Know Before You Go...
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Restrictions
- There are no trash cans at this park preserve, please carry in and carry out everything you bring.
- Alcoholic beverages and glass containers are not permitted.
- Swimming is NOT permitted in any streams or waterfalls.
- Type 2 and Type 3 ebikes (electric bikes) are not permitted.
- Barbequing/cooking is not permitted.
- The use of motorized scooters, skateboards, and one wheels are NOT permitted.
- The use of drones is prohibited.
- Amplified music is prohibited.
- Buses and equestrian use are only permitted on non-holiday weekdays.
Parking and Early Closures
Lake Minnewaska and Sam's Point are experiencing extensive congestion on good-weather days and both sites are subject to intermittent closures as parking lots reach capacity. Please respect our neighbors and surrounding communities, do not park on adjacent roadway shoulders.
Pet Policy
Dogs only, must be on a leash not more than 6 feet. Not allowed in buildings, camping, picnic or bathing areas or on walkways. Pets are NOT permitted at beaches or on the cross-country ski trails when they are groomed and open for cross-country skiing only. Please clean up after your dog and dispose of properly.
Live Minnewaska Weather
For current weather conditions at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center, please see the following link. For further information, please visit:
https://www.weatherlink.com/embeddablePage/show/7384adda9ba24b129128fac421a5a0ac/fullscreen
Located in Ulster County, NY Minnewaska State Park Preserve is situated on the dramatic Shawangunk Mountain ridge, which rises more than 2,000 feet above sea level and is surrounded by rugged, rocky terrain. The park features numerous waterfalls, three crystalline sky lakes, dense hardwood forests, incising sheer cliffs and ledges opening to beautiful views, clear streams cut into valleys, 35 miles of carriage roads and 50 miles of footpaths on which to bike, walk, hike and simply enjoy. And, all this within an hour and a half drive from New York City.
Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, picnicking, scuba-diving, rock-climbing, bouldering, boating and marveling at the scenery. Horseback riding and cross-country ski trails are available as well. Technical Rock Climbing permitted.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: Sam's Point Area: Sam's Point Preserve is located on the highest section of the Shawangunk Mountains, is the most southerly section of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. To further explore Sam's Point, visit their calendar of events.
The Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides a high quality, minimalist camping experience for visitors to the breathtaking Shawangunk Mountains. The tent-only campground includes a pavilion and cooking area, bathhouse and restroom facilities, and circulation trails. There are 24 drive-in spots (one vehicle per site) and 26 walk-in spots. All sites accommodate up to two tents (and four people) per pad. Recreational vehicles are not permitted. Camping is open mid-May through mid-November, weather permitting.
The campground, managed cooperatively by the American Alpine Club and Mohonk Preserve, is located at 953 State Route 299 Gardiner, NY 12525, within a five minute drive of the main entrances of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Campground office hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For additional information, please contact the campground at: 303-951-4571, or visit the American Alpine Club lodging page at http://lodging.americanalpineclub.org/ and click on the Sam F. Pryor III Campground.
For more information and to register for programs, please call the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752. The Park Preserve opens daily at 9:00 AM and closing times vary throughout the year. The fee for parking at Minnewaska is $10 per car. There are no additional fees for public programs, unless noted otherwise. Minnewaska State Park Preserve consists of more than 24,000 acres of wild and scenic land located on Route 44/55, five miles west of the intersection with Route 299 in Gardiner, New York.
Water Quality -
Beach Results
Pet Policy: Dogs only, must be on a leash not more than 6 feet. Not allowed in buildings, camping, picnic or bathing areas or on walkways. PLEASE NOTE: Pets are NOT permitted on cross-country ski trails when they are groomed and open for cross-country skiing only. Please clean up after your dog and dispose of properly.
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 893 New Paltz, NY 12561
Hours of Operation
Park Preserve hours: The current operating hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The closing time will be adjusted to 5:00 PM on November 3, 2024.
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Swimming hours:
The lifeguarded beaches at Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting are closed for the 2024 season as of September 3. The beaches will reopen for the 2025 in mid-June.
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Fees & Rates
Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.
The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80 and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information.
Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.
- Vehicle Entry Fee
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$10 per vehicle (under 15-person capacity). Any groups larger than 25 people must contact the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center prior to planned arrival and ask to speak with an office manager.
