Sam's Point Area,
Minnewaska State Park,
Ulster Co.,
New York
Hiking Trails:
Loop Road: Unblazed
Long Path: Green blaze
Lenape Steps: Unblazed
Ice Caves Road Path: Unblazed
Ice Caves Trail: White Trail
Total Time: 2:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.5 Miles
Pros: Great views, really cool ice caves
Cons: Entrance fee, limited parking, lack of shade
Hike Type: Back and out
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZQy72hFnPJubXFud7
I have been to the Ice Caves many times, but hadn't been in the area recently. Was glad to finally go on this beautiful early fall day. I parked in the Sam's Point parking lot (note there is a reservation here on weekends) and hiked up the trail to Sam's Point. I found that the steps going up to the top were refurbished into an official trail called "Lenape Steps" and the cave off the path was sealed off. I continued along the trail, which was uncomfortably hot in the head without shade, and then took the Ice Caves Trail. Upon completed the Ice Caves Loop, I went back along the same route.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdjOTeCGbzckRicVQwxbFG-60Q_hXWH6CKXFiYRyJhZcOAwNKpdoHrdXcoVbfKlBkhkECOAW5n9oLXTQiisKuaQI1bSzDFFO3DZdUsrHmeQRZxE6Y5WOwNwXq7Ca-KtGtVn4qhbjyLuJU4Hafp1GEAOjSQMLpUPxLuIyiSmowCgr2UfDXm0W-5smvEtc/w640-h426/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-01.jpg) |
Sam's Point in the Distance from the Parking Area |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhMv_T-n2-dpI8-VcH6Se0Y4eEEHjEyGuBFgUfjBT4qJnJdqiJj72gggsHqNsiezzmYXpE3K6q1XtTG9Mv9-jnnSZODkdFmkAr2Es0bVuaMzXPQ0qHaVg0CMdRciPG3gLdngx5uCT9IQJ0OACVDUnVBm2BQltXGHVG_6TfyF38FJ5n-Mc0XeArCNuZwo/w640-h426/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-02.jpg) |
Signs at the Beginning of the Hike |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0pP7y-FWMvGREBnccjw8J6fWb9_iDlTemAMntajTs_0g2jOqtQc8HqBEpJQFYzb_f8DiaqKYOHOhmuBQRWn82s09yoyNgijCu_HuELmQ_nCrWUakP4i1PrXHwnQR-FpIvHyZ0esdJ6ZxBOItFgmnkz7L1rHodVPGyxkbCy29z86ba8esTXbfcBJCRqE/w640-h426/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-03.jpg) |
Rocks Below Sam's Point |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3zLgBgB2KirCJIsB4EMpDQAYA-iVyrxAJU_GxLFRNfLke1onnZ4B5hPhyRCrGKflYTwCeXsh_ETw7qRDSWvHJCCdH5e5yBDUIQffsEgZjd3xwZffJ7LxjIVty1ImujrYrD7NnMfSAd5Tjdsr9psOmYxdPPQJ7ylTHoOB36Ewg11rQcMVcoPuNDoKGcY/w640-h426/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-04.jpg) |
New Sign for Refurbished Lenape Steps |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG06a4dQy6GdnBTJ_aE9xdb7s_2cGNhdhY8MbFYOFsVcgihGQTRC-v9XeDDpRuaX6dbBYAVuv2jfpTFiZT8JqendtUp6RiFqmVO-mOpAUOhBqgvCQf6BWXOWnnV6khI-R-Wjf69Du0h1JBdEtTfrcdxkgsgHHgCaZ4q99ntQkeAOCF_7FOnIy_iyxaw8A/w640-h426/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-05.jpg) |
