AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Lake Minnewaska from cliffs.jpg
Juliancolton · CC BY-SA 4.0
Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches

4.2 mi · ▲ 533 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches is a 4.2-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Lake Minnewaska Beach, Scuba Diving Access Area, Lake Minnewaska and 2 more before reaching Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It climbs 533 ft and is mostly gravel. It scores 70/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi1,644 – 2,001 ft4.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road 41.72753, -74.23341
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches

4.2 mi · ▲ 533 ft · 1 hr 40 min

Elevation 1,645–2,002 ft

Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Trailhead: Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road · 41.72753, -74.23341

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

  1. Start on Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska Beach.
  3. 50 ftPass Scuba Diving Access Area.
  4. 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska.
  5. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint.
  7. 250 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  8. 0.2 miPass Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint.
  9. 0.3 miBear left onto Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road, heading SE.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading SW.
  11. 250 ftContinue straight onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading W.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading W.
  14. 0.1 miBear left onto Castle Point Carriage Road, heading W.
  15. 1.1 miPass Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  17. 150 ftReach Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 1.1 miBear right onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading NE.
  19. 0.1 miBear left onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading NE.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading NE.
  22. 250 ftContinue straight onto Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road, heading NE.
  23. 0.2 miBear right onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading NE.
  24. 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
  25. 250 ftTurn left, heading N.
  26. 450 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/lake-minnewaska-carriage-viewpoint-lake-minnewaska-carriage-viewpoint-out-back-10-viewpoints

Trail surface

87% gravel2% grass1% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~6 min). Leave by 6:56 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:42 PM — 9 min before dark.

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