Hike Reviews
March 21, 2016
Great Hike!
<p>This was a fantastic hike with tons of beautiful scenery, and a nice mix of carriage roads and small challenges along the trails. One thing to take note of is there's water trickling over rocks all thoughout this hike, and with freezing temperatures the night before there was invisible wet ice in many places. Definitely something to consider.</p>
<p>As for the discussion in the comments regarding the Scenic Trail from Castle Point, there is now a clearly visible triple lilac blaze on the ground. I had been thinking it would take me a while to find based on the comments but I spotted it right away.</p>
<p>Also, at the very end, where the directions have you turn left at the gatehouse to return to the parking area, if you make a right onto the Awosting Falls Carriage Road it's a short and easy walk to the falls. I had already seen them but was well worth the short detour to see them again.</p>
October 15, 2015
It's blazed, but nearly invisible
<p>Because of the color of the rock, the somewhat worn blaze is really difficult to see.</p>
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<p>I hiked this today, and here's what the top of that trail looks like: http://i.imgur.com/wtsng6q.jpg</p>
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<p>I walked past it 7 or 8 times before I peered over the edge and saw some blazes on the rocks below.</p>
June 02, 2014
Mossy Glen lower foot bridge has been replaced
<p>The lower foot bridge was replaced by a solid construction of granite block and single log foot bridge.</p>
August 21, 2013
Scenic Trail is blazed descending from Castle Point
<p>I have been informed that the Scenic Trail descending from Castle Point to the Hamilton Point Carriage Road is in fact blazed lilac. The start of the trail is marked by a triple-lilac blaze painted on the rocks, and it might not be that easy to find it. We are thinking of asking the Park to install a sign so that the trailhead can be more easily found.</p>
August 18, 2013
where is Scenic Trail connection?
<p>This is a great hike with spectacular views. When you get to Castle Point, there is no lilac blaze or sign for the Scenic Trail which is to take you to the Hamilton Point Carriage Road. Thus you would continue on the Castle Point Carriage Road which still gets you back to your beginning point. My only thought in looking at the state park map is that maybe you have to backtrack from Castle Point on the Castle Point Carriage Road aways and then you might find the Scenic Trail. Happy hiking!</p>
June 13, 2013
Former Long Path route is now blazed orange
<p>In 2012, the Long Path through Minnewaska State Park was rerouted, and most of the former Long Path route used by this hike was redesignated the Rainbow Falls Trail and reblazed in orange. The hike description has been updated to reflect this change. You may notice some old aqua blazes along the route, but the official blaze color of this trail is orange.</p>
June 10, 2013
confirm trail color
<P>Me and my fiance did this hike last weekend and am just confirming that the trail on the left after crossing the causeway is in fact orange not aqua. Once on the trail we did notice it kept switching back and forth between orange and aqua blazes. Also at the first stream crossing there is still no bridge. Stream crossing is difficult but possible without getting wet. But to me this adds to the adventure. Awesome hike, very scenic with many great views. definitely one I will be recommending to others.</P>
May 16, 2013
Aqua Blazed path
<p>The Aqua blazed pathwe are told to be alert for after the earthen causeway is no longer aqua. It's def orange. Wasted about 45 minutes trying to figure this out. please update. This is a long hike to get mixed up on in the middle of your day in the middle of the woods lol.</p>
July 18, 2011
Terrific hike!
<P>I did this hike this past weekend with my 14 year old daughter and 16 year old son. We used the alternate starting point from Jenny Lane Trailhead and hiked in Jenny Lane Trail. My daughter was happy because of all the blueberries to pick and eat while walking in this way.</P>
<P>Getting down to the falls was a bit of a challenge for my daughter since she's the shortest of the three of us, but we managed and enjoyed the cooler temps and cool water off the falls.</P>
<P>When we got up to Castle Point, I showed my kids where the trail went over the edge of the lookout. It had taken us 5 1/2 hours to reach that point and we were all feeling pretty tired, so we decided to skip the steep downward descent and hike over to Hamilton Point. We took the Castle Point Carriageway back from there and still got to enjoy plenty of views on our way back. It took us 8 1/2 hours to complete our hike.</P>
<P>I do hope to try to use the trail between Castle Point and Hamilton Point one day. It looked like a great challenge!</P>
October 10, 2010
Awesome Hike
This is an amazing hike to quieter and highly scenic sections of this very popular park. I took over 700 pictures - there was just too much to take pictures of. Here are some of them: http://gonehikin.blogspot.com/2010/10/minnewaska-state-park-preserve-ny.html