Lake Minnewaska
Shawangunk Ridge, New York · 1,644 ft
Typical peak
Oct 6 – Oct 14
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunset
White conglomerate cliffs drop straight into a small sky lake, and the carriage road loop gives elevated angles from every side. Pitch pine on the ledges stays green against red maple and blueberry, so the color reads as separated blocks rather than a wash.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Enter Minnewaska State Park Preserve off US 44/NY 55 west of New Paltz, pay the vehicle fee, and walk five minutes down to the lake loop.
What turns here
- chestnut oak
- red maple
- pitch pine
- blueberry
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 10Typical color progression for Lake Minnewaska. No change from Sep 2 to Sep 19. First color from Sep 19 to Sep 28. Approaching peak from Sep 28 to Oct 6. Peak from Oct 6 to Oct 14. Past peak from Oct 14 to Oct 24. Bare from Oct 24 to Nov 7.
Lake Minnewaska is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 7
8 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
59°F / 33°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Lake Minnewaska on October 10, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:35 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 98° | 7:03 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 37 min of low, warm light | 7:40 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:44 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 37 min before sunset | 5:47 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 262° | 6:24 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:52 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 21m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.
- Ashokan Reservoir Promenade Bare
New York · 16 mi away
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1,299 ft · peaks Oct 12 - Kaaterskill Falls Bare
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1,843 ft · peaks Oct 8 - High Point Monument Bare
New Jersey · 36 mi away
1,803 ft · peaks Oct 10