Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

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10 events matched your search
Tue 05 Dec
Tuesday Trek: The Old Meadows to Kempton Ledge and Patterson’s Pellet at Minnewaska
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for an approximately five-mile hike on historic carriage roads and one footpath. Starting from the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, we will hike a short section of the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road and continue on the Upper Awosting Carriage Road until we intersect the Meadows Footpath. Then, we'll continue our walk through sections of the former Lake Minnewaska Resort's abandoned apple orchard and golf course until we intersect Castle Point Carriage Road. We'll continue on this carriage road until we arrive at Kempton Ledge, a scenic vista that overlooks the Palmaghatt Ravine. Next, we'll make our way over to Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road, which we'll walk until we reach the iconic glacial erratic named Patterson's Pellet. From here, we'll be able to look out across the Ravine and see where we just came from. For our return trip, we'll continue walking west to east around the Lake, stopping to admire all the scenic views until we return to the Visitor Center. If conditions are icy, participants are encouraged to bring Micro Spikes or other ice traction devices and to dress appropriately for the cold. If ski trails are being groomed, this outing location will change. 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 08 Dec
Nature Walk at the Gardiner Library
Friday, December 8, 2023 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Nick Martin, Park Educator, for a nature walk starting at the Gardiner Library. 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 from rain. On this slow-paced walk, we will be looking at whatever natural curiosities intrigue the group, from birds to trees. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly in layers, wear warm boots or shoes and bring binoculars. In case of a poor weather cancellation, this program will be offered instead on December 15. No registration is required. The total number of participants for this program is limited to fifteen individuals. Meet at the Gardiner Library lower parking area, near the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and electric charging station. For more information about the program, call the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752 or email Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov.
Sun 10 Dec
Scenic Hike along Beacon Hill and around Lake Minnewaska
Sunday, December 10, 2023 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for an approximately four-mile hike along the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, Beacon Hill Footpath and Beacon Hill Carriage Road. We'll begin our walk on the Beacon Hill Carriage Road, which features a gorgeous, scenic viewpoint at its terminus. Then, we'll hike the Beacon Hill Footpath, which follows along the top edge of an east-facing cliff and gets bathed in the warm, morning light. Then, we'll land on the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, which we'll follow around the Lake from east to west, stopping to admire all the scenic views along our route. This walk will offer beautiful views of the Rondout and Wallkill Valleys below and the Catskill Mountains to the north. The carriage roads are relatively easy walking, however, the footpath does include some hills and tricky footing. If conditions are icy, participants are encouraged to bring Micro Spikes or other ice traction devices. If ski trails are being groomed, this outing location will change. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Tue 12 Dec
Tuesday Trek: Scenic Hike along Beacon Hill and around Lake Minnewaska
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for an approximately four-mile hike along the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, Beacon Hill Footpath and Beacon Hill Carriage Road. We'll begin our walk on the Beacon Hill Carriage Road, which features a gorgeous, scenic viewpoint at its terminus. Then, we'll hike the Beacon Hill Footpath, which follows along the top edge of an east-facing cliff and gets bathed in the warm, morning light. Then, we'll land on the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, which we'll follow around the Lake from east to west, stopping to admire all the scenic views along our route. This walk will offer beautiful views of the Rondout and Wallkill Valleys below and the Catskill Mountains to the north. The carriage roads are relatively easy walking; however, the footpath does include some hills and tricky footing. If conditions are icy, participants are encouraged to bring Micro Spikes or other ice traction devices. If ski trails are being groomed, this outing location will change. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Sun 17 Dec
Hike to Echo Rock and Patterson’s Pellet at Minnewaska
