Located 2 hours north of New York City lies an awe-inspiring ridge in the Appalachian Mountains: The Shawangunk Ridge. Known affectionately as “The Gunks,” the Shawangunk Ridge is home to nature areas, wildlife, and, most commonly, rock climbers (hey <3). One of the nature areas in the Gunks is the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, which is the location of the alluring Gertrude’s Nose.
I first discovered Gertrude’s Nose through the typical Google search of looking for cool hikes near me. Within a few minutes, I stumbled upon quite a few breathtaking-looking hikes, which I’m sure I’ll be visiting in the future. I sent some of the hikes I’d found to my friend Brad, who was planning on visiting for the weekend to hike somewhere a little more hilly than his home state, Delaware. Gertrude’s Nose really… stuck out to him, so to speak, so we started planning our trip.
I’d been up to the Gunks once before to go rock climbing with some friends of mine. After that experience I was quite eager to check out the area again. New Paltz, the town that EVERYONE goes to when climbing at the Gunks, has a really quaint Main Street. Plus, Historic Huguenot Street is also right in New Paltz. I haven’t gotten to check that out yet (at the time of writing) but next time I’m at the Gunks I’ll most assuredly be going there. The first time I’d gone to the Gunks I remember it being unfortunately quite cloudy. Even with the cloud cover I’ll never forget my first view of the Ridge coming out of New Paltz. It just keeps going up. If you’ve been out to the Rockies I’m sure it won’t seem quite as jaw-dropping as them, but for me, it was quite a sight. And again, that was WITH fog. All that being said, I was SUPER excited to go to return to the Gunks and explore Gertrude’s Nose.
And so we go….
On the day of the hike, Brad and I bundled up. We were expecting temps below freezing and boy did we get them. We drove up to Minnewaska State Park Preserve and parked. Be aware there is a small fee for parking ($10) per car. Easily worth it for the views.
The Gertrude’s Nose hike is about a 7.5 mile loop. We started on the Eastern side of the Lake Minnewaska trail, which is merely a loop around Lake Minnewaska. Easy enough. This side of that loop already offers some really cool views overlooking the lake, as well as an abandoned house that I REALLY wanted to go in but refrained from doing so. We hiked to the Southern point of the Lake, and then made a left onto the Millbrook Mountain trail (MM). MM was a pretty rugged trail and definitely a bit slippery, so watch your footing. At one point, the whole trail becomes a river that you’re hopping across, going upstream. Water-proof boots are a must for this hike. It’s also steep- Brad and I took off a layer at this point as we hiked upstream. It was in the 40s by now but we were sweating.
Millbrook Mountain
The peak of Millbrook Mountain is stunning. You’re at the edge of this cliff face looking out on this valley that just goes for miles. It’s one of those times where you feel on top of the world, and it’s absolutely magnificent. After you’re done taking it all in, find the trail marker for the Gertrude’s Nose loop (GN) and follow those along the cliff-face. At the peak of Millbrook Mountain it may become very windy, since you’re now very exposed to the elements and away from tree cover. It stays that way for a while, until you’re past Gertrude’s Nose.
One of the highlights of this hike, in addition to the obvious views, are the mini-biomes you come across. Along the GN trail, there is a mini biome of tiny evergreen trees. Bushes? They somehow have been able to grow through the rocks. The bushes are no taller than a foot or two, and are spread sporadically. It felt almost like a desert in a bizarre way? Anyway, I loved it.
The Nose Herself
You’ll be following the cliff face for quite a while on the final stretch to Gertrude’s Nose. I must’ve asked Brad a minimum of 50 times “is this one Gertrude’s Nose?” “Which nose is Gertrude’s?” “Do you think it’s this one?” since there are SO many look out points. Trust me, you’ll know when you’ve actually reached Gertrude’s Nose.
There’s one point where you come out from some tree covering and BAM. You’re standing on bare rocks and a cliff edge and the wind is whipping all around you and suddenly you feel like you’re on another planet. I truly have never experienced anything else quite like it. You can see for miles; pictures and videos don’t do it justice. The adrenaline hits once you realize just how high up you are, and every breath of wind feels like it’ll send you flying off your feet. To your right, a mile off in the distance, is more of the ridge and exposed rock. I’ve been on countless hikes, and yet nothing else has come close to giving me the overwhelming sense of freedom I experienced on that cliff face. The Millbrook Mountain peak is a red herring. It’s incredible, but still not anywhere as spectacular as Gertrude’s Nose.
I still don’t know exactly which specific nose is Gertrude’s. After this hike, I am led to believe she has multiple.
Brad and I took turns taking photos of each other, standing near the edge of one of the noses. This was far more thrilling than a rollercoaster. We hopped over the occasional crevice in the rocks, some dropping as deep as probably 30 feet. While the gap itself was never wider than a foot or two, they were a mental long jump.
After our fill of thrill, we realized it would be getting dark soon, and we still needed to eat dinner/get back to the car. We continued along Gertrude’s Nose Loop until we found some tree covering. Going a ~smidge~ off trail, we apologized to Mother Nature for going off trail (leave no trace!), and made some good ol’ Appalachian Cement for ourselves (I recently learned it’s cement and not brick or bomb. Not that any of these show up on a Google Search anyway.) Appalachian cement is quite easy to make: ramen, instant mashed potatoes, and canned tuna is all you need! I’ll make a recipe post for it at some point.
A Snowy Return
The hike back to the parking lot is much more strenuous if you go the same way we went. So. Many. Stairs. We did, however make it back to the Millbrook Mountain loop much faster than we thought it was going to take. As we continued on our merry way, it started snowing! I am truly grateful I finally learned how to layer up because oh my goodness, this was probably the first time I was cozy outside while it was below freezing. Incredible.
Photos don’t do this sight justice
From the MM trail, you’ll make a left to get back onto the Lake Minnewaska trail, and from there you’re home free! The sight greeting us as we arrived back at Lake Minnewaska was magical. The lake was slate grey, the sky was white, it was flurrying, and the cliffs on the other side of the lake were a light grey blend of the sky and the lake. Pine trees, all a muted forest green, peppered the cliff face. I felt like I was existing inside a travel influencer’s Lightroom pre-sets filter snow globe.
Brad and I spent a few minutes in meditative silence, embracing the wonderland around us before finishing our hike back to the parking lot.
So that’s all for the Gertrude’s Nose/Millbrook Mountain loop. It’s available on AllTrails, and there is a trail map at the parking lot. I use AllTrails to find hiking spots, and then usually figure it out once I’m at the trailhead and there’s a physical map in front of me with all the trail names on it. Click HERE for a link to the Minnewaska State Park Preserve Map. Super handy to have. Please note that the Gertrude’s Nose loop is closed in the winter due to cross country skiing, so don’t go in the winter! Check the Minnewaska State Park Preserve website for more information.
One day I’ll return to Gertrude’s Nose, and I look forward to that day with great anticipation. Until then, I’ll keep on exploring more around me. Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful rest of your day 🙂
Until next time,
Mac
