Sam's Point Preserve Before Winter

Sam's Point Preserve is the southernmost section of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, on the highest section of the Shawangunk Mountains at 400 Sam's Point Road in Cragsmoor, and it opens daily at 9AM year-round. Before winter, plan around three things: parking reservations on weekends and holidays through November 15, an Ice Caves Trail the park lists as open seasonally, and closing hours that change with the season and are posted at the entrance. From Farmers Choice New Paltz at NYS Thruway Exit 18, the drive is about 28 miles and 50 minutes.

Is Sam's Point part of Minnewaska State Park?

Yes. New York State Parks lists it as the Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, the most southerly section of the park preserve, and puts it at approximately 5,000 acres. It has its own entrance, visitor center and phone number, separate from the Lake Minnewaska entrance on Route 44/55 in Kerhonkson. The Sam's Point entrance is 2.8 miles off State Route 52 in the hamlet of Cragsmoor, and the park asks drivers to go slowly and quietly through the hamlet, where Hudson River School painters once spent their summers.

The park describes what is up there: a globally rare dwarf pine ridge community, pitch pine-heath barrens, chestnut oak forest, Lake Maratanza (one of the five Shawangunk sky lakes), ice cave crevices, cliffs and scenic vistas. Verkeerder Kill Falls, a 187-foot waterfall by the park's count, stands on private property, so stay on the trail there; our guide to waterfalls near New Paltz covers that hike. The year-round Sam's Point Visitor Center has exhibits on ecology, geology and cultural history.

How does parking work at Sam's Point Preserve?

Sam's Point has a small parking facility, and the park's advice is to arrive early or visit on non-peak days. On weekends and holidays through November 15 you also need a parking reservation, booked through ReserveAmerica, and the park's 2026 notice says reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance. State Parks' Minnewaska page adds that Lake Minnewaska and Sam's Point both see extensive congestion on good-weather days and are subject to intermittent closures as the lots reach capacity.

The park asks visitors not to park on the road shoulders near the park preserve and says cars left there will be ticketed or towed. There is a per-vehicle use fee, payable by credit card, cash or check, and the Sam's Point page on the State Parks site lists the current amount along with the reservation link.

If the weekend reservations are gone, our Shawangunks fall foliage loop covers the ridge above New Paltz by car.

Are the Sam's Point ice caves open before winter?

The park's Sam's Point trail map labels the Ice Caves "open seasonally," and neither the map nor the current Sam's Point page gives dates. The trail has water, narrow crevices and ladders, so icy conditions in late fall can make it unsafe. Call the Sam's Point Visitor Center at 845-647-7989 before you build a November day around the caves.

The map warns that the Ice Caves Trail contains water, narrow rock crevices, low rock ceilings, dark areas and ladders, and asks for caution and appropriate footwear. The caves are a 3.4-mile round trip from the Visitor Center, about two hours by the park's estimate. Once winter arrives, the park lists snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at Sam's Point, and snowshoe rentals are available.

How long are the trails at Sam's Point?

The park's Sam's Point trail map gives these estimated round trips from the Sam's Point Visitor Center:

• Sam's Point Overlook: 1.2 miles, about 45 minutes
• Loop Road: 2.9 miles, about 1.5 hours
• Ice Caves: 3.4 miles, about 2 hours
• Indian Rock: 4.1 miles, about 2 hours
• Verkeerder Kill Falls: 5.5 miles, about 3.5 hours
• High Point: 6.6 miles, about 3 hours
• High Point Loop: 8.3 miles, about 5.5 hours

The map says closing hours are adjusted seasonally and posted at the entrances, so read the sign on the way in and pick a route that finishes well before closing. The map also warns of cliffs and steep drops along carriage roads, trails and overlooks throughout the park preserve, and asks visitors to stay on designated trails.

What are the rules at Sam's Point?

Sam's Point is day use only, and the park's rules for the area are specific:

• There are no trash cans, so carry out everything you bring.
• Dogs only, on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under the owner's control. Clean up after them.
• No swimming in any lake, stream or waterfall.
• No camping, fires, barbecuing or cooking.
• No drones and no amplified music.
• No motorized scooters, skateboards or one-wheels.
• Bikes stay on designated carriage roads, helmets are required, the speed limit is 15 MPH, and Class 1 e-bikes are the only e-bikes allowed.
• Groups of 15 or more need a permit in advance.
• Deer hunting is allowed in specific areas of the park preserve during hunting season, with a park permit.

Keep a purchase sealed until home

The State Parks page for Sam's Point says smoking is not permitted anywhere in the park preserve and spells it out: No Smoking, No Vaping, No Cannabis. New York's Office of Cannabis Management says neither drivers nor passengers may open cannabis packaging in a vehicle, and smoking cannabis in a vehicle is illegal whether it is moving or parked. A purchase stays sealed until you are home, and our guide to New York cannabis laws covers the rest.

The drive back to Farmers Choice New Paltz

Farmers Choice New Paltz is at 1 Old Route 299, at NYS Thruway Exit 18, about 28 miles and 50 minutes from the Sam's Point entrance by OpenStreetMap and OSRM estimates. That route follows Route 52 to Bruynswick Road, north to Route 44/55, then Route 299 east through New Paltz. On the Orange County side, Route 52 links Sam's Point with Pine Bush, about 20 minutes apart, and Farmers Choice New Paltz is about 35 minutes north of Pine Bush.

The store is open 8AM to 10PM daily, with about 35 to 37 parking spots on site and EV charging. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older, and a Farm Hand can walk you through what is in stock, the formats and the labels. Order Now from the New Paltz menu before you set out or once the day is done; most orders are ready inside an hour.