Stony Kill Falls at Minnewaska State Park

Shawangunk Mountains,
Minnewaska State Park,
Ulster Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Stony Kill Falls Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic and remote Waterfall
Cons: Parking is difficult, beginning walk in the sun
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg

After hiking Awosting Falls in Minnewaska, we drove to Stony Kill Falls, a large waterfall in a more remote area of Minnewaska State Park. Parking here at the end of the Shaft 2A Road on this narrow dirt road is difficult on weekends when there are other cars present. We parked on the road and proceeded towards the trailhead, passing through a very large and exposed area what appears to be a former shale quarry. This area also passes over the Catskills Aqueduct, bringing water from the Catskills to New York City. I would really like to see the park management extend Shaft 2A Road into the open area and build a normal parking area right near the trailhead.

This trail to the waterfall has been recently revamped. I remember hiking this area over 10 years ago and the trail was very primitive and stopped by the falls. The trail has been made into an official trail with a nice path and bridge across the brook. It used to end by the falls but was recently extended above the falls to connect to the Stony Kill Carriageway. However, the trail doesn't go directly up the falls area now, and you have to go off-trail slightly to get to the base of the falls.

Stony Kill Falls is a very impressive height, with an 87 foot vertical drop. Normally during the summer the water flow is weak, but with all the rains this summer the falls were impressive. We climbed up the newly created trail skirting the side of the mountain to the top of the falls, and took this new trail to its terminus at the Stony Kill Carriageway. We then turned around and headed back along the same trail back to our car.

In the past I used this route to get to Lake Awosting in Minnewaska, bushwacking up the area where the new trail now exists. This new trail makes it much easier to get to the top of the waterfalls, and affords a great back-entrance into Minnewaska.

Map of the Route

Gravel Area in the Shale where you need to Walk in the Sun

Shimmy on the Bridge Crossing Stony Kill

Stony Kill Falls

Stony Kill Falls, Low Shutter Speed

Me at Stony Kill Falls

The new Trail Ascending up Stony Kill Falls

Me Ascending the Trail up Stony Kill Falls

Me at the Cascade above Stony Kill Falls

Shimmy above Stony Kill Falls

Cascade Above Stony Kill Falls

Me on a Rock above Stony Kill Falls

Me at the end of the Stony Kill Falls Trail

Awosting Falls at Minnewaska State Park

Shawangunk Mountains,
Minnewaska State Park,
Ulster Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Awosting Falls Carriageway: Red blaze

Total Time: 0:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Beautiful Waterfall
Cons: Entrance fee, lots of people on weekends
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg

The end of July and early August had been very wet and rainy. I decided to take the opportunity to visit two of the prominent waterfalls in the Shawangunk Mountains, on two separate short hikes. Our first hike was to Awosting Falls. This is a very short hike along an easy carriage road, to a very scenic waterfall that drops 60 feet of a hanging cliff creating dramatic scenery with the white conglomerate rock as its backdrop. The water level was indeed impressive, and the scenery was great.

We had parked at the lower parking area at the main entrance of Minnewaska State Park, and took the Awosting carriageway the short distance to the falls. We got there early so the parking lot still had plenty of space (it fills up quickly on busy summer weekends.) Although there were other people at the falls, since it was still early, the crowds were still light. I climbed up the the side on a switchback route taking a shortcut past the loop on the carriageway going up, and then we took the carriageway back to the car, and proceeded to drive to our next destination, the Stony Kill Falls, which I'll provide details on in my next post.

Map of the Route

Information Plaque at the Awosting Falls Carriageway

Small Falls before the Awosting Falls Drop

Awosting Falls from the Top

Rock Ledge Overhang while descending Towards Awosting Falls

Awosting Falls at Minnwaska

Awosting Falls - Slower Shutter Speed

Me at Awosting Falls

Me Closer to the Falls

Awosting Falls near the Drop

Looking up underneath the Falls to the Overhang

Awosting Falls from Behind the Falls

Peters Kill Area / Mossy Glenn Minnewaska

Minnewaska State Park
Ulster Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mossy Glen Trail: Yellow blaze
Blueberry Run Trail: Blue blaze
Jenny Lane Trail: Light blue blaze
Lower Awosting Carriageway: Unblazed

Total Time: 2:30 Minutes
Estimated Distance: 5.3 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended

Points of Interest: Beautiful creek area
Cons: Lack dramatic views of other parts of Minnewaska

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

I had been in the lower Catskills over the weekend, and wasn't too far from Minnewaska State Park. We needed a lighter hike that wasn't too dramatic, so this seemed like a good choice. The weather was very hot, as its been for much of the summer, and there was a bright blue sky and strong sun.