3/10/24-4/14/24: 9am-7pm
4/15/24-6/2/24: 9am-8pm
6/3/24-7/28/24: 9am-9pm
7/29/24-9/2/24: 9am-8pm
9/3/24-10/7/24: 9am-7pm
10/8/24-11/2/24: 9am-6pm
11/3/24-3/8/25: 9am-5pm
Bus Permits:
Bus permit: $60
Bus permit (not scheduled in advance): $150
Buses are not permitted on weekends and holidays. Please
call Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center and ask to speak with an office manager to
schedule a bus.
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- Permits
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Boat Permits:
Seasonal Boat Permit: $35
Daily Boat Permit: $5
Horseback Riding Permits:
Horseback Riding Day Permit: $5
Horseback Riding Season Permit: $20
Scuba Diving Permit:
Scuba Diving Season Permit: $20
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- Picnicking
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- Site Fee: $200
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- Rock Climbing
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- Rock Climbing Day Pass: $10
Rock Climbing Season Pass: $90 -
- Winter Fees
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- Ski fees:
$10 - Adult, $9 - Senior, $7 - Junior (17 and under)
Snowshoe rental:
$15/day - Adult, $14/day - 17 and under
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Maps
New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.
Highlights of Minnewaska State Park Preserve:
- All
along the trails and cliff edges of Minnewaska, visitors may encounter a
globally rare forest of pitch pines. These evergreen trees, most often
found in sand dunes along coastal areas, are uniquely adapted to survive
and thrive from forest fires. Mountain laurel bushes, whose gorgeous pink
and white flowers are abundant along trails in mid-June are often found in
these same forests.
- The
Shawangunk Ridge, a 500-foot tall, prominent cliff that rises from the
Hudson Valley, west of New Paltz, is comprised of extremely hard quartz
rock. This white rock, which survived the erosive forces of glaciation, is
covered with clues to that past. Look for numerous parallel scratches
called glacial striations, patches of glossy, smooth rock called glacial
polish, half-circle gouges called chatter marks and oddly-placed boulders
called glacial erratics.
- Minnewaska's
striking geological formations also make it a world-class rock climbing
site.
- Minnewaska
State Park Preserve is home to four sky lakes, with life guarded swimming
areas in Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting during the summer swimming
season. A sky lake is a pristine and often unusually clear lake that is
fed only from rainwater.
- The
Shawangunk Ridge is an important corridor for migrating raptors. A
well-timed fall visit to Minnewaska may yield sightings of kettles of
raptors, which are large congregations of these predacious birds
travelling south together. Minnewaska State Park Preserve is home to a
Bird Conservation Area (BCA). Bring your binoculars and see what you can
find!
- The
Education Department at Minnewaska offers environmental education and
recreation programming for all ages, year-round. We will gladly design and
lead an education program specifically to fit the needs of your club,
school group or other organization and you pay only the parking fee. Call
or write today at 845-255-0752 extension 5 or laura.conner@parks.ny.gov.
Look and listen for these birds at our Park Preserve:
What will you see? Plan your visit today!
Everyone is a Steward: Be a Minnewaska State Park Hero!
- Know
the rules and concerns for the area you'll be visiting.
- Leave
rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
- Respect
other visitors and their experience. Avoid excessive noise.
- Share
the trail. Keep to the right except to pass. When in doubt, give the other
user the right of way. Warn people when you are planning to pass.
- Respect
wildlife and observe from a distance
- Protect
wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Use
extra caution when using headphones. You may not be able to hear warnings.
- Don't
litter.
- Hike
on established designated trails.
- Do not
throw rocks over the edge.
- Do not
move firewood between parks or transport it over large distances.
For more
information, please read our Trail Tips!
When you enter or leave Lake Minnewaska or Tillson Lake:
- Clean
and remove all visible plants, animals, fish and mud from
your boat, trailer and other equipment and dispose of it in a suitable
trash container or on dry land.
- Drain water
from bilge, live wells, ballast tanks and any other locations with water
before leaving the launch. Disinfect when possible.
- Dry your
boat and all equipment completely. At least 5 days of drying time is
recommended. Drying times vary depending on weather and material.
Ask a Naturalist!
Q: What should I do if there is moss on my climbing route?
A: Leave it alone!
Lichens, ferns and mosses are slow-growing. A palm-sized patch of smooth rock
tripe, one of the largest lichen species, can be up to seventy-five years old.
Q: What kind of common snakes are found in the Park
Preserve?
