Minnewaska State Park encompasses 6000 acres of unique and sensitive environments, valuable for their rare geologocal and ecologocal features. The Park straddles the crest of the Shawangunk Ridge, a dominating crease of rock that splits the land from Kingston on the Hudson River south-southwest to Port Jervis on the Delaware River, where the river makes an extraordinary right angle bend. The principal part of this impressive ridge extends from Mohonk Lake in the northeast, to Sam's Point near Ellenville in the southwest.

Aerial Photo Lake Minnewaska Minnewaska State Park click to enlarge PHOTO www.nysgis.state.ny.us

This dramatic ridge is a block fault, formed when the Earth's bedrock was deeply cracked, probably in the same era when North America's crust was squeezed laterally, forming the rippled ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. West of this Shawangunk fault, fractured sediments surged upward to over 2000 feet, reaching 40 degrees of tilt, forming high, steep cliffs that crown the east face of the ridge. Shawangunk's abruptly-rising, east-facing summit is a favored destination of rock climbers, who throng over its sheer cliffs on weekends. Behind this sheer eastern face, the upthrust layers of bedrock slant smoothly, gently down to the west, curling to form into a wide, deeply rounded valley that contains Ellenville, Kerhonkson, Accord, and US 209 to Kingston.

The upper layer of rock crowning the cliffs is a medium-textured conglomerate (also called "puddingstone") of sparkly sandstone and limestone. Embedded in this white sedimentary stone are water-worn pebbles of white quartz. The combination is a dramatic effect to brighten the earth tones and textures of the mountain. This white conglomerate bedrock is hard and resistant to erosion and weathering, and fractures along straight lines into large, rectangular blocks. Over most of the ridge, there is little or no soil except in crevices and ravines, so the vegetation is sparse, and trees are stunted, even dwarf.

Stunted Pitch Pine Minnewaska State Park Horticulture professor Chris Cash among stunted pitch pine PHOTO DYarrow 4/13/02

Along Shawangunk Ridge's crest, four small, but remarkable lakes nestle in the white bedrock and boulders, highlighted by dark evergreens. From the north, they are Mohonk, Minnewaska, Awosting, and Mertanza. Minnewaska and Awosting are within Minnewaska State Park. Mohonk is within a private resort and preserve owned the the Smiley family. Mertanza in the south is in Sam's Point Preserve, and is the principal water source for the town of Ellenville in the valley west.

DIRECTIONS to Minnewaska State Park NYS Thruway (I-87) to Exit 2 New Paltz US 299 US 299 west through New Paltz At six miles, 299 ends at US 44/55 Turn right (west) onto US 44/55 Watch for hairpin turn at base of cliffs Near 4 miles, see Lyons Road on left Park entrance is next left
Minnewaska State Park is a "pack it in, carry it out" facility —no trash disposal

Most forest on the Shawangunk Ridge is dominated by pitch pine and oaks. The elevation, exposure and lack of soil yields stunted trees that don't achieve much size, and become knarly and twisted. Further, pitch pine is regularly swept by wildfire, which removes hardwoods and regenerates the pine. Consequently, pitch pine often grows in even-aged stands of younger trees. Ninety years is an advanced age for this species, and on Shawangunk, a pitch pine hardly head-high can be a century old. The most dramatic example of a dwarf pitch pine forest is at Sam's Point Preserve at the south end of the Shawangunk Ridge.

However, Minnewaska does hold a few secrets.

Pitch Pine, Scrub Oak & Mountain Laurel with Sassafras and American Chestnut Minnewaska State Park, Gardiner, New York PHOTO NBarnard 11/09/02

Surveys Nov. 9, 2002 April 13, 2002

Hidden in steep ravines, rocky slopes, swamps, and talus ledges are some extraordinary trees and forests. A remarkable ancient hemlock community shelters in Palmaghatt Ravine, on the east crest, with 100 foot tall hemlock and yellow birch, carpets of emerald mosses and steady trickles of water.

Lake Minnewaska Cliffhouse crowns the east shore Shawangunk Ridge, Gardiner, New York PHOTO DYarrow 4/13/02

Home | Membership | Earth Charter | Climate | Champion Trees | Ancient Forests | Topsoil | Food | Wildlife | Water | Sacred Space | Healing | Peace | Links

TERRA: The Earth Restoration and Renewal Alliance — www.championtrees.org — updated 4/14/2003