A Visitor's Guide to Forests in Upstate New York
Lake Minnewaska, Kaaterskill Falls, and Poet's Walk Provide a Great Getaway Adventure
Lake Minnewaska State Park
Lake Minnewaska State Park is located in Kerhonkson, New York just outside of New Paltz, New York. This has quite a bit as far as forestry goes. You really feel like you are "out in the woods". There is also a beach for swimming and some spots in the park allow for rock climbing. Hiking enthusiasts will find the trails around the park to be for great hiking. There are several trails for several different levels of hikers.
There is a fee for admission into the park before a certain time depending on the time of day and year (generally around $5). From New York City it is probably about a two and a half hour drive (depending on time of day and traffic). It is about 20 miles from the New Paltz New York State Thruway exit (Exit 18). Complete directions can be found here.
Kaaterskill Falls
If you looking to get away from it all and really enjoy forestry and natural beauty in upstate New York, Kaaterskill Falls and the area around it could be one of your best bets. Located in the town of Hunter in Greene County, New York, these falls were one of the country's oldest tourist attractions and made many appearances in many 19th century American books, essays, poems, and paintings.
Getting close to the falls by foot can be a little tedious. The trail itself is fairly simple to hike. The only thing is it is a half mile straight up near where the falls are. There is a way to near the falls by car however damage to the road from flooding in 2006 have not completely been repaired and access to the road is limited.
Near the Kaaterskill Falls is North-South Lake Campground which provide an excellent view of the Catskill Mountains and nearby landscape. Directions to North-South Lake Campground and a fuller description can be found here.
Poet's Walk
Just north of the city of Poughkeepsie and near the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge in the town of Red Hook is Poet's Walk park. This park is very small but beautiful park with woods and a field overlooking the Hudson River. While the size of the park itself is small, it is a very nice area to just relax and have a picnic or relax from a long week. Famous people who have visited the park include American author Washington Irving.
The park is open from 9am to dusk (Or 8pm in the summer and 6pm in the winter). Admission is free.
Published by J. Rowe
Born and raised in the Hudson Valley region of New York I now reside in Western New York where I am a student as well as a freelance writer and avid traveler. View profile
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