A: The northern water
snake, often seen along the lake edge, and the black rat snake are the two most
common, non-venomous snakes found at Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The timber
rattlesnake (listed in New York as a threatened species) and the northern
copperhead are the only venomous snakes here. Like
all snakes, they are unlikely to attack unless provoked. Please do not harass
snakes and always keep your distance and respect any wildlife you may come
across.
Q: I haven't been to Minnewaska State Park Preserve in 10
years or more and I noticed that Lake Minnewaska looks different. What has
changed?
A: The pH of the lake
has increased, making it less acidic and allowing the survival of an introduced
bait fish, the golden shiner. These fish eat zooplankton (tiny aquatic
animals), who in turn eat phytoplankton (microscopic aquatic plants). As the
population of zooplankton has decreased, there has been an increase in the
abundance of algae, which greatly reduces water clarity. NYS Parks staff have
been working in coordination with SUNY New Paltz, DEC, and Mohonk Preserve
scientists to study these changes and propose management activities to restore
the quality of the lake. To see a scientific poster on Lake Minnewaska's
trophic changes, click here.
Please help us take care of the lake: don't dump fish or
other animals in the lake and clean your boat prior to putting it in the water.
Q: I just saw a black bear on the trail, what should I do?
A: Be cautious when
encountering any wildlife; do not harass wildlife and give them lots of space.
Most bears will run away when they encounter a person. Be especially cautious
if you come across a female bear with cubs, as she is more likely to be
aggressive to protect her young. A general rule of thumb for bear encounters is
to quietly back away, do not make eye contact and do not get between cubs and
their mother. You can help to avoid potential contact with bears by
carrying-out your empty food and beverage containers. Litter can attract bears
and increase the likelihood of a negative interaction.
Q: How do I prepare for a visit to Minnewaska?
A: Minnewaska is
essentially a wild land with few amenities for park visitors. The only public
water sources are located at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center and Sam's Point
Visitor Center. Please come prepared with enough food and water to sustain
yourself for your visit and wear good walking shoes. Also, to avoid getting
lost, plan out your route using a trail map, allowing enough time to complete
your outing. Bring the trail map, a compass, a flashlight and a first aid kit
along with you.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Minnewaska
was originally built as a resort by Alfred Smiley in the 1870s, complete
with two hotels and many amenities. However, Minnewaska was also designed
to be a nature preserve. Its carriage roads and trails offered visitors
the chance to enjoy and appreciate nature, setting the stage for its
current incarnation as New York's largest state Park Preserve at 24,000
acres.
- Rock
climbing on the Shawangunk Mountains began in 1935, when Fritz Wiessner
established the "Old Route," the first rock-climbing route on
the Ridge on Millbrook Mountain.
- Lake
Minnewaska historically supported a population of sphagnum moss that lived
underwater. The moss was estimated to grow as deep as 36 feet.
- The
forests of Minnewaska have been intentionally burned by humans for hundreds
of years, dating back to the Native Americans. Fire eliminates forest
understory plants, such as shrubs and low growing trees, creating a more
open forest which is better for hunting and travelling. More recently, up
until the 1960s, fires were set by local residents referred to as the
huckleberry pickers, in order to promote the growth of blueberry bushes,
which were then harvested and sold in markets as far away as New York
City.
- A five-foot-tall
pitch pine tree can be over 300 years old!
Public Programs
Minnewaska
State Park Preserve offers public programs, free of charge, at the Lake Minnewaska
and Sam's Point areas.
View public programs by clicking on
the "Upcoming Events" button on the right side of this page.
School
& Other Group Programs
Program Information on Environmental Education Programs available
to School Groups at Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
The
maximum education program group size we can accommodate at Lake Minnewaska is
30 students. Any larger groups that are interested in education programs can be
accommodated at the Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, as
staffing allows.
The Connect-Kids-to-Parks Field Trip Grant Program (Connect Kids) is designed to connect students in New York State with nature and history. Each grant provides reimbursement of up to $80 per student (and $160 for Special Education students) for field trips to state and federal parks, forests, historic sites, fish hatcheries and outdoor recreation areas.
