Are you planning on doing the Sam’s Point Preserve hike? (And maybe the Ice Caves, too?) You’ve come to the right place!
The Sam’s Point Area in Minnewaska State Park is one of the most popular places to hike in New York. And it’s easy to see why. The Sam’s Point preserve hike to the overlook is relatively easy and reaps the rewards of gorgeous views.
And there are other hikes at the preserve to keep it interesting, like the Ice Caves trail and the trail to Verkeerder Kill Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in New York.
The guide below shares everything you need to know about the Sam’s Point overlook hike, the Ice Caves at Sam’s Point, and some other points of interest while you are there.
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Where is Sam’s Point Preserve?
Sam’s Point Preserve is located in the Minnewaska State Park in New York, just south of the Catskill Mountains. It’s a beautiful state park in New York. Sam’s Point is a hike less than two hours from New York City and New Haven, CT.
To access the trailhead, you’ll have to park at the Sam’s Point Area of the park at 400 Sam’s Point Road in Cragsmoor, NY. The road to the parking leads through residential areas, so make sure to drive slowly and follow the traffic signs.
History of Sam’s Point Preserve
Sam’s Point gets its name from a folktale about a European settler named Samuel Gonzales. The legend is that Sam was chased by Native Americans (sometime around the French and Indian War). He jumped off the cliff and miraculously survived.
Two hotels were located at Sam’s Point in the mid-1800s, but a fire destroyed them. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built roads to a fire tower located at the High Point Lookout.
The Village of Ellenville acquired the property and, in 1967, leased the property for a tourist attraction known as the “Ellenville Ice Caves Mountain.” The trail developed for the attraction is still used today.
In 2006, almost 4000 acres of the preserve were transferred to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. It is now under the same ownership as Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Preparing For Your Sam’s Point Preserve Hike
Sam’s Point Preserve Park Fees
Like most New York State Parks, Sam’s Point Preserve requires a fee to access the park. At the time of publication, it is $10 to park at the Preserve. Sam’s Point opens at 9 am.
The generously sized parking lot fills quickly due to the park’s popularity. Parking is not allowed on the street outside of the parking lot.
Reservations are required on weekends and holidays from April 15 to November 15.
You can make reservations for morning or afternoon access. If your reservation is for the morning session, you must arrive between 9 and 11 am and leave by 2 pm. Afternoon sessions start at 2 pm and end at park closing time.
Dates open 14 days in advance and can be made until one hour before the reservation starts (8 am for morning reservations and 1 pm for afternoon reservations). Visit the New York State Park reservation website for more information.
Amenities at Sam’s Point Visitor Center
Is there anything better than a real bathroom at a trailhead? Thankfully the Visitor Center offers two single bathrooms and a water bottle filling station before you hit the trail.
Inside the Sam’s Point Visitor Center are exhibits about the history and wildlife in the area. There is also information about the trails. It has some interesting information, so make sure to stop inside!
Be a Responsible Visitor
Places like Sam’s Point are popular with visitors, which can bring trash and other issues. We all need to do our part to keep our parks clean and enjoyable for all. Remember to pack out all trash (including those fruit peels) and leave behind what you found. Leave no trace so we all can enjoy these parks for years to come.
Hiking to Sam’s Point
| Trail Location: | The trailhead to Sam’s Point, the Ice Caves, and one of the trails to Verkeerder Kill Falls is at the Sam’s Point Area in Minnewaska State Park at 400 Sam’s Point Road in Cragsmoor. |
| Trail Length: | The trail to Sam’s Point Overlook is about .6-mile (1.2 miles total) |
| Trail Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate – the trail is wide but steep. There are stairs to the overlook, or you can stay on the trail to access the overlook without having to climb the stairs. |
| Trail Type: | Out and back |
| Elevation Gain: | 200 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | Yes |
Follow the signs to Sam’s Point from the Visitor Center parking lot. You can actually see Sam’s Point from the bottom of the trail.
The trail is uneventful as it climbs the mountain. It’s evident that it serves as an access road for the park rangers since it’s very wide and made of gravel. It looks like visitors used to drive up to the top since there is a large open area near the overlook that could serve as a parking lot.
Before you reach the top, you can take the Lenape Stairs or continue on the gravel road trail. The stairs will get you there sooner than the gravel trail, but they may be difficult for some people to climb.
At the top, you’ll find two sizeable open rock surfaces that overlook the area. It’s completely exposed, so it might be very hot from the sun or even windy.
At this point, you can turn around and walk back to the parking lot or continue along the gravel road to some of the other featured hikes.
The Ice Caves Hike at Sam’s Point
| Trail Location: | The trailhead to Sam’s Point, the Ice Caves, and one of the trails to Verkeerder Kill Falls is at the Sam’s Point Area in Minnewaska State Park at 400 Sam’s Point Road in Cragsmoor. |
| Trail Length: | If you hike to the Ice Caves and back, it’s about 3.1 miles |
| Trail Difficulty: | Moderate – The trail leading to the Ice Caves is steep but relatively easy. However, the trail through the ice caves is rocky, with steep and narrow sections, and includes a ladder. |
| Trail Type: | Out and back |
| Elevation Gain: | 300 feet |
| Dog Friendly: | No (Dogs are allowed in the park, but there are ladders along the Ice Caves Trail) |
The first thing you should know about the Ice Caves trail at Sam’s Point is that it is open seasonally. The trail typically closes in November (or sooner if snow arrives earlier in the season) and opens around mid-May.
Getting to the Ice Caves trail isn’t too exciting. Once you pass Sam’s Point, the path is wide and flat and totally exposed to the sun. The trees and plants along the trail are pretty to look at (some are signed indicating what type of plant they are), but the walk gets boring quickly.
Once you reach the start of the Ice Caves trail, that’s where it gets interesting! The trail is one-way, and signs will direct you to the entrance. A stone staircase leads you to the beginning, where you’ll get a taste of the cold air of the caves.
The trail through and around the Ice Caves is about a 1/2 mile long and is rocky and narrow at points. There are sections through the caves where they installed lights that are turned on by sensors for safety and some boardwalk sections. There are even some ladders towards the end of the trail.
The cold air from the Ice Caves can be refreshing on a hot day! At some points, we could see our breath as we walked through. And then, a few steps later, we were hot again.
Once you finish the Ice Caves trail, you can either backtrack to the visitor center or check out some other points of interest, like Verkeerder Kill Falls.
Other Hikes at Sam’s Point
In addition to Sam’s Point Overlook and the Ice Caves, there are other fun trails in the Sam’s Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
One of the more popular hikes is the trail to Verkeerder Kill Falls. This trail leads to New York’s third-tallest waterfall. (Taughannock Falls in the Finger Lakes is the tallest waterfall in the state. The second tallest is Kaaterskill Falls in the Catskills). This trail is about 5.5 miles, out and back.
Indian Rock offers another beautiful vista of the surrounding area, and you can reach it by taking the gravel road/path (Loop Road) in either direction from the parking area.
If you take the trail past Sam’s Point, you’ll eventually pass Lake Maratanza. From the other side, you’ll pass the Huckleberry Picker’s Shacks. The route to Indian Rock is 4.0 miles, out and back.
Common Questions About Sam’s Point Hike
How long is Sam’s Point hike?
The hike to Sam’s Point is about .6 miles along a gravel path.
What is the elevation gain of Sam’s Point?
From the trailhead to Sam’s Point, the elevation gain is about 200 feet.
Do you need a reservation for Minnewaska State Park?
You need a reservation to visit Minnewaska State Park Reservations on weekends and holidays from April 15 to November 15.
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