AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Litchfield Ledge–Lake Awosting, 5 sights

15.1 mi · ▲ 2,241 ft · 6 hr 9 min

Litchfield Ledge–Lake Awosting, 5 sights is a 15.1-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Port Ben, NY. The route passes Lake Awosting before reaching Litchfield Ledge at the turnaround, 7.6 miles in. It climbs 2,241 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 78/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi289 – 1,982 ft · steepest grade: 21%15.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mine Hole Trail 41.76025, -74.32531
Nearest town Port Ben, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Litchfield Ledge–Lake Awosting, 5 sights

15.1 mi · ▲ 2,241 ft · 6 hr 9 min

Elevation 289–1,981 ft

Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Trailhead: Mine Hole Trail · 41.76025, -74.32531

Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:23 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mine Hole Trail, heading S.
  2. 3.4 miSharp left onto Smiley Carriage Road, heading E.
  3. 2.4 miContinue straight onto Stony Kill Carriage Road, heading SE.
  4. 50 ftTurn right onto Smiley Carriage Road, heading S.
  5. 0.7 miPass Lake Awosting.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lake Awosting Carriageway (Black), heading E.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left onto Upper Awosting Carriage Road, heading E.
  8. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Rainbow Falls Trail (Orange), heading NE.
  9. 50 ftReach Litchfield Ledge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Upper Awosting Carriage Road, heading NE.
  11. 0.6 miTurn right onto Lake Awosting Carriageway (Black), heading N.
  12. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Smiley Carriage Road, heading W.
  13. 0.8 miTurn left onto Stony Kill Carriage Road, heading NW.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Smiley Carriage Road, heading NW.
  15. 2.4 miSharp right onto Mine Hole Trail, heading W.
  16. 3.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/litchfield-ledge-out-back-56ec

Trail surface

66% gravel34% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:23 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~60 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 7:23 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Mine Hole Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Port Ben, New York