Trifter

Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located in Ulster County, New York along the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge along Routes 44/55 off I-87. The Shawangunk Ridge rises over 2,000 feet above sea level in the park and causes the terrain of the area to be rocky, rugged and beautiful.   

The park contains three gorgeous sky lakes, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Awosting and Mud Pond.

Source (Lake Awosting)

Lake Awosting is roughly 2 miles long and one-half mile wide at its widest while Lake Minnewaska is roughly half that size.

Dense hardwood forests encircle the two lakes and nearby clear streams cut into the valleys, incising sheer cliffs and ledges and emerging in waterfalls.

Source ( 60 foot high Awosting Falls)

The area is quite scenic and affords spectacular views in all directions.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Minnewaska State Park Preserve was at one time part of Albert and Alfred Smiley’s Mohonk Mountain House property. In 1879, the Minnewaska Mountain House, or Cliff House, was built overlooking Lake Minnewaska. A second hotel, Wildmere, was also added later. By the 1970’s the hotels were no longer making money and in 1978 Cliff House burned to the ground followed by Wildmere in 1986. After years of fighting with developers, in 1987 the State of New York purchased the property and opened the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in 1993.

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In 1996, the Open Space Institute transferred 5,400 additional acres to the preserve and in 2006 another 2,500 acres were added by conservation groups after the real estate partnership which wanted to develop the land collapsed.

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After New York State took over the area swimming was banned in Lake Minnewaska but after numerous petitions a swimming area was reinstated.

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Hiking, biking, picnicking, boating, horseback riding and cross-country skiing are also very popular activities in the preserve as well as mountain climbing along the cliff faces.

Image via Wikipedia (Bonticou Crag in neighboring Mohonk Preserve)

For more great New York State Parks see Adirondack Park, Niagara Falls State Park and The Grand Canyon of the East.