| State: | New York |
|---|---|
| Address: | 400 Sams Point Rd, Cragsmoor, NY 12420, USA |
| Postal code: | 12420 |
| Phone: | (845) 647-7989 |
| Website: | https://parks.ny.gov/parks/193/ |
| Monday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday: | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
We really enjoyed our time here. There's a fairly easy hike up to the great views at Sam's Point. The ice caves are great for climbing through tight spaces. The trail around the lake is easy and scenic. The cabins in Berry pickers allow you to explore them without being behind a fence. The visitor center has some nice exhibits for kids, helpful hints for your hike, restrooms, and a water filling station.
In fall, the leaves are amazing of course. But the red leaves of high bush blueberries against pitch pine are absolutely stunning.
Love Sam's Point area. The fall is the prettiest!
to enter, you need a reservation, which opens two weeks before the desired day at 9 AM, which I think is amazing, since you don't have to worry about parking or getting there super early and stay in line just to make sure you're getting in.
the first viewpoint is about 15-20 min from the parking lot, and it's the prettiest of all.
I highly recommend checking the ice cave trail as well is a very cool and fun trail, time-wise it will take you at least one hour.
What a view! 🍂 Definitely a great place to visit during autumn. Just remember to reserve your parking spot if you’re coming on weekends or public holidays (10 AM – 2 PM or 2 PM – 6 PM).
The path leading there feels like a fairytale — nature truly is the best! 🥰
On weekends and holidays you'll need to reserve a parking spot but on weekdays you'll likely be fine. There's is a $10 fee to park that you pay up at the visitors center unless you have the Empire State Pass.
The hike itself was great. There's a decent uphill stretch but you'll reach the top with great views (about 20mi give or take from the parking lot)
There are some stone stairs you can take as a shortcut to to the Sam's Point lookout but the path goes straight to too.
From there you can walk a little under a mile to get to Lake Maritanza or the path to the ice caves.
The ice caves were pretty amazing, perfectly cool on a warm late summer day. Be sure to have good shoes as there are some rocky scrambles and a few ladders to climb up.
We did the ice cave hike and it was a lot of fun. Walked up a gravel road to the rock stairs up to the Sam’s Point Lookout with great views. Then walked more on the gravel road to the ice caves trail. There is very little shade on this second part. The ice caves were awesome - nice and cool in August. There were some tight and low spaces but very doable. You’re supposed to make reservations on the weekend and there is a $10 parking fee. There are restrooms at the start.