Sunday, December 17, 2023 12:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for a late autumn walk along four carriage roads to reach the picturesque Echo Rock and Patterson's Pellet scenic views. Carriage road walking is relatively easy, featuring a level, gravel surface. As such, this walk may be a good fit for people who are less comfortable with the uneven terrain of footpaths, but still enjoy walking in the woods. From Echo Rock, both Gertrude's Nose and Patterson's Pellet can be seen in the distance across the steep-sided Palmaghatt Ravine. From Pattereson's Pellet, on a clear day, we'll see the stone tower at High Point State Park in New Jersey. This approximately six-mile round trip walk is a great way to warm up, get outside and fight cabin fever. If ski trails are being groomed, this outing location will change. 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 19 Dec
Tuesday Trek: Hike to Rainbow Falls and Back at Minnewaska
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 09:30 AM - 02:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for a walk along the Upper Awosting Carriage Road to reach Rainbow Falls Footpath. A half-mile hike on this trail brings us to the base of this misty waterfall. The round-trip distance for this outing is about six miles, mostly on the easy walking carriage road, howerver, the footpath section can be muddy, wet and slippery. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Sat 23 Dec
Echo Rock Holiday Hike at Minnewaska
Saturday, December 23, 2023 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Need a break from the family or just need to get outside in the crisp, winter air? Join Nick Martin, Park Educator, for a four-mile, pre-holiday hike to the scenic vista of Echo Rock. Leaving from the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, we will walk the Lake Minnewaska, Millbrook Mountain, and Hamilton Point Carriage Roads to arrive at Echo Rock. This scenic vista is located on a cliff perched over the Palmaghatt Ravine, across from Patterson's Pellet. On a clear day, there are spectacular views from here. Our return trip will follow the same route, but we will make our way around the east side of Lake Minnewaska, enjoying the views around the Lake. In the event of snow, this hike may be cancelled or rescheduled to another location. If ski trails are being groomed, this outing location will change. 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 26 Dec
Tuesday Trek: Mossy Glen Meander at Minnewaska
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, will lead this three-and-a-half-mile hike that will follow along the edges of the Peter's Kill, a gently gurgling stream that runs through evergreen hemlock forests and rhododendron stands along the Mossy Glen Footpath. This trail does include some tricky footing, including potentially slippery rocks and exposed tree roots, but the other half of this route, which follows along the Lower Awosting Carriage Road, is an easy stroll. Participants are encouraged to bring Micro Spikes or other ice traction devices and to dress appropriately for the cold. Meet at the Lower Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Sat 30 Dec
Sixth Annual Minnewaska-Shawangunk (NYMS) Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a bird census, first proposed in December 1900 by ornithologist Frank Chapman. The first CBC was held on December 25, 1900, with 27 participants. The CBC is the oldest citizen science project in the United States and this is its 124th year. Participants in the CBC spend the day listening, looking for, and counting birds within a predetermined area. The 6th annual NYMS (Minnewaska-Shawangunk) Christmas Bird Count circle is one of thousands of other circles in North America, Central America, South America, the Pacific, and Caribbean, that participate in this winter tradition. Interested parties will be searching a 15-mile diameter circle for birds, which includes most of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Field teams should be prepared for a full day outdoors. Residents with bird feeders within the Minnewaska-Shawangunk CBC circle may also participate by counting birds at their feeders, however, your feeder must be within the limits of the count circle. See a map of the circle at: https://arcg.is/1bqrPK0. Contact Nicholas Martin at Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov or 845-255-0752 no later than December 23rd for an assignment or to learn how to report your bird feeder count.
Mon 01 Jan
First Day Hike to a Scenic Stream and a Frozen Waterfall
Monday, January 1, 2024 01:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for a brisk, winter walk through the woods to a narrow bridge over the Peter's Kill stream, followed by a walk to see Awosting Falls. If conditions are just right, floating disks of frozen foam can be seen on the stream and a volcano like structure of ice may have formed beneath the 65-foot-tall waterfall, which is dramatic year-round. This outing, which is approximately three miles long, round trip, will follow both the Mossy Glen Footpath and the Awosting Falls Carriage Road. Since trails may be icy, traction devices, such as Microspikes, may be necessary for stability. The footpath component of this outing is narrow and rocky, but the carriage road has a wide, stable, gravel surface. Participants should come dressed to be outside for the entire hike, wearing warm, protective layers and winter boots with good traction. This outing is limited to 12 people. Meet at the Lower Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required