Awosting Falls: A History and Photographic Study
“These romantic falls are situated in the heart of the Shawangunk Mountains, about one mile from the Cliff House. The rocks are arranged very picturesquely and grandly in the form of an amphitheater, and the water leaps a distance of [sixty] feet into the dark pool below. The scene is always highly picturesque, and when the stream is full it is very grand and impressive.” --- E. J. Whitney, Guidebook to Mohonk Lake, 1900.
Introduction
Awosting Falls is a scenic, 60-foot waterfall located within Minnewaska State Park Preserve in the Shawangunk Mountains of New York. The falls are easily accessible from the main parking area via an enjoyable 1.1-mile walk on well-maintained carriage roads. Hikers can enjoy fantastic views from both the top and the bottom of the falls.
Peters Kill
Awosting Falls is located on the Peters Kill, which rises from Lake Awosting, about three miles west from Lake Minnewaska. The Peters Kill flows out of the northeast end of Lake Awosting and is joined by the Fly Brook from the northwest. After Awosting Falls, the Peters Kill flows generally northeast until it reaches the Rondout Creek at Alligerville. The Rondout Creek then flows about 15 miles northeast to Kingston where it empties into the Hudson River. The Hudson River flows south, passes through New York City and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Peters Kill is believed to have been named for Peter Van Gorden, a descendent of early pioneers in the region. (Fried, Marc B. Shawangunk Place Names, pp. 78-80.)
The term “kill” means creek, stream or river; and originated from the Dutch word kille meaning “riverbed” or “water channel”. The term is used in historically Dutch-influenced areas in the New York and New Jersey region, including the Catskills.
Name Origin and History
Awosting Falls is named after Lake Awosting, one of the famous “sky” lakes in the Shawangunk Mountains. According to Marc B. Fried in his comprehensive book titled Shawangunk Place-Names, a form of the name Awosting (as Aiaskawassing) first appears on maps in 1684 on a deed to Governor Thomas Dongan from the Esopus Indians for a vast tract of land south of the New Paltz Patent.
After many years of disuse, the name having been all but forgotten, the “Aioskawosting” name reappeared around 1861. The name began to be used to refer to the lake now known at Lake Awosting, although it had been previously known as Big Pond or Long Pond. It appears the more attractive name for the lake started being used as a method to better advertise the region to summer tourists. Eventually the Awosting name was adopted to refer to both the lake and the waterfall.
There are various interpretations of the original meaning of the name Aiaskawassing, now Awosting. Early theories, based on the Thomas Dongan deed, stated the name referred to the “high hills” of what is now known as the Shawangunk Range, west of present-day New Paltz. (Fried, Beauchamp.) Another theory states that the name is adapted from the Native American (Munsee) word, aiaskawosting, meaning “place of grassy hills.” Another theory is that the name is derived from awossi, meaning “on the other side (Ruttenber.);” or alternatively from the Munsee word awasahtung, meaning “the other side of the mountain.” (Grumet, Whritenour.) Lastly, another theory suggests that it refers to “the place of crossing.” (Schoonmaker).
The name Minnewaska comes from the Dakota (Sioux) language and can be translated as meaning “good water.” (Fried, 28-30.)
Geology
George Burbank Shattuck (1868-1934) wrote in 1907 about some of the interesting geological forces at work at Awosting Falls. “At this point, . . . [Awosting Falls] plunges over a precipice 50 or 60 feet high into a pool beneath . . . The precipice, just mentioned, is made up of thin beds of conglomerate lying in a nearly horizontal position, with the upper layers jutting out and overhanging the lower ones. However the falls may have originated, they are now maintained by undermining . . .
In the spring and autumn, or after heavy thunderstorms and prolonged summer rains, the creek fills rapidly, and a considerable body of water falls over the precipice. This is what furnishes the power for the erosion and undermining. As the falling water strikes the bottom of the ledge the gravel and bowlders accumulated in the pool are churned up and thrown in every direction. Some of them are hurled against the base of the precipice, and every one which strikes the ledge chips off some of the rock. Thus, the effect is to constantly undermine the falls at their base. Higher up in the face of the cliff the layers of conglomerate escape the direct effect of this grinding action of the waterfall, but they are, nevertheless, acted on by the weather, and in time are wedged off by frost or pulled down by gravity.
