Minnewaska Lake Beach
Gardiner, New York · on Lake Minnewaska · Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10 per vehicle
- SEASON
- June
About Minnewaska Lake Beach
Minnewaska Lake Beach is the official swimming beach on Lake Minnewaska, a glacial 'sky lake' within Minnewaska State Park Preserve on the Shawangunk Ridge near Gardiner, New York. The state park designates and staffs this swimming hole for a seasonal swim program, roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day, making it the park's sanctioned place to swim.
The lake sits atop the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, one of a small handful of high-elevation 'sky lakes' in the region, ringed by the cliffs and ledges the park is known for; two 19th-century resort hotels (the Cliff House and Wildmere) once overlooked the lake before New York State acquired the property in 1987.
Swimming at Minnewaska Lake Beach
Swimming is confined to a designated, roped-off area near the beach and visitor center, reinstated by the park in 1988 after the state's 1987 acquisition; a second area with a 200-yard buoyed cable along the shoreline was later added for a distance-swimming club. Visitors describe the swim area as small but close to parking, with room to sit and relax on the shore.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: On-site parking at Minnewaska State Park Preserve requires the standard vehicle use fee; the park notes lots frequently reach capacity on busy days, causing intermittent entrance closures.
The hike in
Difficulty: easy - flat, wide, hard-packed carriage-road surface, no elevation gain described
Trailhead: Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center parking lot, reached via the park's main entrance off Rt 44/55 near Gardiner/Kerhonkson, NY.
Official park materials describe the beach as 'a short walk from the parking lots' via the flat, wide carriage-road network (35 miles of carriage roads lace the preserve), not a backcountry trail. No source found publishes an exact yards/miles figure or minute estimate for this walk.
This is a short, stroller/wheelchair-friendly approach walk rather than a true hike; treat 'hike required' as minimal walking distance from a designated lot.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Lake Minnewaska Beach is an official, lifeguard-staffed swim beach (park alerts explicitly track lifeguard coverage day-by-day), and the adjacent visitor center has child-friendly interactive exhibits. However, no official source documents beach slope, entry depth, or bottom substrate, so supervision is still advised for young kids.
Parking
Paid, $10 per vehicle (standard car, park-wide day-use fee)
On-site lot at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center; the park explicitly warns of 'extensive congestion on good-weather days' with intermittent entrance closures once lots fill.
Restrooms
Yes
Public restrooms are inside the 5,000-sq-ft Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center at the beach parking area, along with a lobby and lake-view interactive exhibits.
Hours
Beach open 11:15 AM-6:45 PM daily during the 2026 swim season (June 19-Labor Day, Sept 7); general park entrance hours run 9:00 AM-9:00 PM with seasonal variation. Some late-August/early-Sept 2026 dates have lifeguard-shortage closures at the park's other beach (Lake Awosting), with alerts specifically noting Minnewaska beach remained open on those days.
On the water
Restrictions: Boat launch access requires a permit (seasonal $35 / daily $5); NY Parks lists a boat launch at the main entrance (Lake Minnewaska) and another at Lake Awosting, but the official pages fetched in this pass do not specify which craft types (kayak/canoe/paddleboard/motorboat) are permitted or whether motors are restricted.
Do not assume kayak/canoe/paddleboard access without calling the Visitor Center (845-255-0752) to confirm current craft rules; only the existence of a permitted boat launch is confirmed.
Backstory
The Cliff House (1879, 225 guests) and a second hotel, Wildmere (350 guests), stood above the lake during its resort era. New York State purchased the property in 1987 and opened the park to the public in 1993. Public swimming, initially closed after state acquisition, was reinstated in 1988 within a roped designated area; a distance swimming club (MDSA) later added a second swim area with a 200-yard buoyed cable running parallel to the shoreline.
Minnewaska Lake Beach: FAQ
Does Minnewaska Lake Beach charge a fee?
$10 per vehicle (under 15-person capacity) park entry fee; no separate swimming fee noted.
Is Minnewaska Lake Beach kid friendly?
Lake Minnewaska Beach is an official, lifeguard-staffed swim beach (park alerts explicitly track lifeguard coverage day-by-day), and the adjacent visitor center has child-friendly interactive exhibits. However, no official source documents beach slope, entry depth, or bottom substrate, so supervision is still advised for young kids.
How hard is the hike to Minnewaska Lake Beach?
A hike is required. Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Minnewaska Lake Beach?
On-site lot at the Lake Minnewaska Visitor Center; the park explicitly warns of 'extensive congestion on good-weather days' with intermittent entrance closures once lots fill.
When is the best time to visit Minnewaska Lake Beach?
Beach/swim season runs seasonally from mid-to-late June through Labor Day (2026 dates: June 19-September 7); Lake Minnewaska beach hours were listed as 11:15 AM-6:45 PM during the season.
What are the rules at Minnewaska Lake Beach?
Pets are not permitted on the beaches; swimming is not permitted in park streams or waterfalls (only in the designated lake beach areas); alcohol and glass containers are prohibited park-wide.
What water body is Minnewaska Lake Beach on?
Minnewaska Lake Beach is on Lake Minnewaska, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
