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Lake Minnewaska

Gertrude's nose from Hamilton Point

Lake Awosting in fall

Castle Point Trail in Minnewasaka State Park

The Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a 21,106 acre (8,541 ha) preserve located on the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, New York on US 44/NY 55, five miles (8 km) east of New York State Route 299. The park is managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. It is primarily used for picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and swimming. There are outstanding views of the nearby Catskill Mountains. There are three sky lakes within the Park Preserve: Lake Minnewaska, Lake Awosting, and Mud Pond. Lake Minnewaska is roughly a mile long by a quarter-mile at its widest point. Lake Awosting is roughly twice as large.

1 History
2 Recent expansion
3 Ecological characteristics
4 Swimming in Lake Minnewaska
5 Image gallery
6 References
7 External links

History [edit]

Battlement Terrace in Minnewaska State Park

Originally part of Albert and Alfred Smiley's Mohonk Mountain House property, the Minnewaska Mountain House, or Cliff House, was built in 1879 overlooking Lake Minnewaska; it could accommodate 225 guests. After managing and developing Mohonk's early growth for ten years, twin Alfred H.Smiley purchased and developed Minnewaska separate from Mohonk, but brothers exchanged courtesies to each other's guests. A second hotel, Wildmere, accommodated 350 guests. In 1955, Kenneth B. Phillips, Sr., the Minnewaska general manager bought the property from the Smiley family. Cliff House was abandoned in 1972 due to maintenance costs; it burned to the ground in 1978. Wildmere closed in 1979 and burned to the ground in 1986. After years of wrangling over commercial development proposals and lawsuits to block development, New York State bought the property in 1987 and opened the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in 1993. A significant expansion of 5,400 acres (2,200 ha) occurred in 1996 when the Open Space Institute transferred acreage to the Park Preserve from the old Ellenville watershed lands, now called Sam's Point Preserve, currently managed by the Nature Conservancy and owned by the Open Space Institute. [1] Located within the Minnewaska State Park Preserve and neighboring Mohonk Preserve is the Trapps Mountain Hamlet Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.^[1]

Recent expansion [edit]

In March 2006, an additional 2,500 acres (10 km²) were added to the Preserve as a result of action by a coalition of conservation groups. Their success was made possible in part because the real estate partnership that sought to develop the property collapsed due to an internal financial dispute. To settle this dispute among the partners, a court ordered that the property be sold. [2]

Ecological characteristics [edit]

Unique communities such as Ice Cave Talus [3], Pitch Pine-Oak-Heath Rocky Summit [4], and extensive Chestnut Oak Forest [5] comprise Minnewaska State Park Preserve. These ecosystems host a variety of plants and animals that are uncommon in New York State. Wildlife such as the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), Bobcat (Lynx rufus) and New York State's only documented occurrence of the noctuid moth Zale curema reside within Minnewaska State Park Preserve. [6]

Swimming in Lake Minnewaska [edit]

Swimming was allowed throughout the entirety of Lake Minnewaska and surrounding Lake Awosting and Peterskill areas until 1987 when New York State purchased the land and closed the lake to public recreation. In 1988 under the guidance of Helga Schwartz and through numerous petitions, swimming was reinstated in a small roped off area.

On April 19, 2000 Judy Mage, Myriam Miedzian, and Ellen James met with Park officials and the PIPC (Palisades Interstate Park Commission) to present proposals for the allowance of distance swimming on the lake. As a result of this meeting the designated swim area in the lake was increased and the closing time for swimming was extended by half an hour.

On June 11, 2000 SWIM (Swim Without Interference at Minnewaska) was created to attempt to bring back swimming throughout the entire lake. After much debate and negotiations with Parks officials, SWIM proposed the formation of a club where members would be tested for swimming ability, purchase insurance cards, and sign release of liability forms. The group was able to secure a second swimming area consisting of a 200-yard buoyed cable that runs parallel to the shoreline for distance swimming.

