AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint–Castle Point, 7 sights

11.8 mi · ▲ 1,382 ft · 4 hr 37 min

Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint–Castle Point, 7 sights is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Castle Point and Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint. It climbs 1,382 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,408 – 2,182 ft · steepest grade: 21%12.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: High Peter's Kill Trail Connector 41.73490, -74.24392
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint–Castle Point, 7 sights

11.8 mi · ▲ 1,382 ft · 4 hr 37 min

Elevation 1,408–2,183 ft

Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Trailhead: High Peter's Kill Trail Connector · 41.73490, -74.24392

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 150 ftBear left onto Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black), heading SW.
  3. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mossy Glen Trail, heading SW.
  4. 1.2 miSharp left onto Blueberry Run Trail, heading SE.
  5. 1.8 miPass Castle Point.
  6. 50 ftPass Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint.
  7. 50 ftTurn left onto Castle Point Carriage Road (Blue), heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Scenic Trail Scramble (Violet), heading SW.
  9. 250 ftTurn right onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road (Yellow), heading S.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Discs), heading SE.
  11. 0.5 miTurn left onto Wolfjaw Connector, heading N.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right onto Awosting Reserve Loop (Purple), heading SE.
  13. 0.7 miSharp right onto Mud Pond Trail (Yellow), heading S.
  14. 1 miReach Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 1 miSharp left onto Awosting Reserve Loop (Purple), heading NE.
  16. 0.7 miTurn left onto Wolfjaw Connector, heading E.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Discs), heading N.
  18. 0.5 miTurn right onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road (Yellow), heading NE.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left onto Scenic Trail Scramble (Violet), heading NE.
  20. 250 ftTurn left onto Castle Point Carriage Road (Blue), heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Blueberry Run Trail, heading NE.
  22. 1.8 miSharp right onto Mossy Glen Trail, heading E.
  23. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black), heading NE.
  24. 0.4 miBear right, heading NE.
  25. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/castle-point-carriage-viewpoint-castle-point-out-back-9-sights-4d3e

Trail surface

63% dirt19% gravel18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.2 mi in (~100 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:55 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from High Peter's Kill Trail Connector Trailhead

Hikes near Lake Minnewaska, New York