Is there anything better than getting away for a few days? I love renting a house with friends, packing the car full of delicious food, and escaping to a cozy house with lots of trails nearby. A few weeks ago I escaped for a few days of weekday hiking with a bestie and her mini Aussie to hike, cook, and relax. We stayed at my second @upstategetaways home, which I cannot recommend enough if exploring the upstate area. Each home is beautifully designed, cozy, and private. This past trip we visited Casa Minnewaska, and I cannot wait to go back!
Minnewaska State Park is a stunning escape, about 2 hours from the city. The park offers amazing views, a gorgeous lake, and a mix of trails, allowing your day to be as easy or challenging as you would like. We traversed a variety of trails exploring Awosting Falls (a must see), Mohonk Preserve, and Lake Minnewaska.
This trip was definitely a lesson in preparedness for us. On Day 1 of our trip we explored the Testimonial Gateway carriage trails. The day was hot, and this was a perfect place for the pups to stretch their legs, without a risk of them overheating. To be safe, we had tons of water with us, and Oban was wearing his cooling vest.
For Day 2 we headed into Minnewaska State Park. We started by heading towards Awosting Falls, for an easy 2ish mile loop. We continued to walk on, since the weather was great and we wanted to see the lake. What we didn’t calculate properly on the maps was mileage and elevation. Wow. Well, our flat 2ish miles, became close to 8 with over 1,200 feet of elevation gain. Thankfully there was water along the trail for the pups, because we definitely had not packed enough, because it was only supposed to be a flat two miles. We were thrilled when we finally reached the Park‘s visitor center, and were able to refill our water bottles. We were exhausted, drenched in sweat, and dehydrated. MAJOR lesson learned. Beyond grateful that the dogs were able to drink along the way, and that we found water when we did. It was scary to think about the alternative ending. I was also super grateful to be with someone to help navigate and decision make, because I definitely would have freaked out on my own.
Key Takeaways: Bring way more water than you think you will need & review the full trail map before out on your journey.
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