Trail Trials: Gertrude's Nose

Tim Murphy
Aug 10
5 min read

Located within Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Gertrude's Nose is a prominent rock formation on the Shawangunk Ridge that has long fascinated visitors with its rugged beauty. Standing 1,728 feet above sea level, this stunning promontory offers panoramic views of New York’s Hudson Valley, making it one of the region’s most popular hiking destinations.

Paleo-Indian peoples first inhabited Shawangunk Ridge approximately 9,000 – 11,000 years ago, utilizing the region’s abundant natural resources for hunting and gathering. The name “Shawangunk” itself originates from the Lenape language meaning “in the smoky air,” likely a reference to the characteristic mist that regularly shrouds the ridge. This long-standing Indigenous presence was disrupted during the 17^th century with the arrival of Dutch settlers and expansion of their New Netherland colony. As Native American populations were gradually displaced westward, the land upon Shawangunk Ridge was requisitioned by agrarian settlers, who established farms for produce and livestock. A notable figure from this period was Gertrude Bruyn, the namesake of the famed lookout point, who received a 400-acre land grant in January 1682. Beginning in the 1820s, Shawangunk Ridge was quarried for quartz conglomerate—a hard, durable stone ideal for manufacturing millstones.

In 1869, Albert Smiley, a retired Quaker principal from Rhode Island, purchased 310 acres of land surrounding Lake Mohonk—a glacial “sky lake” situated on Shawangunk Ridge. He and his twin brother, Alfred, established the Mohonk Mountain House, a summer retreat that has since developed into an iconic luxury resort still in operation today.

Inspired by their success, Alfred purchased 2,200 acres of land around Coxen Pond, located five miles away from the Mohonk retreat. By 1883, he had opened the Cliff House Hotel and renamed the pond Lake Minnewaska. Four years later, Alfred constructed the Wildmere Hotel on the opposite side of the lake. Together, these two resorts could accommodate more than 450 guests.

In 1955, Ken Phillips Sr., the property's longtime general manager, purchased the entire Minnewaska operation from the Smiley family. This acquisition included the Cliff House and Wildmere hotels, Lakes Minnewaska and Awosting, and approximately 10,000 acres of surrounding property. The purchase price was $250,000, though Phillips also assumed roughly $400,000 in debt.

Phillips sought to revitalize Lake Minnewaska as a year-round destination by opening the Ski Minne alpine center in 1965; however, this venture was short-lived. The ski resort closed in 1977 due to inconsistent snow and lack of public interest. This failure compounded Phillips’s existing financial difficulties—he had already sold nearly 75% of his landholdings to New York State and shuttered the dilapidated Cliff House Hotel, unable to afford its maintenance. In 1978, the Cliff House caught fire under mysterious circumstances and was uninsured at the time of its destruction. The Wildmere closed the following year and met a similar fiery fate in 1986. New York State acquired the Phillips family’s remaining lakeside property in 1987 and established the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in 1993.

The historical landscape of Lake Minnewaska is distinguished by an extensive network of carriage roads and pedestrian paths, indicative of the region’s once-burgeoning tourism industry. A significant portion of these trails are actively maintained, providing visitors with a means to navigate the expansive preserve. While there are multiple ways to reach Gertrude’s Nose, this particular route follows a moderately challenging, 6.8-mile counterclockwise loop around Lake Minnewaska, Shawangunk Ridge, and Millbrook Mountain.

The trail begins at the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, which is marked by red blazes and easily accessible from the Upper Parking Area—the former site of the Wildmere Hotel. Visitors should note that there is a $10 entrance fee to access Minnewaska Preserve, and the parking lot does not open until 9 a.m. Follow the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road in a counterclockwise direction for 0.8 miles, then veer onto the yellow-blazed Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road for another 1.2 miles.

A notable feature along the Millbrook Mountain Carriage Road is Patterson’s Pellet—an “erratic” boulder deposited by receding glaciers over ten thousand years ago. Other smaller boulders punctuate the cliffside further down the trail.

About two miles into the hike, turn right onto the Gertrude’s Nose footpath, which is marked by red blazes. Unlike the two previous, well-graded carriage roads, the Gertrude’s Nose trail traverses more rugged terrain before running parallel with the exposed quartz conglomerate ridgeline, characterized by dramatic rock formations, ledges, and deep crevices. The Shawangunk’s light-colored escarpment provides a striking visual contrast with the surrounding wooded landscape and offers breathtaking views of Palmaghatt Ravine to the southwest.

After another 1.2 miles of hiking, the trail reaches the famed promontory, Gertrude’s Nose. From this rocky outcrop, the landscape unfolds with a sweeping, 270-degree vista of the Wallkill River Valley. The red-blazed path proceeds northeastward along the Shawangunk Ridge, offering continuous cliffside views before reaching Millbrook Mountain at the 4.7-mile mark.

From Millbrook Mountain, take the 1.2-mile Millbrook Mountain Trail (marked by red blazes) to return to Lake Minnewaska. It is important to note that hikers should not take the blue-blazed Millbrook Ridge Trail, as it leads out of Minnewaska State Park and into the adjacent Mohonk Preserve. Upon rejoining the Lake Minnewaska Carriage Road, hikers may ascend to the former site of the Cliff House Hotel—now a scenic picnic area overlooking the lake—before completing the circuit at the Visitor Center.

For those interested in another rewarding excursion at Minnewaska, consider Awosting Falls—one of the preserve’s most popular and accessible natural landmarks. This relatively flat, 1.2-mile round-trip hike is suitable for all ages and experience levels. The journey begins in the Lower Parking Area. From there, take the red-blazed Awosting Falls Connector trail for a short distance before joining the Awosting Falls Carriage Road. A pleasant 15-20 minute walk leads directly to the base of the 65-foot cascade. To extend the adventure, simply continue along the carriage road past the falls, following the course of Peters Kill deeper into Minnewaska’s tranquil landscape.

The Gertrude’s Nose hike seamlessly blends the natural beauty of Shawangunk Ridge with the rich history of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The property’s well-preserved footpaths and carriage roads reveal stunning landscapes that harken back to the region’s bygone hospitality industry. This experience is truly the highlight of any Hudson Valley adventure. Trail Rating: 9/10