Beacon Hill Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Lake Minnewaska Beach, Scuba Diving Access Area, Beacon Hill Viewpoint and 3 more before reaching Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.5 miles in. It climbs 405 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 28/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,490 – 1,739 ft · steepest grade: 18%3.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Beacon Hill Carriage Road (Orange) 41.73131, -74.23450
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Beacon Hill Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches
3.1 mi · ▲ 405 ft · 1 hr 14 min
Elevation 1,488–1,740 ft
Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Trailhead: Beacon Hill Carriage Road (Orange) · 41.73131, -74.23450
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Beacon Hill Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska Beach.
- 50 ftPass Scuba Diving Access Area.
- 1.3 miPass Beacon Hill Viewpoint.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading NW.
- 100 ftPass Lake Minnewaska.
- 250 ftPass Scuba Diving Access Area.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Dry Bridge, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading N.
- 0.1 miPass Lake Minnewaska Beach.
- 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint.
- 250 ftReach Beacon Hill Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Dry Bridge, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading N.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Beacon Hill Trail, heading E.
- 1.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
49% dirt49% gravel1% boardwalk1% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~43 min). Leave by 6:20 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Beacon Hill Carriage Road (Orange) Trailhead
- Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint–Beacon Hill Viewpoint, 6 beaches 2.9 mi · ▲ 412 ft
- Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint–Beacon Hill Viewpoint, 6 beaches 2.9 mi · ▲ 410 ft
- Pine Cliff Viewpoint–Beacon Hill Viewpoint, 6 beaches 2.9 mi · ▲ 442 ft
- Awosting Falls–Beacon Hill Viewpoint, 8 beaches 4.3 mi · ▲ 698 ft
- Lake Minnewaska–Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint, 8 sights 8.2 mi · ▲ 998 ft
- Millbrook Mountain Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint, 8 viewpoints 8.5 mi · ▲ 778 ft
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Hikes near Lake Minnewaska, New York