Albany, NY: Rainbow Falls
Find a sparkling waterfall at the end of Shawangunk Ridge.
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This scenic 7-mile loop follows the Shawangunk Ridge through the sheer cliffs and rocky valleys of Minnewaska State Park Preserve to a dazzler of a waterfall. Begin this moderate hike on the teal-blazed Long Path. Go up and over Sanders Kill through thickets of mountain laurel, then turn onto the Blueberrry Run Trail. Turn southwest onto the Lower Awosting Carriageway. Rejoin the Long Path and go southeast to Peters Kill, then descend a steep rock scramble to Rainbow Falls, which reflects a spectrum of colors as it tumbles over a white cliff. Cross the ravine and take the Carriageway east to rejoin Blueberry Run at 4.4 miles. Descend to Mossy Glen Trail through mountain laurel and stands of pine and bear right to return to the banks of Peters Kill. Go northeast onto the Carriageway and cross a road to close the loop.-Hike provided by Tammy L. McCarley, author of Best Hikes iwth Dogs: New York City & Beyond (Mountaineers Books)
Waypoints
Jenny Lane
Location: 41.7425499, -74.2543869
Trailhead parking area
