Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint–Castle Point, 7 sights
10.2 mi · ▲ 1,827 ft · 4 hr 19 min
Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint–Castle Point, 7 sights is a 10.2-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Rutsonville, NY. The route passes Castle Point and Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint before reaching Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 1,827 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint–Castle Point, 7 sights
10.2 mi · ▲ 1,827 ft · 4 hr 19 min
Elevation 520–2,183 ft
Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Trailhead: 41.67616, -74.26285
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), heading N.
- 1.3 miSharp right onto Awosting Reserve Loop (Purple), heading N.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Wolfjaw Connector, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Discs), heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road (Yellow), heading NE.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Scenic Trail Scramble (Violet), heading SE.
- 150 ftPass Castle Point.
- 50 ftPass Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Castle Point Carriage Road (Blue), heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Blueberry Run Trail, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Castle Point Carriage Road, heading NW.
- 1.4 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 150 ftReach Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.4 miTurn left onto Blueberry Run Trail, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Castle Point Carriage Road (Blue), heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Scenic Trail Scramble (Violet), heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road (Yellow), heading N.
- 500 ftTurn left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Discs), heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Wolfjaw Connector, heading NW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Awosting Reserve Loop (Purple), heading SW.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), heading SE.
- 1.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.3 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~142 min). Leave by 4:41 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Awosting Reserve Access (Brown) 3.3 mi · ▲ 729 ft
- Battlement Terrace–Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), 5 sights 7.3 mi · ▲ 1,572 ft
- Murray Hill–Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint, 9 sights 7.8 mi · ▲ 1,594 ft
- Mud Pond (Haseco Lake)–Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), 3 sights 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,472 ft
- Lake Awosting–Rainbow Falls Trail (Orange) Viewpoint, 7 sights 9 mi · ▲ 1,677 ft
- Lake Minnewaska–Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint, 12 sights 14.3 mi · ▲ 2,263 ft
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Hikes near Rutsonville, New York