Lake Minnewaska is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission in New York. Originally, it was part of the Mohonk property, (of Mohonk Mountain House fame), but after changing hands several times, the hotels that were on the property burned down.

Now, there are over 21,000 acres of forest, fields, meadows, cliffs, waterfalls, and lakes open to the public to explore. Being only fifteen minutes outside of New Paltz makes it easy to get to, and convenient enough to drive up for a picnic meal and quick walk around Lake Minnewaska before catching spectacular sunsets.