Awosting Falls Hike

Awosting Falls is a very beautiful waterfall in Lake Minnewaska. This is very popular around April when the waterfall is very powerful and gushing. There are often a lot of tourists and beginners going to the waterfall during April. The hike is very short. I recommend parking at the bottom parking lot. If you park at the top, you will end up descending down to the waterfall. The ascent is going to be very strenuous so it is better to park at the bottom parking lot.

---

Awosting Falls Important Information

Trail Map: Trail Map 1
Suggested Phone GPS Apps: Alltrails.com, Avenza Maps, Google Maps

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 Miles
Elevation Gained: 200 ft
Portable Toilet At Parking: Yes

Trail Breakdown
Parking Lot Then Sidewalk
Red Trail
Waterfall
Red Trail To Highway Bridge
Red Trail Going Back
Sidewalk to Parking Lot

https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/3491316715

Note: The information is just an approximation.

Parking

41.734764, -74.244073

 

Start Of The Hike

The clouds dissipated reluctantly up above us, revealing a deep blue color that engulfed the whole sky. My skin felt the scorching heat emanating from the outer hull of my car as with barely any clouds to dampen the rays of the sun, the full blast of its power could be felt by everyone and every thing. Still, it was not enough to deter me from starting the hike. I put on some sunscreen, packed my bags, and readied myself for the new adventure that was about to come.

 

Paved Car Road

I tasted the excitement in the air as various tourists and hikers merrily passed me by. There was a hint of adventure on their smiles, a feeling of wonder and exhilaration on the way they walked on the paved road. The laughter and the cheers were no stranger to me. They were good signs of a hiking group ready to have fun. It was a beautiful day for a hike, and I’m grateful I was here on a beautiful park with a beautiful weather for picture taking.

 

Trail Under Construction

Construction equipment, blockades and machines were at my right as a few workers were creating a new trail for hikers. The new trail was almost finished but it was still off limits for the public. The park was beautiful and it seemed to make enough money for maintenance, for new structures and footpaths to make the trails more tourist friendly and more beautiful as well.

Unfinished Trail

There was serenity in my footsteps as I admired the trees, rocks, birds and I even stopped to enjoy the cool air that surrounded me. A few hikers walked to an opening in the unfinished trail and I inadvertently followed them. I couldn’t help it, I was too busy admiring my surroundings to even notice. The gravel filled footpath was easy to walk onto and the shade that the surrounding trees provided gave my body comfort from the rays of the sun. The gentle breeze cooled my skin, taking away all of my worries and fatigue away.

 

Sidewalk Leading To The Trailhead

I came out of the trail and into a sidewalk as my chest trembled in anticipation and excitement as I got closer and closer to the waterfall. There was dryness in my throat and a hunger for nature that I could not explain. It was as if I was connected to nature, and my senses had missed her so much. Like I was lost in a sea but found myself back home to where I belonged.

 

Awosting Falls Trailhead

A big green sign could be found right after I crossed a road. It was the trailhead for Awosting Falls, with various information about the waterfall plus a big red trail marker to signify the start of the trail.

 

Gushing River

On to the left of the road, the gushing river roars violently down to the white rocks below it. Never have I seen this river flow so magnificently than today. Any other day, it would just trickle down but today, it flows amazingly well, like the sound of a violent stampede of horses rushing through a small pathway.

 

Road Leading To Awosting Falls

Flat and easy, the gravel filled road stretched on and on, and the roar of the falling waters were loud and clear as the sound penetrated through the thick expanse of trees and wall of rocks that surrounded the trail.

 

People At The Top Of Waterfall

Various signs of happiness could be seen as people play around the waters at the top, taking pictures of themselves and the scenery, sitting quietly while admiring their surroundings, and smiling to their hearts content as we gathered around this beautiful piece of nature that we have found ourselves onto.

