Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

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10 events matched your search
Sun 18 May
Drop-in Program: Live Birds of Prey at Minnewaska
Sunday, May 18, 2025 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Join Annie Mardiney, wildlife rehabilitator from Wild Mountain Birds, for an up-close and personal look at some of the raptors common to the Shawangunk Ridge. Live education birds may include red-tailed hawk, broad-winged hawk, American kestrel, barred owl, screech owl and great horned owl. Stop by the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center to meet these amazing and beautiful animals in person. Pre-registration is NOT required.
Registration: Not required
Tue 20 May
Early Morning Birders at Minnewaska
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Designed for both birding enthusiasts and those just looking to learn the basics, this weekly series will offer outings led by Nick Martin, Park Educator, or an experienced birding volunteer. Participants should bring binoculars and water, and wear hiking shoes or boots. Outing destinations will be determined the day of the program. Poor weather conditions will trigger a program cancellation. Participants will meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. Participants MUST arrive prior to the start of the program, but no earlier than 7:30 am. The Park Preserve gates will be locked at 8:00 am. Late arrivals will NOT be allowed in the Park Preserve. The total number of participants for this program is limited to twenty-five individuals. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. For questions, please call 845-255-0752 or email [email protected]. This program is set up on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registration: Not required
Fri 23 May
Birding at the Gardiner Library
Friday, May 23, 2025 08:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Are you interested in birds or birdwatching? Join Nick Martin, Minnewaska Park Preserve Educator, for bird walks starting at the Gardiner Library, every Friday during May. During this program, we will take an approximately one mile walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and wander through Majestic Park, which can be muddy and wet, especially after a rainfall. Participants are encouraged to wear waterproof boots or shoes, bring binoculars, and a birding field guide, or field guide installed into a smart device. Interested participants are welcome to attend one or all of these programs. Meet at the Gardiner Library, in the Lower Parking Area. No pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact the Gardiner Library directly at 845-255-1255 or email [email protected]
Registration: Not required
Sat 24 May
Wawarsing Turnpike, Jenny Lane, and Lower Awosting Loop Hike at Minnewaska
Saturday, May 24, 2025 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Nick Martin, Park Educator, for a hike on some of the lesser-travelled trails at Minnewaska during this approximately five-mile outing. Leaving from the Lower Parking Area, we'll cross over Route 44/55 and hike the Wawarsing Turnpike Footpath to the west until it intersects Jenny Lane Footpath. Crossing over Route 44/55 again, we'll follow this trail until it intersects Blueberry Run Footpath. From here, we'll hike a short section of this trail to reach Lower Awosting Carriage Road, which will take us back to our starting point. While scenic views are limited on this outing, it traverses beautiful sections of forest, through stands of evergreen mountain laurel shrubs, across rock slabs with twisted pitch pine trees, and across two clear, mountain streams. This outing includes a few sustained uphill and downhill sections and two stream crossings that may be challenging for some. Meet in the Lower Parking Area. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Sun 25 May
The Shorter and More Scenic Route to Gertrude’s Nose at Minnewaska
Sunday, May 25, 2025 09:30 AM - 03:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, and Abby Hedler, Student Conservation Association/AmeriCorps Environmental Educator, for an adventurous, six-mile round-trip hike to Gertrude's Nose and back along the same route. This footpath, which traverses an escarpment edge, offers one of the most expansive views in Minnewaska. From our start at Lake Minnewaska, this route will follow Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road to Gertrude's Nose Footpath, which offers broad views of the Wallkill Valley, Taconic Mountains and beyond. This modestly challenging hike includes a long set of steep, rock stairs, as well as a few hills and some tricky footing. Participants must bring water, snacks and lunch and wear appropriate hiking shoes. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Mon 26 May
Upcycled Crafts at Minnewaska
Monday, May 26, 2025 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Bring your family and join Abigail Hedler, Student Conservation Association/AmeriCorps Environmental Educator, to make creative, upcycled crafts. We'll provide the supplies for you to make nature journals and collages from recycled paper materials, and painted ornaments from dried, slices of branches. Bring your inspiration and ideas and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of crafting! Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Nature Center. This is a drop-in program and pre-registration is NOT required.
Registration: Not required
Tue 27 May
Early Morning Birders at Minnewaska
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Designed for both birding enthusiasts and those just looking to learn the basics, this weekly series will offer outings led by Nick Martin, Park Educator, or an experienced birding volunteer. Participants should bring binoculars and water, and wear hiking shoes or boots. Outing destinations will be determined the day of the program. Poor weather conditions will trigger a program cancellation. Participants will meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. Participants MUST arrive prior to the start of the program, but no earlier than 7:30 am. The Park Preserve gates will be locked at 8:00 am. Late arrivals will NOT be allowed in the Park Preserve. The total number of participants for this program is limited to twenty-five individuals. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska entrance. For questions, please call 845-255-0752 or email [email protected]. This program is set up on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registration: Required
Tue 27 May
Tuesday Trek: Rainbow Falls and Scenic Views Bike Ride at Minnewaska
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join Laura Conner, Environmental Educator, for a somewhat challenging, eight-mile-long bike ride and one-mile-long hike to Rainbow Falls. Our route will follow Upper Awosting Carriage Road, which gradually rises in elevation through a shaded, mature forest. Crossing a bridge over a babbling brook, we'll get distant views of Rainbow Falls, before we reach the trailhead for Rainbow Falls Footpath. We'll park our bikes, locking them here, while we walk through the Huntington Ravine to see Rainbow Falls up close. We'll return on the same route, making an approximately one-mile scenic detour before getting back on our bikes. We'll continue riding until we reach Lake Awosting Carriage Road. From here, we'll pedal uphill until we reach first Castle Point Carriage Road and then, shortly after, Hamilton Point Carriage Road, one of the most scenic routes in the Park Preserve. Along the way, we'll stop to admire all the beautiful scenic views. This route, which follows gravel-surfaced carriage roads, does include some challenging hills and participants should be prepared to maintain a modest pace in order to finish on time. Participants must bring all their own gear, including a bike or pedal-assist e-bike, a helmet, food and water. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
Fri 30 May
Birding at the Gardiner Library
Friday, May 30, 2025 08:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Are you interested in birds or birdwatching? Join Nick Martin, Minnewaska Park Preserve Educator, for bird walks starting at the Gardiner Library, every Friday during May. During this program, we will take an approximately one mile walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and wander through Majestic Park, which can be muddy and wet, especially after a rainfall. Participants are encouraged to wear waterproof boots or shoes, bring binoculars, and a birding field guide, or field guide installed into a smart device. Interested participants are welcome to attend one or all of these programs. Meet at the Gardiner Library, in the Lower Parking Area. No pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact the Gardiner Library directly at 845-255-1255 or email [email protected]
Registration: Not required
Sat 31 May
Learn about the Lichens of the Shawangunk Mountains at Minnewaska
Saturday, May 31, 2025 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
(845) 255-0752

Join lichen photographer and Department of Environmental Conservation Steward, John Franklin, for a walk and talk on lichens, those amazing little organisms that we see growing on trees and rocks throughout the Park Preserve. We will walk up to two miles on carriage roads, stopping to discuss lichens along the way. This program is recommended for adults and children over the age of 12. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Please bring binoculars, a hand loupe, or a magnifying glass, if possible, to aid you in close-up observations of the lichens. Meet at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center. Pre-registration is required by calling the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at 845-255-0752.
Registration: Required
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