The Outdoors · Hudson Valley
Minnewaska is gorgeous, but check the parking rules first
Minnewaska State Park Preserve rewards planning: cliffs, carriage roads, waterfalls, sky lakes, fees, closures, and crowd-sensitive parking all matter.
Published July 7, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
Minnewaska is one of those Ulster County places where the planning is part of being a good neighbor. The preserve sits on the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge, with clear streams, waterfalls, three sky lakes, hardwood forest, cliffs, 35 miles of carriage roads, and 50 miles of footpaths.
That is a lot of beauty in one place, and busy days can get tight.
Lake Minnewaska and Sam’s Point can have heavy congestion on good-weather days, with intermittent closures when parking lots fill. Visitors are also asked not to park on nearby road shoulders.
That is not meant to scare anyone off. It is just the kind of detail that saves a trip. If you are coming from downstate, meeting friends, or trying to squeeze in an afternoon hike, read the current hours, fees, closures, and rules early in the day.
The same planning applies to restrictions: no smoking, carry-in/carry-out trash, and no swimming in streams or waterfalls.
Go with a plan B and a little patience. Minnewaska is worth the care: ledges, lakes, carriage roads, and big Shawangunk views feel better when the day starts calmly.