 

River At Top Of Waterfall

I could spend a lot of time just sitting here, looking at the rolling waters falling down the rocky steps. Just some quiet contemplation with nature and myself. There is something wondrously healing about admiring the strands or pieces of nature. I could feel it in my skin and all the way to my bones… a sense of tranquility and absence of conflict.

 

Top Of Awosting Falls

It was a beautiful sight to see- the tremendous power of the water falling down the rocks below. There was a sense of danger just moving along the rocks and admiring the waters cascading downward. It was as if the waters would pull me down and take me with it to the rocks below. I moved slowly, making sure my footing was stable and secure as I moved around the top of the waterfall.

 

Awosting Falls

I walked down to the waterfall, a force of nature so beautiful yet so wild at the same time. Tiny water droplets, invisible to the eye, permeated through the air, cooling the environment and clinging to our skin and clothes. At this moment, not even the hot sun could heat up the landscape. Cool and refreshing, various tourists and hikers made their spot here to rest and take pictures of this monstrous force of a waterfall. There was serenity and tranquility all around us, such a feeling went straight through my chest, filling me up with emotions of contentment that I could not understand. A feeling of love and peace that enveloped every part of my being.

 

Awosting Falls In Lake Minnewaska

The mighty roar of the Awosting Falls was deafening to the ears but I still watched it in all of its grandeur. It was not a waterfall that I see all the time. The falls was at the height of its power as torrents of water poured down over the rocks. The water clashes over the bed of rocks at its bottom, creating an explosive and distinct sound that could be heard and even felt by the people who were near it. “I would not want to be at the bottom of that waterfall”, I thought to myself.

 

Awosting Falls Up Close

The Awosting Falls roared even fiercer as I got closer and closer as if a mighty dragon showing its fangs as I moved in closer to touch it. I tasted the cool mist in air with my lips and as the sunlight kissed the dew, a fading rainbow could be seen. A tiny glimmer of beauty that was surprising and exhilarating at the same time. The sweet and clean smell of the fresh air stretched through out the land, and in that moment, I felt at home. A clear feeling of comfort and calmness came over me as I watched the waters fall over and over as time just passed me by.

 

Continuation Of The Red Trail

The thunderous sound of the waterfall faded away as I got farther and farther from the source. All that was left was gentle and almost silent sound of the river that flowed right beside the trail. I walked in quiet contemplation while taking pictures of my greenish environment. It was a serene moment, devoid of conflict, with the absence of any form of worry. There was just me and nature, and I was loving every moment of it.

 

Water From Falls Goes Under A Bridge

The calm river diverged from the trail as the river went to the left while the trail went to the right. I took one final look at the river going through a bridge and in that moment, I knew that there will be no more waterfalls along the trail. Various cars passed by on top of the bridge, it must be a busy highway of some sort but I didn’t stay long enough to know for sure. A little bit disappointed, I turned around and went on my way towards the parking lot.

 

Awosting Falls From A Distance

I took one final look at the waterfall and savored each passing second as I knew I wouldn’t be back here for years to come. It was just majestic. Beautiful when the waters fall down the rocks, beautiful even when the waters in the river just move slowly away from the waterfall. It was a piece of nature that was mighty like a fierce lion and yet calm like an innocent white sheep. I just hope that this landscape would last the test of time.

 

Going Back – Stay On Trail

Tired and weak, a couple of tourists dragged their bodies to the top. It was a gentle incline but it proved to be difficult for some. This is evident as some people took a shortcut to the top and killed some plant life. The people managing the site blocked the shortcut with branches and leaves to deter people but still, those measures weren’t enough.

 

End Of Hike – Parking Lot In Sight

As I came close to the parking lot, there was a little bit of sadness in my heart as I knew I may never be back here again. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this day, and such memories will often lasts for a lifetime. There was always a bittersweet emotion when a hike is about to end. There was a feeling of goodbye and a feeling of new beginnings at the same time as I was fairly certain that I would see more waterfalls in the future.

 

For More Hikes

For more hikes similar to this one, you can go to my Best NYC Hikes Or Best New Jersey Hikes.