Beacon Hill Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Sunset Carriage Viewpoint, Lake Minnewaska Beach, Scuba Diving Access Area and 2 more. It climbs 445 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,490 – 1,739 ft · steepest grade: 21%3.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Sunset Carriage Road 41.72940, -74.23845
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Beacon Hill Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches
3.2 mi · ▲ 445 ft · 1 hr 17 min
Elevation 1,488–1,740 ft
Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Trailhead: Sunset Carriage Road · 41.72940, -74.23845
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Sunset Carriage Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska Beach.
- 50 ftPass Scuba Diving Access Area.
- 250 ftPass Lake Minnewaska.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Dry Bridge, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading S.
- 300 ftPass Beacon Hill Viewpoint.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Beacon Hill Trail, heading SE.
- 1.3 miReach Beacon Hill Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading SW.
- 350 ftContinue straight onto Dry Bridge, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
48% dirt44% gravel8% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 6:57 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM — 8 min before dark.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Sunset Carriage Road Trailhead
- Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska Loop, 6 beaches 1.6 mi · ▲ 241 ft
- Awosting Falls–Lake Minnewaska, 8 sights 2.1 mi · ▲ 408 ft
- Millbrook Mountain–Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint, 7 beaches 3.3 mi · ▲ 861 ft
- Lake Minnewaska–Sunset Carriage Viewpoint, 7 beaches 4.4 mi · ▲ 482 ft
- Millbrook Mountain Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 6 beaches 6.2 mi · ▲ 400 ft
- Awosting Falls–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches 6.2 mi · ▲ 770 ft
Get outside more
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