Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road trailhead — Attraction in Town of Rochester

e visited Lake Minnewaska on October 18 hoping to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. This year, the season has been quite dry, so the leaves weren’t as bright and vibrant as we expected — but the scenery was still stunning, and we loved our trip.

It’s best to arrive early in the morning. By around noon, we had to wait about 30 minutes just to enter the park because of the long line of cars. Once inside, the park felt spacious despite the number of visitors — there are plenty of trails and lookout points, and you can easily find a quiet spot to enjoy nature on your own.

There’s an education center near the parking area with public restrooms and activities for kids — they could explore nature through interactive games and displays.

We especially enjoyed the variety of views: you can admire the cliffs and lake from above, or take a walk below to see the cliffs from a completely different perspective. We didn’t manage to explore everything, but every part we visited was beautiful and peaceful.

Overall, Lake Minnewaska is a wonderful place to visit — even in a less colorful fall, it offers incredible natural beauty, great hiking paths, and a calm atmosphere. We definitely recommend it and would love to...

Great well maintained trail. This is a relatively easy 2 mile loop. It is possible to even do it with a jogging stroller. Bring snacks and water and be aware of local wildlife. Make sure to grab a map at the gate so you don't get lost or walk out further than you planned. Pack it in and pack it out :). This is a loop but there are other trails...

I really like this park. There are waterfalls nearby, a beautiful lake with cliffs on one side, and moderate to challenging hikes with outstanding views. When I was done I jumped in the swimming area of the lake. There is a life...