Lake Awosting
Wawarsing, New York · on Lake Awosting · Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lake Awosting
Lake Awosting is a natural glacial 'sky lake' on the Shawangunk Ridge within Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Wawarsing/Kerhonkson, New York. It has an official, lifeguard-staffed swimming beach open seasonally (mid-June through Labor Day), and this hike-in swimming hole is reached by a multi-mile carriage-road walk or bike ride from the main park entrance area.
Lake Awosting sits atop the Shawangunk Ridge in Minnewaska State Park Preserve, one of the region's rare high-elevation 'sky lakes.' It is reached via a wide, gently graded gravel carriage road that winds through pitch pine-oak-heath and chestnut oak forest, with views out over the Shawangunk escarpment; June visits are noted for blooming mountain laurel along the route.
Swimming at Lake Awosting
Swimming is confined to a roped-off, lifeguard-supervised area off a beach of large flat white rock slabs that slope gently into the water, making entry easy without a sandy shoreline. The lake is described as clear and cool even in summer; because far fewer hikers make the trek out compared to the park's popular Awosting Falls, the swim area is comparatively uncrowded and quiet.
How to get to this swimming hole
Enter Minnewaska State Park Preserve (Kerhonkson/Wawarsing, Ulster County, NY) and follow the carriage road network from the main Lake Minnewaska parking/visitor area out to Lake Awosting; the route is a gently ascending gravel carriage road usable on foot or by bike.
Parking: Vehicle entry to Minnewaska State Park Preserve is $10 per car (or via Empire Pass); parking is at the main park lots near the Lake Minnewaska visitor center, not directly at Lake Awosting itself, which requires the carriage-road trek to reach.
The hike in
Lake Awosting Carriage Road (part of Minnewaska's carriage-road network)
- To the water
- about 3.1-3.5 miles one-way (sources vary slightly by exact starting point/route within the carriage-road network)
- Time on foot
- roughly 1.5-2.5 hours one-way on foot at a casual pace; considerably faster by mountain bike, which is permitted on the carriage roads
Difficulty: easy to moderate -- wide, gently graded gravel carriage road with no technical scrambling or stream crossings; main challenge is sheer distance and limited shade in open stretches
Trailhead: Main Minnewaska State Park Preserve entrance / Lake Minnewaska parking-visitor area off Rte 44/55 in Kerhonkson, NY; the carriage road toward Lake Awosting departs from that lot/visitor-center area.
The swim beach sits at the far end of roughly 3-3.5 miles of the Lake Awosting Carriage Road, a single named stretch within Minnewaska's much larger multi-mile carriage-road network; round trip on foot is roughly 6-7 miles.
2026 alert: the Lake Awosting Carriage Road itself is listed as closed for restoration, but NY Parks states beach access remains permitted for the full June 19-Sept 7, 2026 swim season via a posted alternate route shown on the park's trail-closure map; no specific detour trail name could be confirmed in this pass, so check the map or call the Visitor Center (845-255-0752) before heading out. Also reachable by mountain bike.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The lifeguard-supervised beach itself is a gently sloping flat rock slab (easy, non-drop-off entry, no sand), which is kid-friendly in isolation. However, reaching it requires a ~3-3.5 mile one-way hike/bike on a carriage road, which is a serious undertaking for young children and rules this out as a casual family swim stop; better suited to families with kids who can handle a multi-hour round-trip hike.
Parking
Paid, $10 per vehicle (2026 rate)
Parking is at the main Minnewaska entrance / Lake Minnewaska visitor-area lots off Rte 44/55 in Kerhonkson, not at Lake Awosting itself -- the carriage-road hike starts from there. NY Parks notes 'Lake Minnewaska and Sam's Point are experiencing extensive congestion on good-weather days,' so arriving early is advised. An Empire Pass (~$80/year) covers unlimited seasonal vehicle entry as an alternative to per-visit fees.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush restrooms are located at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center near the main park entrance (miles from the Awosting beach itself), and a bathhouse/restroom serves the Samuel F. Pryor III Campground. No restroom facility at the remote Lake Awosting beach itself was confirmed; given the multi-mile hike-in access, none should be assumed there.
