US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 61759195).
The red circle marks Lake Minnewaska.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official NYSDEC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 61759195), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 2.1 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 80 m (260 ft) of the Lake Minnewaska shoreline. Together the trails go all or nearly all the way around Lake Minnewaska, staying close to the water.
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 80 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Minnewaska. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Tent sites
All campgrounds & RV parks in New York
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (41.7258, -74.2357). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Minnewaska. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.
On OpenStreetMap: 2 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Minnewaska not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Minnewaska Beach | Beach | Public access | Get directions |
| Scuba Diving Access Area | Beach | Public access | Get directions |
Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.
Lake Minnewaska covers about 36 acres in Rochester, New York (Ulster County).
OpenStreetMap shows 2 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.
Yes. We list 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.
Lake Minnewaska touches Rochester in Ulster County, New York.
Know Lake Minnewaska? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
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