In the Spring of 2002 SWIM became the Minnewaska Distance Swimmer's Association (MDSA) and signed up 430 members its first year. Currently the MDSA has close to 700 members. [7]

Image gallery [edit]

The best swimming spot in Lake Awosting
A view of Lake Awosting from the cliffs
The swimmer's beach at Lake Minnewaska

References [edit]

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 41°43′12″N 74°17′02″W / 41.72°N 74.284°W / 41.72; -74.284

Protected Areas of New York

Federal

National Historical Parks	Saratoga Women's Rights

National Historic Sites	Eleanor Roosevelt Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt Martin Van Buren Sagamore Hill Saint Paul's Church Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural

National Memorials	Federal Hall General Grant Hamilton Grange Statue of Liberty

National Monuments	African Burial Ground Castle Clinton Fort Stanwix Governors Island

National Trails	Appalachian Trail North Country National Scenic Trail

National Seashores and Recreation Areas	Fire Island NS Gateway NRA

Other Protected Areas	Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Kate Mullany NHS - affiliated Thomas Cole NHS - affiliated

National Wildlife Refuges	Amagansett Conscience Point Elizabeth A. Morton Iroquois Montezuma Oyster Bay Sayville Seatuck Shawangunk Grasslands Target Rock Wallkill River Wertheim

National Forests	Finger Lakes

Wilderness Areas	Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness

State

State Parks	Allen H. Treman Allegany Amherst Battle Island Bayard Cutting Arboretum Bayswater Point Bear Mountain Beaver Island Beechwood Belmont Lake Bethpage Betty & Wilbur Davis Big Six Mile Creek Blauvelt Bonavista Bowman Lake Braddock Bay Brentwood Bristol Beach Brookhaven Buckhorn Island Buffalo Harbor Burnham Point Buttermilk Falls Caleb Smith Camp Hero Canandaigua Lake Canoe-Picnic Point Captree Catharine Valley Trail Caumsett Cayuga Lake Cedar Island Cedar Point Chenango Valley Cherry Plain Chimney Bluffs Chittenango Falls Clarence Fahnestock Clark Reservation Clay Pit Ponds Cold Spring Harbor Coles Creek Conesus Lake Connetquot River Crab Island Croil Island Cumberland Bay Darien Lakes De Veaux Woods Dean's Cove Delta Lake Devil's Hole Dewolf Point Donald J. Trump Earl W. Brydges Eel Weir Emma Treadwell Thacher Empire – Fulton Ferry Evangola Fahnestock Fair Haven Beach Fillmore Glen Fort Niagara Four Mile Creek Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Frenchman Island Galop Island Gantry Plaza Gilbert Lake Gilgo Glimmerglass Golden Hill Goosepond Mountain Grafton Lakes Grass Point Green Lakes Hamlin Beach Harriet Hollister Spencer Harriman Haverstraw Beach Heckscher Hempstead Lake High Tor Highland Lakes Higley Flow Hither Hills Honeoye Hook Mountain Hudson Highlands Hudson River Islands Hudson River Hunt's Pond Iona Island Irondequoit Bay Jacques Cartier James Baird Jamesport John Boyd Thacher Jones Beach Joseph Davis Keewaydin Keuka Lake Knox Farm Kring Point Lake Erie Lake Superior Lake Taghkanic Lakeside Beach Letchworth Lock 32 Lodi Point Long Island Long Point - Finger Lakes Long Point - Thousand Islands Long Point on Lake Chautauqua Macomb Reservation Margaret Lewis Norrie Mark Twain Mary Island Max V. Shaul Mexico Point Midway Mine Kill Minnewaska Montauk Downs Montauk Point Moreau Lake Napeague Newtown Battlefield Niagara Falls Nissequogue River Nyack Beach Oak Orchard Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills Old Croton Aqueduct Old Erie Canal Oquaga Creek Orient Beach Peebles Island Pinnacle Pixley Falls Point Au Roche Reservoir Riverbank Robert G. Wehle Robert H. Treman Robert Moses - Long Island Robert Moses - Thousand Islands Robert V. Riddell Roberto Clemente Rockefeller Rockland Lake Sampson Sandy Island Beach Saratoga Lake Saratoga Spa Schodack Island Schunemunk Mountain Selkirk Shores Seneca Lake Shadmoor Shaver Pond Nature Center Silver Lake Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion Southwick Beach St. Lawrence State Park at the Fair Sterling Forest Steuben Memorial Stony Brook Storm King Sunken Meadow Taconic Outdoor Education Center Taconic - Copake Falls Area Taconic - Rudd Pond Area Tallman Mountain Taughannock Falls Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center Thompson's Lake Tioga Trail View Valley Stream Verona Beach Waterson Point Watkins Glen Wellesley Island Westcott Beach Whetstone Gulf Whirlpool Wildwood Wilson-Tuscarora Wonder Lake Woodlawn Beach

