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A diverse hike that has a little bit of everything; a true outdoor experience for those looking to escape big city life.


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Map Key

8.7

Miles

14.0

KM

Loop

2,277' 694 m

High

1,783' 543 m

Low

890' 271 m

Up

903' 275 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

20%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · Lake · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

Overview

An 8 to 9-mile loop (depending if you take the Ice Caves trails too) that is an intermediate/moderate hike with a waterfall, lake, scrambling, and wildlife! This is not a small jaunt, but a dedicated 5-7 hour affair.

Need to Know

$10 a day to park at the Visitors Center.

Description

This hike will take you through the Sam's Point preserve, owned by the Nature Conservancy. The preserve is part of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail extending into Minnewaska State Park. You'll hike through a rare and endangered ecosystem, consisting of a Rare Dwarf Pitch Pine barren -- one of the few remaining in the world.

You'll also have the chance to hike the Ice Caves Trail, which brings you to caves that were formed from the talus or boulders from the cliffs, creating huge rock crevices The air in the caves gets trapped, keeping the inside cold enough for snow to stay through July.

Along the way, you'll also hike up and on top of the many cliffs in the area as you take the High Point Trail. You'll get views of High Point Monument in New Jersey, the Hudson Valley, as well as the Catskills and Roundout Valley. You'll also pass the Verkeerderkill Falls and the old berry picker shacks from the days when the area was picked for its wild blueberries. Return to the start of the trail along High Point Carriage Road.

Contacts

Land Manager: Minnewaska State Park

Shared By:

Daniel Nilson

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 7 votes

#2817

Overall
  4.4 from 7 votes
5 Star
57%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
14%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#49

in New York

#2,817

Overall
10 Views Last Month
3,600 Since Aug 31, 2019
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
0%
29%
57%
14%
0%

Photos

Sam's Point
Jun 25, 2024 near Ellenville, NY
Verkeerder Kill Falls Trail
Jun 25, 2024 near Ellenville, NY
Verkeerder Kill Falls
Jun 25, 2024 near Ellenville, NY
High Point
Sep 2, 2019 near Ellenville, NY
Going up a rocky trail, past Sam's Point on the way to High Point.
Sep 2, 2019 near Ellenville, NY
Snow covered frozen creek
Dec 10, 2018 near Ellenville, NY

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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Check-Ins

Jun 25, 2024
Stewart Carnes
I went by Sam's Point, Then through Ics Caves, and the out to the waterfall and returned on the same route
Jan 23, 2022
Jay Kay
Apr 1, 2020
Keith Russo
Some flowing water on trail but overall good conditions. Falls roaring at full force. Ice caves closed State limiting cars using parking lot.
Sep 21, 2019
Calvin Yan
11h 25m
Aug 11, 2018
Sara Crayne-Dedrick
9mi
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