Thus, it is that the entire precipice recedes, keeping pace with the rate of undermining at its base, and the waterfall as a whole migrates slowly up stream.” (Shattuck, George Burbank. Some Geological Rambles Near Vassar College. Poughkeepsie, NY: The Vassar College Press, 1907.)
Area History
The pristine, beautiful Lake Minnewaska is located high upon the Shawangunk Ridge at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Once known as Coxing Pond, the 36-acre lake was created during the last ice age by glacial movements that carved small basins in the bedrock. The lake is a 1/2 mile long and reaches depths up to 72 feet. Recreational activities abound with seasonal swimming, non-motorized boating (with permits), picnicking in open fields and a relaxing 2-mile hiking trail that circles the lake, offering fabulous views of the water, foliage and sheer rock cliffs.
The area around Lake Minnewaska was once home to two prominent mountain hotels, the Cliff House and the Wildmere. Both were owned and operated the Smiley family, the same family that operated the still existing Mohonk Mountain House. The Cliff House opened for business in 1879 and remained in operation until 1972 when it was abandoned. It burned down in 1978. The Wildmere opened for business in 1887 and remained in operation until 1979. It burned down in 1986.
The original 7,000 acres of the park, which centered on Lake Awosting, were acquired in 1971 by the State of New York through the efforts of The Nature Conservancy. The 1,200-acre section that includes Lake Minnewaska was added in 1987, at the conclusion of a long and spirited legal battle over the proposed construction of the site by the Marriott Corporation of a 450-room hotel and conference center, 300 condominiums and an 18-hole golf course. A broad coalition of conservation groups, led by Friends of the Shawangunks and including the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, was successful in demonstrating that the site could not support the proposed development.
In order to prevent any possible future development, New York State bought the the Lake Minnewaska property in 1987 and opened the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in 1993. Three years later, in 1996, an additional 5,400 acres was added when the Open Space Institute transferred acreage from around the Sam’s Point area to the park preserve.
Today, at nearly 24,000 acres, Minnewaska State Park Preserve is the third largest state park in New York, behind Allegany State Park and Harriman State Park.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is currently managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Cliff House
The Wildmere
Visiting
The main entrance to Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located on Route 44/55, approximately 11 miles west from the village of New Paltz.
From New Paltz, drive west on Route 299 for approximately six miles. When you get to the intersection with Route 44/55, turn right, and drive for approximately 4.5 miles until you reach the main gate for Minnewaska State Park Preserve on your left.
On the way, about a 1/2 mile from the Route 299 intersection, you will pass the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center, which is a good place to stop if you are unfamiliar with the area and are looking for directions, recommendations and information on local wildlife and geology.
Another visitor center, opened in 2020, is located at Lake Minnewaska and is home to a number of informative exhibits.
The 23,974-acre Minnewaska State Park Preserve offers many scenic features, including numerous clear streams and waterfalls, four crystalline sky lakes, dense hardwood forests and many picturesque, sheer cliffs and ledges. The park has 35 miles of carriage roads and 50 miles of footpaths.
Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, picnicking, scuba-diving, rock-climbing, bouldering, boating and marveling at the scenery. Snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails are available in the winter season. Technical rock climbing is permitted April through December weather permitting.
Four of the five “sky” lakes on the Shawangunk Ridge lie within the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, including Lake Minnewaska, Lake Awosting, Mud Pond (also known as Lake Haseco) and Lake Maratanza. The fifth “sky” lake is Mohonk Lake, which is located on the property of the Mohonk Mountain House.
In addition to Awosting Falls, other popular waterfalls in the Shawangunks include Stony Kill Falls, Sanders Kill Falls, Rainbow Falls, Verkeerder Kill Falls, Sheldon Falls and Split Rock Falls.
Popular hiking destinations at Minnewaska State Park Preserve include Gertrude’s Nose, Millbrook Mountain, Hamilton Point, Castle Point, Battlement Terrace, Litchfield Ledge, Kempton Ledge, Patterson’s Pellet, Beacon Hill, Sam’s Point and so much more.
