This 7-Mile Trail In New York Leads To An Amazing Overlook And A Lake
By Lisa Sammons|Published September 08, 2021
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
New York’s got so many trails that it’s almost overwhelming to a nature lover. So many hikes, so little time! If you’re looking to pack the most into your hike, one good trail to check out is Gertrude’s Nose Trail. This trail has a bit of an elevation gain and is a little lengthy at just under seven miles, so it’s suitable for more experienced hikers. But the views make it one of the best hikes in the Empire State.
This trail is located within Minnewaska State Park Preserve. This beautiful park is located on the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge and has some absolutely stunning scenery.
It can be a rocky scramble to get up to the top of the cliff, but the views are incredible, provided you're not afraid of heights! There are quite a few cracks, and obviously snakes can be present on any trail, so watch your step.
The trail is very well-marked, but since it's long, you'll want to get an early start, especially if it's a hot day. Depending on what routes you take, it may even be close to eight miles.
Definitely wear hiking boots for this hike; it can get slippery if the weather's been rainy, and you don't want to be caught in inappropriate footwear.
Minnewaska State Park has a beautiful beach area where you can take a dip to cool off. We can almost guarantee you'll need it after the challenge of hiking Gertrude's Nose Trail!