Lenape Steps Trail |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk41tzMSOtE62zvpLvM3sKmp4oDx2cfxkfpuw59HipLZOWQ_Be2ehXe8m_eQCYFq-gtvvditVRmf-DFN5WpYMTjP6k6qUvvLIlrpQm7ZDiKA5xxvsQFUTCMywLhH5IZxcpBhdXJ5u-Kcf_joZ_anQZKxySuEI7kr-bn3x9G2hNyZz_uwzqCOyUSgxwu_M/w426-h640/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-07.jpg) |
Recently Closed Crevice |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WfKmMTcmmCjdFU4aDIaNQ2InxiMKKnGZ_LiKNR4y0f-rDRh-5a0rppALfpKF_CQSAczSpJqET_eKYczJsvGvV1vd9PF4X2xg8-UGa3_c7H01ikDGx6GKSvJLk06TR4xns83CTNRWgm8WApxihx4_qNhAnX_Tz4BNvjnEeP0Hx18xIEtjoGVel5dTALA/w640-h426/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-08.jpg) |
Sam's Point View |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDfhyax6dPsDDQu_wNxqf_m3TKt6Zz7pXTl0QtUPGw7mIBBhSL-s2KT_S2_7WHuP1qWpD2cU53sis1nPMO4ZR5kdh1VgV1gm_-3RYNO-JSdjzYa87nkfvwsbxuHYLrYAM1gWm-yiwQsBtzpyc1j8sc9rdaFrTQ0TMtrMzvgBs5y-Xlucv9g6anEktyL0/w640-h480/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-18.jpg) |
Loop Road with Miniature Pitch Pines |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBwH8bMcRvo6fLhOkV5xyWXD5GhfOBFZkhj1HXSehS3GSxaV12kuEMjEaKHVp7TT_CrJeianXeYmrbR4ENcf4Slr4x3PQaVI-hQkaGfsxq1wDkUDBacN9_HNrFT4cvJmaDUyviA4vXWyQZKfw1UMejRb-vF8Rb9dlBpNG-ivxv1Ip3LLL9aXjerXbDJc/w640-h480/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-19.jpg) |
Approach to Ice Caves |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tijz9gj3tk4ombPQXQfV6FoYR5_y4mtas5fEkTxv6aCztTkgSzLZXa26V-K48cQ3NRDiyXuaUR0HHPlxPxwE7x01FIX6K_ckir0TW1Di-uRb9zIdwnqGoGhLgK-NpSzM0cDkqvO3cVwojVj5ai6I7hBopAv4jf695eTtijP-yMAaFoh6z3H1AKR5b8M/w426-h640/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-26.jpg) |
Descending the Steps Into the Ice Caves |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD80E8CKZiwUl5CE3v6g1NM_KngzPAZCsiKAwHJhpQYWgmstM5DU5tuGoMNv4y4vWRj-D-aZceXMIa6NxCkrMV2LZuMYV9QyeZPf0smJX_V_n0s0NBBZosrbtNzEKB7I1xCzUcZ4GN2NXjQe4NE60rljLGbAW7ZOJiR-BCoroT8Z0cRPokXLEnPFFENE/w480-h640/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-29.jpg) |
Inside the Largest Cave in the Ice Cave |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGAdaUXEUBpuf6hL6Orfh7bRkLpw6NE4Vz4T02134IKCI0Du_YdVSP0kNLK9Sf2sc5yAeuaGfzvPCff5fNJmMbWzQADoPtWUoUi98x1NZBXiwLO1rZ8PQBmac5N0uec40oi0Hz7xBN8NQTsVpw0vDYw8ZnI3xnPkVrZaIqxXGOqFZPy5FcadNozMQmPk/w480-h640/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-31.jpg) |
More Ice Caves Terrain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyy7Opy2dpsbGo5lV9nRLmJjeeYsms1dFZ_Fi1-cIUU9_80RByovFNDsWMEekHTbFyfobWTXwH8HjPSKnkTLZYZwEZPjGEAuQTwD2U2D3FlFjjLCwXgHJ793GsJWXAjQrGsRj0W0W0XpeWZW_oUgPYNJHsgjlJ1PpvNmYhz3wNV07n0Ke7EzMdnGbqEg/w640-h426/ice-caves-mountain-sams-point-ny-fall-38.jpg) |
View Exiting the Ice Caves |
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