We parked at the lower parking area for Minnewaska. It looks like they are restructuring the entrances for the park by making all traffic go through the lower entrance. We took the Lower Awosting Carriageway for a very short distance until the Mossy Glen Trail. This trail starts off without much fanfare, but then crosses the Peters Kill and goes alongside this creek. The Peters Kill is very scenic, with interesting rock faces and many small cascades along the way. At the end of the Mossy Glen Trail, we took the Jenny Lane Connector Trail west up the hill, crossing the Lower Awosting Carriageway, and then reached the Jenny Lane Trail. We took the Jenny Lane Trail south, looping around back to the Lower Awosting Carriageway. We then took the Lower Awosting Carriageway straight all the way back to the parking area.

Map of the Route
Shawangunk Trails

New Informational Plaque on the Mossy Glenn Trail

Crossing Peters Kill on the Mossy Glen Trail 

Peters Kill from the Bridge

Me on the Bridge Crossing the Peters Kill

Trail Along the Peters Kill

Shimmy at a s Small Cascade on the Peters Kill

On the Blueberry Run Trail Crossing Peter's Kill

View on the Jenny Lane Trail

Another Photo of the View from Jenny Lane

And one More

Timber Rattlesnake Snaking Across Jenny Lane.
We Backed Off and Patiently Let him Pass us.

Sign at the end of the Jenny Lane Trail

Pretty Swampflowers and Cattails Near the Parking Area.

Ice Caves to Lake Martanza

Sam's Point Area,
Minnewaska State Park,
Ulster Co,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Loop Road: Unblazed
Long Path: Green blaze
Ice Caves Road Path: Unblazed
Ice Caves Trail: White Trail

Total Time: 2:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.1 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points of Interest: Excellent views, Ice Caves, and Ice Caves Scrambles
Cons: Entrance fee, lots of people on weekends, and lack of shade

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

This is one of my favorite hikes in the area. The views are outstanding and the Ice Caves are spectacular. I had not been here the previous year and this was my first time here since the state acquired management of this area as Minnewaska State Park (prior to 2015 it had been part of the Open Space Institute.) I was surprised to find out that it is now managed by the state park system. Not sure what the ramifications to this are, but hopefully they'll build some more trails in this area.

We parked at the Sam's Point parking area (parking is $8.) We took the loop road for a shor distance until the unmarked shortcut which cuts out the curve. We then took the next shortcut right up to Sam's Point. Sam's Point creates a great view looking south, east, and west. The park system had removed the rock fences blocking access to the edge of the cliff so the cliffs are now in a more natural state.

We continued along the Loop Road, and veered off to the Ice Caves Road. We then took the Ice Caves loop, went back to the Ice Caves Road, and then took the Loop Road around Lake Martanza. We encountered an abundance of blueberries on the eastern side of the lake. We continued along the Loop Road all the way down to the parking area.

Map of the Route.
Shawangunk Mountains Western Map

People Atop Sam's Point, Taken from the Visitor Center

The Climb up to Sam's Point

Cave at Sam's Point

Ascending to Sam's Point

Continuing the Ascent

Shimmy in a Notch by Sam's Point

Me Atop Sam's Point

From Sam's Point, Looking West

Me Atop Sam's Point

Shimmy Atop Sam's Point

New Information Tablet About the Ice Caves Trail

View from the Entrance to the Ice Caves

Me Descending into the Ice Caves

Large Crevice in the Ice Caves

Me in a Cave

Ice in the Cave. Yes, its August!

The Path Snaking Inside the Caves

View at the Exit of the Ice Caves

Lake Martanza

Lake Martanaza

Abandoned Blueberry Picker's Hut