gorgeous Catskills viewpoint. This moderate, five-and-a-half-mile-long hike does include some cliffs and hills. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Tue 24 Jun
Early Morning Birders at Minnewaska
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 07:00 AM - 08:00 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Designed for both birding enthusiasts and those just looking to learn the basics, this weekly series will offer outings led by Nick Martin, Park Preserve Educator, or an experienced birding volunteer. Participants should bring binoculars and water and they should wear hiking shoes or boots. Outing destinations will be determined the day of the program. Poor weather conditions will trigger a program cancellation. Participants will meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. Participants MUST arrive prior to the start of the program. The Park Preserve gates will be locked at 7:00 am. Late arrivals will NOT be allowed in the Park Preserve. The total number of participants for this program is limited to twenty-four individuals. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. For questions, please call 845-255-0752 or email Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov This program is set up on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registration: Not required
Sun 22 Jun
Drop-In Program: The Basics of Leave No Trace and Plastic Pollution Reduction
Sunday, June 22, 2025 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Did you know that Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a Leave No Trace partnered organization? Join Park Educators to learn the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace and their importance, as well as how to reduce your plastic consumption on the trail and at home. As our world is inundated with disposable, plastic products, we can all make a positive impact for the planet by reducing our use of these single use products. Stop by the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center for this informative program. Pre-registration is NOT required.
Registration: Not required
Sat 21 Jun
Make Your Own Animal Track at Minnewaska
Saturday, June 21, 2025 09:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join us to make your very own plaster track of one of the many animals that live in Minnewaska State Park Preserve. During this program, we'll meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center and check out some of the animal-focused displays found inside. Next, we'll head over to the Minnewaska Nature Center to make a plaster animal track of our choosing, from a variety of rubber molds, such as fisher and bobcat. After we pour the plaster into the molds, we will take a short hike, of up to a mile-and-half, on trails near Lake Minnewaska, to search for animal tracks and signs. After the hike, we will head back to the Nature Center to collect our plaster creations. This program is recommended for children between the ages of six to eleven years old, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. Well-behaved younger siblings are always welcome to join. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Fri 20 Jun
Birding at the Gardiner Library
Friday, June 20, 2025 08:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Are you interested in birds or birdwatching? Join Nick Martin, Park Preserve Educator, for bird walks starting at the Gardiner Library, every Friday in June. During this program, we will take an approximately one mile walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and wander through Majestic Park, which can be muddy and wet, especially after a rainfall. Participants are encouraged to wear waterproof boots or shoes, bring binoculars, and a birding field guide, or field guide installed onto a smart device. Interested participants are welcome to attend one or every program. Meet at the Gardiner Library, in the Lower Parking Area. No pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact the Gardiner Library directly at 845-255-1255 or email Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov.
Registration: Not required
Thu 19 Jun
Minnewaska Homeschoolers: Bush Babies
Thursday, June 19, 2025 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Abigail Hedler, Student Conservation Association/AmeriCorps Environmental Educator, in welcoming Minnewaska State Park Preserve's newest inhabitants this spring – baby coyotes, porcupines, black bears, and white-tailed deer! We will learn about the common characteristics of these babies, their developmental processes, and their habitats. We will decorate party hats at the Nature Center to celebrate the birth of the new residents and take an approximately two-mile hike to the Meadows, via Upper Awosting Carriage Road, to hunt for animal tracks. This program is recommended for children between the ages of eight to eleven years old, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. Well-behaved younger siblings are always welcome to join. This program is open to all students learning from home accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18. The total number of participants for this program is limited to 20 individuals. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Tue 17 Jun
Tuesday Trek: Beautiful Blooms on Wawarsing Turnpike and Jenny Lane Loop Hike at Minnewaska
