New York
Hiking Trails:
Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road: Unblazed
Beacon Hill Trail: Yellow blaze
Beacon Hill Carriage Road: Unblazed
Sunset Carriage Road: Unblazed
Awosting Falls Carriage Road: Unblazed
Red Loop: Red blaze
Peters Kill Connector Trail: Yellow blaze
High Peters Kill Trail: Blue blaze
Total Time: 3:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 7.75 miles
Level of Difficulty: Very difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended
Points of Interest: Lake views, rock formations, Waterfalls
Hiking Partner:
Eli Koegel
Minnewaska is one of my most favorite areas in the region, and this particular area is one of the most scenic in the park. This is a great hike and highly recommended. This was one of the hottest days of the season so far, with high’s in the upper 80’s.
We parked at the main parking area by Lake Minnewaska (you need to get here early on nice weekends as the parking lots fills up very fast), went down to the waterfront, and then went along the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road. We walked through the picnic area and then down through some woods paths to the outlet of the lake, and then cut across to the short unmarked trail which provides a view. From there we took the Beacon Hill Trail along the ridge to the end, which leads to the Beacon Hill view. All along the ridge here there are rock formations from the rock that had fallen from the cliff, as well as excellent views to the east and northeast.
From the Beacon Hill view we went along the wide Beacon Hill Carriage Road to the Sunset Carriage Road descending the mountain. From there we cut across a short bushwack to the Awosting Falls Carriage Road, taking a short break by Awosting Falls. Awosting Falls is a very pretty falls with a large drop, though there are always a lot of people here due to the proximity of the falls to the parking lot.
We continued along the Awosting Falls Carriage Road along the side of Peters Kill, and then we crossed the road and went alongside the stream descending deep into the valley. Along the stream there are several more smaller and very pretty falls. We then met up with the Red Loop trail and the Peters Kill Connector Trail which go alongside the stream to the High Peters Kill Trail. We then took a western turn to the High Peters Kill Trail and climbed up the side of the mountain as it goes along the narrow valley made by the Peters Kill. We took the High Peters Kill Trail all the way back to the entrance of Minnewaska at the lower parking lot, then took the connector road to the Sunset Carriage Road up the mountain, and then back to our car.
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| Map of the Route. Minnewaska State Park Map (Shawangunks) |
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| Me at the Beginning at Lake Minnewaska |
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| Lake Minnewaska from the Shore |
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| Lake Minnewaska Overlook from the Picnic Overlook |
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| Lake Minnewaska from the Picnic Overlook |
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| Lake Minnewaska from the Picnic Overlook |
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| Lake Minnewaska from the Picnic Overlook. Looking West Towards Catskills |
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| Lookout Near the Beginning of the Beacon Hill Trail |
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| Me on the Beacon Hill Trail |
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| Eli on the Beacon Hill Trail |
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| View from the Beacon Hill Trail. Facing North Towards Sky Top. |
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| View from the Beacon Hill Trail. Facing North Towards Sky Top. |
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| Pine Tree on the Beacon Hill Trail |
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| Me on a Ledge on the Beacon Hill Trail |
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| Me on a Ledge on the Beacon Hill Trail |
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| View from Beacon Hill. Facing North Towards Dickie Barre. |
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| View from Beacon Hill. Facing Northwest Towards the Catskill Mountains. |
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| Awosting Falls |
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| Awosting Falls |
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| Eli at the Peter's Kill by Awosting Falls |
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| Peters Kill |
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| View Along the High Peters Kill Trail, Looking Towards Beacon Hill |
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