State Historic Sites	Bennington Battlefield Caumsett Clermont Clinton House Crailo Crown Point Darwin Martin House Fort Montgomery Fort Ontario Ganondagan Grant Cottage Herkimer Home Hyde Hall John Brown Farm and Gravesite John Burroughs Memorial (Woodchuck Lodge) John Hay Homestead Johnson Hall Knox's Headquarters Lorenzo New Windsor Cantonment Olana Old Croton Aqueduct Old Erie Canal Old Fort Niagara Oriskany Battlefield Philipse Manor Hall Plantings Fields Arboretum -- Coe Hall Historic House Museum Sackets Harbor Battlefield Schoharie Crossing Schuyler Mansion Senate House Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion Staatsburgh Steuben Memorial Stony Point Battlefield Walt Whitman Birthplace Washington's Headquarters

State Forests	Allen Lake Altmar Ambler Armlin Hill Arnold Lake Artic China Ashland Pinnacle Baker School House Bald Mountain Balsam Balsam Swamp Barbour Brook Basswood Basswood Pond Bates Battenkill Battle Hill Beals Pond Bear Creek Bear Swamp Bearpen Mountain Beartown Beaver Creek Beaver Dams Beaver Flow Beaver Meadow Beebe Hill Berlin Big Brook Big Buck Birdseye Hollow Black Creek Blenheim Bobell Bombay Bonaparte's Cave Boutwell Hill Boyce Hill Brasher Falls Brokenstraw Brookfield Railroad Broome Bryant Hill Buck Hill Bucks Brook Buckton Bucktooth Bully Hill Bumps Creek Burnt-Rossman Hills Burnt Hill Bush Hill Cadyville Cairo Lockwood Calhoun Creek California Hill California Road Cameron Mills Cameron Canacadea Canada Creek Canaseraga Cascade Valley Cat Hollow Cattaraugus Catherineville Catlin Chalres E. Baker Charleston Chateaugay Chautauqua Gorge Chenango Cherry Valley Chestnut Woods Cinnamon Lake Clapper Hollow Clark Hill Cliffside Clinton Cobb Brook Cobb Creek State Forest Cold Creek Cold Spring Brook Cole Hill Columbia Lake Coon Hollow Cotton Hill Cotrell Coventry Coyle Hill Coyote Flats Crab Hollow Crary Mills Cuyler Hill Daketown Danby Dannemora Decatur Deer River Degrasse Delaware Depot Hill Deruyter Dobbins Dog Hollow Donahue Woods Downerville Dry Run Dunkin's Reserve Dutch Settlement Dutton Ridge Earlville East Branch Fish Creek East Osceola East Otto Edwin Hollow Edwin Mountain Eldridge Swamp Elkdale English Hill Exeter Fall Brook Fairfield Farmersville Featherstonhaugh Fire Fall Fish Creek Five Streams Flat Rock Florence Hill Fort Jackson Frank E. Jadwin Franklin Franklin 10 Frozen Ocean Furnace Creek Gas Springs Gates Hill Gee Brook Genegantslet Gillies Hill Glenmeal Golden Hill Goose Egg Gorton Lake Gould Corners Groundry Hill Grafton Lakes Granger Grant Powell Grantville Greenwood Greenwood Creek Griggs Gulf Hall Island Hammond Hill Harris Hill Harry E Dobbins Hartwick Harvey Mountain Hatch Creek Hawkins Pond Hemlock Ridge Hewitt Hickok Brook Hickory Lake High Flats High Knob High Towers High Woods Hill Higher Hiltonville Hinckley Hogsback Honey Hill Hooker Mountain Hoxie Gorge Huckleberry Ridge Huntersfield Hunts Pond Independence River Indian Pipe Italy Hill Jackson Hill Jenksville Jersey Hill Karr Valley Creek Kasoag Keeney Swamp Kennedy Kerryville Ketchumville Kettlebail Keyserkill Klipnocky Klondike Knapp Station Lafayetteville Lake Desolation Lassellsville