Key BCA Criteria:
- Migratory concentration site
- Diverse species concentration site
- Species at risk site
- Bird research site
The Minnewaska BCA is located within the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The Preserve is located on the Shawangunk Mountain ridge, which rises more than 2,000 feet above sea level. The Minnewaska BCA has many spectacular rock formations, soaring precipices, windswept ledges with pine barrens, fast-flowing mountain streams, mountain lakes and several scenic waterfalls. The BCA is especially important for its unfragmented forest, which supports a high diversity of forest-dwelling bird species, and for its partnership with researches studying birds and their habitats. The Nature Conservancy has designated the entire ridge as one of the "Last Great Places." The Shawangunks, including Minnewaska, are one of the highest priority areas for biodiversity conservation in the northeastern United States. The Minnewaska BCA is part of the Northern Shawangunk Mountains Important Bird Area.
Minnewaska is part of a migratory corridor that exists along the entire upland plateau of the Northern Shawangunks. It is an exceptional example of a characteristic higher elevation forest community with a high diversity of forest dwelling species. The BCA includes birds of forest habitat including breeding Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Canada Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Northern Flicker and Scarlet Tanager; and breeding shrub/scrub species Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting and Prairie Warbler. Species at risk include a pair of Peregrine Falcons (Endangered) that nest on the cliff face.
Download a copy of the BCA map.
Deer hunting is allowed in specific areas of the park preserve during hunting season. Minnewaska's hunting dates coincide with the NYS DEC hunting dates. Bow, rifle/shotgun/pistol, crossbow and muzzleloader hunting is permitted. Anyone interested in hunting on Minnewaska State Park Preserve lands must get a free hunting permit. Permits for Minnewaska and the Sam's Point Area can be obtained by completing the application under the attachments tab and emailing over to Terri.McNeil@parks.ny.gov. If you complete your application this way your permit will be sent back to you electronically or you can mail your completed application to one of the addresses listed below.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, PO Box 893, New Paltz, NY 12561 Attn: Terri McNeil
Sam's Point Preserve, PO Box 86, Cragsmoor, NY 12486
All hunters must have their current hunting license first because we require your NYS Hunting License ID # on the application. Your license ID # is shown directly under your printed name on your carcass tags or at a 90° angle on the right side of your license. It is not your DOC #. Failure to provide the correct number will void your permit. After hunting season ends, all hunters are required to complete and send back the park questionnaire by 1/15/24.
In-person permits will not be issued this year due to COVID.
Tuesday Trek: Out to Patterson’s Pellet and back along the Cliffs at Minnewaska
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 09:30 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752
Join
Laura Conner, 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
Homeschoolers at Minnewaska: Mosses, Mushrooms, and Lichen
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
With the last of the
trees shedding their leaves, late autumn begins to feel like a time of grayness
and death. However, not everything gets the memo. Join Josh Grosse,
Student Conservation Association/Americorps Environmental Educator, as we dive
into the exceptional world of mosses, lichens, and mushrooms. We will discuss
the role of each organism in the ecosystem, and why their rebellious greenness
and growth persists into the cold months. Our discussion will be followed by an
appreciation walk, where we will look at examples of each and make close
observations using magnifying glasses. This program is recommended for children between the ages
of seven to twelve years old, accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age
of 18. Well-behaved younger siblings are always welcome. Meet at the Lake
Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake
Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Nature Walk at the Gardiner Library
Friday, November 8, 2024 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752
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 may be muddy and wet from rain or morning dew. 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 November 15.
Meet at the Gardiner Library lower parking area, near
the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail trailhead and the 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.
Registration: Required
Millbrook Mountain Loop Hike at Minnewaska
Saturday, November 9, 2024 09:30 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752
Join Nick Martin, Park Educator, for an approximately five-mile,
roundtrip, loop hike to Millbrook Mountain. Starting from the Lake Minnewaska
Visitor Center, we'll hike along the east side of Lake Minnewaska, until we
reach the south end of the Lake. From here, we'll continue on the Millbrook
Mountain Footpath – a rocky trail that descends and ascends about 300 feet to
reach the summit of Millbrook Mountain. Millbrook Mountain has one of the most
expansive and panoramic views in Minnewaska. After we take in the view from
this location, we'll walk the meandering Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road back
towards Lake Minnewaska, where we'll continue around the west side of the Lake
back to the Visitor Center. The footpath section of this hike includes open
rock slabs, uneven footing, and one stream crossing. Participants should come
well prepared with appropriate footwear and enough food and water for the
duration of the hike. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required
by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Out to Patterson’s Pellet and back along the Cliffs at Minnewaska
Sunday, November 10, 2024 09:30 AM - 01:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752
Join
Laura Conner, 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