Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Murray Hill–Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint, 9 sights
7.8 mi · ▲ 1,594 ft · 3 hr 24 min
Murray Hill–Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint, 9 sights is a 7.8-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Rutsonville, NY. The route passes Lake Awosting Beach and Murray Hill before reaching Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.7 miles in. It climbs 1,594 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Murray Hill–Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint, 9 sights
7.8 mi · ▲ 1,594 ft · 3 hr 24 min
Elevation 520–2,038 ft
Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Trailhead: 41.67616, -74.26285
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), heading N.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Awosting Reserve Loop (Purple), heading NW.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Spruce Glen Path, heading N.
- 0.4 miPass Lake Awosting Beach.
- 200 ftBear left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes), heading NW.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Murray Hill Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miPass Murray Hill.
- 50 ftPass Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes), heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Spruce Glen Path, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Discs), heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Wolfjaw Connector, heading N.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Awosting Reserve Loop (Purple), heading S.
- 1.1 miSharp left onto Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~126 min). Leave by 4:56 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Awosting Reserve Access (Brown) 3.3 mi · ▲ 729 ft
- Battlement Terrace–Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), 5 sights 7.3 mi · ▲ 1,572 ft
- Mud Pond (Haseco Lake)–Awosting Reserve Access (Brown), 3 sights 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,472 ft
- Lake Awosting–Rainbow Falls Trail (Orange) Viewpoint, 7 sights 9 mi · ▲ 1,677 ft
- Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint–Castle Point, 7 sights 10.2 mi · ▲ 1,827 ft
- Lake Minnewaska–Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint, 12 sights 14.3 mi · ▲ 2,263 ft
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Hikes near Rutsonville, New York