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Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,465 Google reviews · Running trail in Cragsmoor, New York · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Highest point of a craggy range, with ice caves & cliffs, plus Lake Maratanza & a waterfall.
What runners say about Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve
“Here you’ll find breathtaking cliffside views, rare dwarf pine forests, fascinating ice caves, and scenic hiking trails.”
“But I highly recommend this place, it's a very easy trail, except for the ice cave part which is separate, and it is super rewarding very early in the hike.”
Hands down the most amazing hike I have ever been to! The wild Blueberries tge ice cave, the breathtaking views, and the burnt jungle all were AMAZING! The lake wasn't very exciting though.
On weekends and holidays you'll need to reserve a parking spot but on weekdays you'll likely be fine. There's is a $10 fee to park that you pay up at the visitors center unless you have the Empire State Pass. The hike itself was great.
We did the ice cave hike and it was a lot of fun. Walked up a gravel road to the rock stairs up to the Sam’s Point Lookout with great views. Then walked more on the gravel road to the ice caves trail. There is very little shade on this second part. The ice caves were awesome - nice and cool in August.
I’m glad that the parking reservation system is in place because it’s a really nice hike and if I’m honest, even with the parking reservations it’s still a little too peopley for me so I can’t imagine having no reservations on weekends - I kinda wish they offered less of the reservations lol .
Trail conditions & character
“Here you’ll find breathtaking cliffside views, rare dwarf pine forests, fascinating ice caves, and scenic hiking trails.”
“Just remember to reserve your parking spot if you’re coming on weekends or public holidays (10 AM – 2 PM or 2 PM – 6 PM).”
“We hiked out to the falls which was a long, hilly and wet hike and well worth it for the waterfall.”
“I also think it would be nice if they had more than 2 restroom stalls at the visitor center since so many people go there”
“Walked up a gravel road to the rock stairs up to the Sam’s Point Lookout with great views.”
“Although the forecast showed no rain, we ended up hiking through fog and light rain.”
Plan your run at Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websiteparks.ny.gov
- Phone(845) 647-7989
Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–9 PM |
Running trails near Cragsmoor
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Ice Caves Trail at Sam's Point
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