Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Nature reserve in Ulster County, New York, United States.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a protected area in Ulster County, New York, covering nearly 10,000 hectares of mountain terrain along the Shawangunk Ridge. Three lakes sit among hardwood forests and cliff faces that rise over 600 meters above the surrounding valleys.
The land hosted two hotels and private gardens from the 1870s onward, drawing guests from New York City. New York State acquired the property gradually and declared it an official state park preserve in 1993.
The name comes from the Lenape language and means "good water," referring to the clear mountain lakes visible from many trails. Visitors today walk paths once used by indigenous groups traveling through the ridge.
More than 56 kilometers of footpaths and around 80 kilometers of carriage roads cross the preserve, suitable for hikers, cyclists, and climbers. Some routes lead to swimming spots at the lakes, while others end at overlooks with views of the surrounding mountains.
Rare pitch pine forests grow on the rocky ground and recover after fires, while mountain laurel forms dense flower carpets in June. Some cliffs show horizontal cracks created by freezing and thawing water over thousands of years.
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