Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Murray Hill–Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint, 12 sights
12.4 mi · ▲ 1,652 ft · 4 hr 58 min
Murray Hill–Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint, 12 sights is a 12.4-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Castle Point, Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint, Lake Awosting Beach and 3 more before reaching Mud Pond (Haseco Lake) at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It climbs 1,652 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Murray Hill–Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint, 12 sights
12.4 mi · ▲ 1,652 ft · 4 hr 58 min
Elevation 1,408–2,183 ft
Out & Back · Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Trailhead: Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black) · 41.73361, -74.24477
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mossy Glen Trail, heading SE.
- 1.5 miSharp left onto Blueberry Run Trail, heading SE.
- 1.8 miTurn left onto Castle Point Carriage Road (Blue), heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Castle Point.
- 50 ftPass Castle Point Carriage Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Scenic Trail Scramble (Violet), heading W.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road (Yellow), heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Discs), heading NW.
- 1.2 miPass Lake Awosting Beach.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Spruce Glen Path, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes), heading W.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Murray Hill Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miPass Murray Hill.
- 50 ftPass Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes) Viewpoint.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes), heading S.
- 0.5 miPass Lake Awosting.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Indian Cave Trail (Abandoned), heading SW.
- 0.3 miPass Mud Pond (Haseco Lake).
- 50 ftReach Murray Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes), heading NE.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Murray Hill Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Blazes), heading E.
- 100 ftBear right onto Spruce Glen Path, heading NE.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Scenic Trail / SRT (Violet/Blue Discs), heading NE.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Hamilton Point Carriage Road (Yellow), heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Scenic Trail Scramble (Violet), heading N.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Castle Point Carriage Road (Blue), heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Blueberry Run Trail, heading NE.
- 1.8 miSharp right onto Mossy Glen Trail, heading NE.
- 1.5 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 3.2 mi in (~100 min). Leave by 5:22 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:54 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black) Trailhead
- Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black) 4.5 mi · ▲ 297 ft
- Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black) 4.6 mi · ▲ 301 ft
- Whale's Head & Lost City Viewpoint via High Peter's Kill Trail 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,107 ft
- Blocky Wall–Breaker Wall, 5 cliffs 4.9 mi · ▲ 968 ft
- Mossy Glen Trail via Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black) 5 mi · ▲ 305 ft
- Whale's Head–Lost City Viewpoint, 3 summits 5 mi · ▲ 1,081 ft
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Hikes near Lake Minnewaska, New York