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 09:30 AM - 02:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for a hike on some lesser-travelled footpaths on this approximately five-mile outing. Leaving from the Lower Parking Area, we will follow Wawarsing Turnpike to the west until it intersects Jenny Lane Footpath. This route is loaded with mountain laurel bushes whose gorgeous pink and white blooms will enclose us on the trail. We'll follow this trail until it intersects Blueberry Run Footpath, dropping down through a dense, deciduous forest, until we intersect Lower Awosting Carriage Road, which we'll follow back to our starting point. While broad scenic views are limited on this outing, it traverses beautiful sections of forest and two clear mountain streams. This outing includes a few sustained uphill and downhill sections and two stream crossings that may be challenging for some. Meet in the Lower Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Tue 17 Jun
Early Morning Birders at Minnewaska
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 07:00 AM - 08:00 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Designed for both birding enthusiasts and those just looking to learn the basics, this weekly series will offer outings led by Nick Martin, Park Preserve Educator, or an experienced birding volunteer. Participants should bring binoculars and water and they should wear hiking shoes or boots. Outing destinations will be determined the day of the program. Poor weather conditions will trigger a program cancellation. Participants will meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. Participants MUST arrive prior to the start of the program. The Park Preserve gates will be locked at 7:00 am. Late arrivals will NOT be allowed in the Park Preserve. The total number of participants for this program is limited to twenty-four individuals. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. For questions, please call 845-255-0752 or email Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov. This program is set up on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registration: Not required
Sun 15 Jun
Hike to see the Blooming Mountain Laurel on Mossy Glen Footpath at Minnewaska
Sunday, June 15, 2025 09:30 AM - 01:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for a four-mile, round-trip hike along the quietly babbling Peter's Kill stream and through the cool, hemlock forests and tropical-feeling rhododendron stands of the Mossy Glen Footpath. This is the time of year when the gorgeous pink and white blossoms of the mountain laurel bushes typically bloom, and this route showcases many of these showy shrubs. This trail does include some tricky footing, but the section of the trip that follows the Lower Awosting Carriage Road is an easy stroll. Meet at the Lower Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Sat 14 Jun
Lake Minnewaska Beach Opens for the Season
Saturday, June 14, 2025 11:15 AM - 06:45 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
The beach at Lake Minnewaska will open today for the swimming season. The small beach, which is located along the northwestern shore of Lake Minnewaska, will be open seven days per week until Labor Day, staff and weather permitting.
Registration: Not required
Sat 14 Jun
Lake Awosting Beach Opens for the Season
Saturday, June 14, 2025 11:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
The beach at Lake Awosting will open today for the swimming season. This beach, which is located approximately four miles, by foot or bike, from the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, features a smooth rock slab beach on the remote and beautiful Lake Awosting. Lake Awosting's calm, quiet beach will be open seven days per week until Labor Day, staff and weather permitting.
Registration: Not required
Sat 14 Jun
Mountain Laurel Flowers Hike on Beacon Hill Loop at Minnewaska
Saturday, June 14, 2025 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Nick Martin, Park Preserve Educator, for an approximately three-mile roundtrip hike along the Beacon Hill Carriage Road, Beacon Hill Footpath, and Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road. From the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, we will walk down to the trailhead of the Beacon Hill Carriage Road, continuing out to its terminus, which offers a lovely, scenic vista of the nearby cliffs of the Peter's Kill Area and the Catskill Mountains. From here, we'll continue on the Beacon Hill Footpath, which features a variety of terrain as it transitions through shady forests and sunny slabs of bedrock, sparsely populated with plants. At the end of this trail, we will be rewarded with a broad scenic vista looking east. After we take in the view, we'll head back towards the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center along the east side of the Lake. If our timing is right, the mountain laurel shrubs will be in full bloom, decorating the forests along our route in a sea of white and pink blossoms. The footpath section of this route has rocky and uneven terrain and some moderate hills, which may be challenging for some. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Fri 13 Jun
Birding at the Gardiner Library
Friday, June 13, 2025 08:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Are you interested in birds or birdwatching? Join Nick Martin, Park Preserve Educator, for bird walks starting at the Gardiner Library, every Friday in June. During this program, we will take an approximately one mile walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and wander through Majestic Park, which can be muddy and wet, especially after a rainfall. Participants are encouraged to wear waterproof boots or shoes, bring binoculars, and a birding field guide, or field guide installed onto a smart device. Interested participants are welcome to attend one or every program. Meet at the Gardiner Library, in the Lower Parking Area. No pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact the Gardiner Library directly at 845-255-1255 or email Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov.
Registration: Not required