Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Lake Minnewaska–Sunset Carriage Viewpoint, 7 beaches
4.4 mi · ▲ 482 ft · 1 hr 42 min
Lake Minnewaska–Sunset Carriage Viewpoint, 7 beaches is a 4.4-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 Lake Minnewaska before reaching Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.2 miles in. It climbs 482 ft and is mostly gravel. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lake Minnewaska–Sunset Carriage Viewpoint, 7 beaches
4.4 mi · ▲ 482 ft · 1 hr 42 min
Elevation 1,650–2,002 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 SW.
- 50 ftPass Sunset Carriage Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska Beach.
- 50 ftPass Scuba Diving Access Area.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Sunset Carriage Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Lake Minnewaska.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Castle Point Carriage Road, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading W.
- 100 ftBear right onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Castle Point Carriage Road, heading SW.
- 1.1 miBear left, heading W.
- 150 ftPass Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint.
- 50 ftReach Lake Minnewaska, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear right onto Castle Point Connector (no blaze), heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road, heading NE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Castle Point Carriage Road, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left onto Sunset Carriage Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 6:59 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:39 PM — 11 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
- Beacon Hill Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches 3.2 mi · ▲ 445 ft
- Millbrook Mountain–Lake Minnewaska Carriage Viewpoint, 7 beaches 3.3 mi · ▲ 861 ft
- Millbrook Mountain Viewpoint–Lake Minnewaska, 6 beaches 6.2 mi · ▲ 400 ft
- Awosting Falls–Lake Minnewaska, 7 beaches 6.2 mi · ▲ 770 ft
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