Boat dock on Lake Mohonk on a cloudy day.jpg
Grendelkhan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Laurel Ledge Viewpoint–Sunset Rock, 9 sights is an 8-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Split Rock, Swimming Hole, Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach and 3 more before reaching Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach at the turnaround, 3.9 miles in. It climbs 720 ft. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi679 – 1,266 ft8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Old Minnewaska Trail 41.74444, -74.19699
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Laurel Ledge Viewpoint–Sunset Rock, 9 sights

8 mi · ▲ 720 ft · 3 hr 2 min

Elevation 679–1,267 ft

Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve

Trailhead: Old Minnewaska Trail · 41.74444, -74.19699

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

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Old Minnewaska Trail, heading NE.
  2. 450 ftPass Split Rock.
  3. 50 ftPass Swimming Hole.
  4. 2.1 miTurn left onto Laurel Ledge, heading N.
  5. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Plateau Path, heading N.
  6. 0.1 miPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
  7. 150 ftBear right onto Laurel Ledge, heading NE.
  8. 0.3 miPass Sunset Rock.
  9. 0.1 miPass Laurel Ledge Viewpoint.
  10. 0.6 miSharp left onto Copes Lookout Road, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miPass Mohonk Lake.
  12. 50 ftPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
  13. 300 ftTurn left onto Eagle Cliff Road, heading E.
  14. 300 ftTurn left, heading E.
  15. 50 ftReach Laurel Ledge Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 300 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  17. 0.3 miSharp right onto Laurel Ledge, heading W.
  18. 1 miBear left onto Plateau Path, heading SW.
  19. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Laurel Ledge, heading SW.
  20. 0.2 miTurn right onto Old Minnewaska Trail, heading S.
  21. 2.2 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

47% dirt40% gravel1% paved12% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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