AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Whale's Head–Lost City Viewpoint, 3 summits

5 mi · ▲ 1,081 ft · 2 hr 12 min

Whale's Head–Lost City Viewpoint, 3 summits is a 5-mile out-and-back in Minnewaska State Park Preserve near Lake Minnewaska, NY. The route passes Whale's Head before reaching Lost City Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It climbs 1,081 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 16/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi843 – 1,440 ft · steepest grade: 25%5.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black) 41.73361, -74.24477
Nearest town Lake Minnewaska, NY
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Whale's Head–Lost City Viewpoint, 3 summits

5 mi · ▲ 1,081 ft · 2 hr 12 min

Elevation 843–1,441 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

  1. Start on Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black), heading NE.
  2. 200 ftBear right, heading NE.
  3. 150 ftTurn left onto High Peter's Kill Trail Connector, heading N.
  4. 2.4 miPass Lost City Viewpoint.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  6. 100 ftReach Whale's Head, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto High Peter's Kill Trail, heading E.
  8. 2.4 miBear left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto High Peter's Kill Trail Connector, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  11. 150 ftBear left onto Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black), heading W.
  12. 50 ftArrive 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/whales-head-lost-city-viewpoint-out-back-3-summits-8-km

Trail surface

96% dirt1% gravel3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:30 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 5:55 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Lower Awosting Carriage Road (Black) Trailhead

Hikes near Lake Minnewaska, New York