Awosting Falls

This is a short, mostly flat out-and-back walk on a wide gravel carriage road to one of the Shawangunks’ most accessible waterfalls. Plan on about 1.0–1.8 km (0.6–1.1 mi) round trip depending on exactly where you park and which spur you take to the viewing area, with negligible elevation gain (roughly 0–30 m / 0–100 ft)—the walking is easy, but the rocks near the water can be slick.

Getting to the start (car + public transport options)

By car: Aim for Minnewaska State Park Preserve (main entrance) at 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson, NY 12446. (parks.ny.gov)
From the entrance booth, follow signs for the Lower Parking Area / Awosting (often called the Lower Awosting Parking Area). This lower lot is the closest access for the short walk to the falls. (uncoveringnewyork.com)
Parking can fill on fair-weather weekends; arriving earlier in the day helps.

By public transport: There isn’t a straightforward bus/train-to-trailhead connection into Minnewaska. The most workable approach is typically train or bus to New Paltz/Kingston area + rideshare/taxi to the park entrance, then walking in from the gate if needed. (Expect limited cell service in spots once you’re inside the preserve.)

On the trail: what the walk is like

From the Lower Awosting area, you’ll pick up the Awosting Falls Carriageway (a broad, gently graded gravel road). It’s generally stroller-friendly in dry conditions, and it’s easy to follow because it’s a main corridor rather than a narrow footpath. Use HiiKER to confirm the correct junctions if you’re linking this to longer routes in Minnewaska.

Within roughly 0.5–0.9 km (0.3–0.55 mi) you’ll reach the waterfall access area. The falls drop about 60–65 ft (18–20 m) into a rocky gorge, and the sound carries well—especially after rain or spring snowmelt. (onxmaps.com)

Awosting Falls viewpoints + safety notes

The main viewing area is obvious and often busy. The key hazards here aren’t steep climbs—they’re wet rock, spray, and polished stone near the water’s edge. Even on an “easy” hike, this is where slips happen: - Treat all dark, algae-stained rock as slippery. - Keep kids close; the gorge edges can be abrupt. - In winter/shoulder seasons, expect ice glazing in shaded spots and near the mist zone.

If you continue a short distance beyond the falls, the carriage road keeps threading the forest along the drainage, and you can turn around whenever you like to keep the outing near the 1 km mark.

Landmarks, ecology, and wildlife you may notice

You’re hiking on the Shawangunk Ridge, a distinctive quartz conglomerate ridge with thin, acidic soils that support hardy plant communities. (en.wikipedia.org)
Along the carriage road, look for: - Hemlock and mixed hardwood forest in cooler, shaded pockets near the stream corridor. - Mossy rock and ferny edges where moisture lingers. - Birdlife is often active; Minnewaska is known for seasonal raptor movement (especially in fall), though the best hawk-watching is usually from open cliffs/overlooks rather than the falls corridor. (parks.ny.gov)

Wildlife is typical Hudson Valley uplands: songbirds, chipmunks/squirrels, and occasional deer. Ticks can be present in warmer months—long socks and a quick post-hike check are smart.

Historical and cultural context

“Shawangunk” traces back through Dutch transcription to Munsee Lenape language, reflecting the region’s deep Indigenous history long before the carriage roads and modern preserve boundaries. (en.wikipedia.org)
Minnewaska’s carriage roads themselves reflect a later era of recreation and landscape access in the Shawangunks—routes built to move people comfortably through scenic terrain, which is why this walk feels so gentle underfoot compared with many Northeast waterfall hikes.