Water clarity
Clear
First-hand trip reports describe Lake Awosting as clear, cool glacial 'sky lake' water. No additional visitor accounts of clarity are on file beyond those first-hand reports.
Hours
Park gates generally open 9:00 AM with seasonal closing between 5:00-9:00 PM. Lake Awosting Beach swim hours are 11:00 AM-5:30 PM, June 19-September 7, 2026 (for comparison, Lake Minnewaska's own beach runs 11:15 AM-6:45 PM the same season). 2026 note: the Lake Awosting Carriage Road is under restoration/closed, but NY Parks states beach access is still permitted for the full June 19-Sept 7, 2026 swim season via a posted alternate route -- confirm current routing with the park before visiting.
On the water
NY Parks' official Minnewaska page lists park-wide boat permits (seasonal $35 / daily $5) and 'Boat Launches' among preserve amenities, but does not specify which lake(s) permit boating or which watercraft types (kayak, canoe, paddleboard, motorboat) are allowed, and does not address Lake Awosting specifically. Given the lake's hike-in-only access (~3+ miles from any road/parking), only small hand-carried craft would be practical even if permitted -- this could not be confirmed and should be checked with the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center (845-255-0752) before bringing any watercraft.
Backstory
Lake Awosting was originally part of the 19th-century Minnewaska Mountain House resort property before New York State acquired the land in 1987. Swimming access was reportedly restricted for a period after state acquisition and later reinstated in designated areas; the Minnewaska Distance Swimmers Association, formed in 2002, grew to roughly 700 members by 2009 and was tied to swim advocacy at the lake.
Lake Awosting: FAQ
Does Lake Awosting charge a fee?
$10 per vehicle for park entry (2026 rate); Empire Pass ($80) provides unlimited seasonal access; no separate fee is charged for swimming at the beach.
Is Lake Awosting kid friendly?
The lifeguard-supervised beach itself is a gently sloping flat rock slab (easy, non-drop-off entry, no sand), which is kid-friendly in isolation. However, reaching it requires a ~3-3.5 mile one-way hike/bike on a carriage road, which is a serious undertaking for young children and rules this out as a casual family swim stop; better suited to families with kids who can handle a multi-hour round-trip hike.
How hard is the hike to Lake Awosting?
A hike is required, about about 3.1-3.5 miles one-way (sources vary slightly by exact starting point/route within the carriage-road network) to the water (roughly 1.5-2.5 hours one-way on foot at a casual pace; considerably faster by mountain bike, which is permitted on the carriage roads). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Lake Awosting?
Parking is at the main Minnewaska entrance / Lake Minnewaska visitor-area lots off Rte 44/55 in Kerhonkson, not at Lake Awosting itself -- the carriage-road hike starts from there. NY Parks notes 'Lake Minnewaska and Sam's Point are experiencing extensive congestion on good-weather days,' so arriving early is advised. An Empire Pass (~$80/year) covers unlimited seasonal vehicle entry as an alternative to per-visit fees.
When is the best time to visit Lake Awosting?
Summer swim season runs mid-June through Labor Day (2026: June 19-September 7); one first-hand account highlights June for mountain laurel bloom along the approach trail.
What are the rules at Lake Awosting?
Swimming is permitted only in the designated, lifeguard-monitored beach area during posted hours (11:00 AM-5:30 PM, June 19-Labor Day for the 2026 season); swimming is explicitly prohibited in waterfalls and streams elsewhere in the park. Pets are not allowed on beaches (must be leashed elsewhere). Glass containers, amplified music, smoking, vaping, and cannabis are prohibited park-wide, and visitors must carry out all trash.
What water body is Lake Awosting on?
Lake Awosting is on Lake Awosting, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