Lebanon Leonard Hill Lesser Wilderness Lincklaen Lincoln Mountain Line Brook Lonesome Bay Long Pond Lookout Lost Nation Lost Valley Ludlow Creek Lutheranville Lyon Brook Macomb Reservation Mad River Mallet Pond Maple Hill Maple Valley Marisposa Marsh Pond McCarthy Hill McDonough Meads Creek Melondy Hill Michigan Hill Middle Grove Milford Mohawk Springs Montrose Point Moon Pond Morgan Hill Morrow Mountain Moss Hill Mount Hunger Mount Pisgah Mount Pleasant Mount Tom Mount Washington Muller Hill Murphy Hill Nanticoke Lake Nelson Swamp Newfield New Michigan Nimham Mountain Nine Mile Creek North Harmony O'Hara Oak Ridge Oakley Corners Ohisa Onjebonge Orebud Creek Orton Hollow Ossian Otselic Otsquago Otter Creek Palmer's Pond Peck Hill Painter Hill Panama Papish Pond Partridge Run Patria Pease Hill Penn Mountain Perkins Pond Petersburg Phillips Creek Pigeon Hill Pigtail Hollow Pinckney Pine Hill Pine Ridge Pitcher Springs Pittstown Plainfield Plattekill Pleasant Lake Plum Bottom Point Rock Popple Pond Potato Hill Pulpit Rock R. Milton Hick Raecher Rakph Road Raymondville Red Brook Relay Rensselaer Number 3 Rensselaerville Robinson Hollow Rock City Rock Creek Rockwood Roeliff Jansen Kill Roosa Gap Roseboom Rural Grove Rush Creek Saint Lawrence Saint Regis Salmon River Sand Bay Sand Flats Sandy Creek Scott Patent Sears Pond Shawangunk Shindagin Creek Shindagin Hollow Silver Hill Skinner Hill Skyline Drive Slader Creek Snow Bowl Sodom Sonyea Spring Brook South Bradford South Hammond South Hill South Mountain South Valley Southville Stammer Creek Steam Mill Steuben Hill Stewart Stissing Mountain Stockton Stone Barn Stone Hill Stone Store Stoney Pond Sugar Hill Summer Hill Susquehanna Swancott Mill Swift Hill Taconic Hereford Taconic Ridge Tassell Hill Taylor Creek Taylor Valley Terry Mountain Texas Hill Texas Hollow Texas School House Three Springs Tibbetts Titusville Mountain Tomannex Toothaker Creek Tracy Creek Tri-County Triangle Trout Brook Trout Lake Trout River Tug Hill Tuller Hill Turkey Hill Turkey Point Turkey Ridge Turnpike Urbana Ushers Road Vandermark Vernooykill Wagner Farm Wassaic Webster Hill Wellman West Branch West Hill West Mountain West Oscela West Parishville Whalen Whaupaunaucau Whippoorwill Corners Whiskey Flats White Pond Whittacker Wiley Brook Windfall Creek Winona Wolf Brook Wolf Lake Woodhull Wurtsboro Ridge Yatesville Falls Yellow Barn Yellow Lake

Wild Forests	Aldrich Balsam Black River Blackhead Blue Mountain Bluestone Cherry Ridge Colgate Lake Cranberry Lake Crystal Lake Debar Mountain Dry Brook Ferris Lake Fulton Chain Grass River Halcott Mountain Hammond Pond Horseshoe Hunter Mountain Independence River Jessup River Kaaterskill Lake George Middle Mountain Moose River Plains Overlook Mountain Phoenica Raquette Boreal Saranac Lakes Sargent Ponds Shaler Mountain Shandaken Sundown Taylor Pond Vanderwhacker Mountain Watson East Triangle White Hill Wilcox Lake Willowemoc Windham High Peak

Forest Preserve	Adirondack Park Catskill Park

Other

Nature Conservancy

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Minnewaska State Park Preserve

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