Ulster
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
The Shawangunk ridge park in Ulster County. The Lake Minnewaska entrance is at 5281 Route 44/55, Kerhonkson, NY 12446. Carriage roads, footpaths, and three sky lakes.
Checked Tue, Oct 20, 2026 on parks.ny.gov.
What to do
Carriage roads
The page lists 35 miles of carriage roads and 50 miles of footpaths. Bikes stay on the carriage roads, helmets are required, and the speed limit is 15 mph. Class 1 e-bikes are the only e-bikes allowed.
The lakes
Lake Minnewaska has a visitor center with restrooms and lake views. Swimming areas at Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting are closed until the 2027 season. Swimming is not allowed in streams or waterfalls.
Peters Kill climbing
Technical climbing is only at the Peters Kill area, April through December, weather permitting. A day pass is $10 and a season pass is $90, plus a signed acknowledgement of risk.
A quieter time
The park says Lake Minnewaska and Sam's Point close when the lots fill on good-weather days, and it asks you not to park on the road shoulders. A day that is not a clear weekend is the opening they leave. The page does not name a quieter trailhead.
Parking
Vehicle entry is $10 per vehicle under 15-person capacity. Groups over 25 people have to call the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center first. Hours on the page for October 13–31, 2026 are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, then 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from November 1, 2026.
Dogs
Dogs only, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Not in buildings, camping, picnic, or bathing areas, or on walkways. Not at beaches, and not on the cross-country ski trails when those trails are groomed and open for skiing only.
Swimming
Swimming areas are closed until the 2027 season. Swimming is not permitted in streams or waterfalls.
Empire Pass
Minnewaska is on the Empire Pass list. The guidelines exclude cross-country skiing and rock climbing or bouldering.