Site Overlay

Ahead of a blizzard, a hike through frozen Minnewaska

Minnewaska 012515 172

[tw_grid cols=”2″]Awosting Falls has turned into an ice volcano thanks to months of cold weather here in New York, and I was able to make it out there this weekend ahead of a blizzard hitting the northeast. The waterfall, at 63-feet high, has been cut in half now with a mountain of ice and snow below. Plenty of water is still flowing, but it’s a surreal view, especially if you’re familiar with what this spot typically looks like the rest of the year.[/tw_grid][tw_grid cols=”2″]If you’re heading up to Minnewaska this winter, I found out that they actually close access to the lake and all of its trails on days when the park grooms for cross-country skiing. So I was unable to go up and even check out the lake unfortunately, but Awosting Carriage Road is still a pretty nice and easy hike down below. There was plenty of winter details to see along the way down to the falls.[/tw_grid][tw_divider]

Minnewaska 012515 008

Minnewaska 012515 041

Minnewaska 012515 066

Minnewaska 012515 072

Minnewaska 012515 094

Minnewaska 012515 111

The roaring waterfall was easy to hear from up above, and the walk down was quiet and peaceful — no screaming kids and dogs that you might encounter on summer and fall afternoons.

Minnewaska 012515 117

Minnewaska 012515 127

Minnewaska 012515 132

Minnewaska 012515 163

Minnewaska 012515 172

I did see some people walking around the ice on both sides of the waterfall’s base, although I wasn’t so confident it was a good idea for me to cross over. Instead, I walked up the left side along the rocks before carefully finding a place at the base near the cliff wall.

Minnewaska 012515 187

Minnewaska 012515 195

Minnewaska 012515 215

Minnewaska 012515 232

Minnewaska 012515 243

You can see some of the flowing water in the image above — a couple showed up while I was shooting, and the girl, who was also snapping photos, actually stepped pretty close to that spot and saw her left leg go straight through the ice. She got out and was fine, but had to be freezing.

Aside from the waterfall itself, the surrounding rocks were covered in beautiful icicles and bits of ice:

Minnewaska 012515 263

Minnewaska 012515 266

Minnewaska 012515 281

Minnewaska 012515 290

Minnewaska 012515 322

I walked further down the trail to look for some open breaks in the stream:

Minnewaska 012515 350

Minnewaska 012515 367

Minnewaska 012515 386

Minnewaska 012515 391

Minnewaska 012515 442

Minnewaska 012515 462

Minnewaska 012515 482

You can see more images from my hikes in New Paltz here.

Scroll Up