Sunset Rock–Welcome Boulder, 8 sights is a 9.6-mile out-and-back in Mohonk Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Welcome Boulder, Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach, Sunset Rock and Ouback Slab before reaching Outback Slab at the turnaround, 4.8 miles in. It climbs 1,101 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly gravel. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi538 – 1,116 ft · steepest grade: 31%10.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: West Trapps Parking Connector 41.73733, -74.19744
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Sunset Rock–Welcome Boulder, 8 sights
9.6 mi · ▲ 1,101 ft · 3 hr 45 min
Elevation 536–1,114 ft
Out & Back · Mohonk Preserve
Trailhead: West Trapps Parking Connector · 41.73733, -74.19744
Weather Sep 7: sunrise 6:30 AM · sunset 7:22 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on West Trapps Parking Connector, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Trapps Parking Access, heading SE.
- 100 ftBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Overcliff Carriage Road, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Welcome Boulder.
- 2.3 miSharp left onto Laurel Ledge, heading NE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Plateau Path, heading N.
- 0.1 miPass Mohonk Mountain House Property Beach.
- 100 ftBear right onto Laurel Ledge, heading NE.
- 0.3 miPass Sunset Rock.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Clove Path, heading NE.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Undivided Lot Trail, heading NW.
- 1 miTurn left onto Outback Slab, heading NE.
- 100 ftPass Ouback Slab.
- 50 ftPass Outback Slab.
- 50 ftReach Sunset Rock, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Undivided Lot Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miSharp left onto Clove Path, heading SW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Laurel Ledge, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Plateau Path, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Laurel Ledge, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Overcliff Carriage Road, heading S.
- 2.3 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Trapps Parking Access, heading SW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto West Trapps Parking Connector, heading SW.
- 0.1 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
69% gravel21% dirt10% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from West Trapps Parking Connector Trailhead
- Millbrook Ridge Viewpoint–Hawkwatch, 4 sights 1 mi · ▲ 411 ft
- Overlook–Millbrook Ridge Trail, 3 sights 1 mi · ▲ 485 ft
- Trapps Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Swimming Hole–Split Rock, 4 sights 2 mi · ▲ 342 ft
- Enderly's Path–Shongum Path, 3 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 319 ft
- Welcome Boulder–Mohonk Lake, 6 sights 7.1 mi · ▲ 664 ft
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Hikes near Lake Minnewaska, New York