Honor's Haven Resort & Spa

The Town of Ellenville

by edjessup

The town of Ellenville isnt' the nicest place in the world. It is kind of depressed and depressing. Watching the hang glidders coming off of the Ellenville mountain is fun to do both at the bottom and on the way up to the top, to Sam's Point. Stopping in town is pointless (if you ask me). The nearby town of Wurtsboro is much more respectable and quaint. It has cute shops and few decent places to eat at.

Don't Forget Water!

by edjessup

Bring a small bag with water and light snacks. If you plan on hiking off away from the area you'd better bring extra water and a few sandwiches or you'll be very sad! Sturdy shoes good for walking and minimal climbing that do not slip easily. Also a jacket around the waist is not a bad idea. I always recomend wearing pants, though people do wear shorts in the summer. The caves can get a bit chilly, and in the spring and fall the mountain air is a bit crisp. A few bandaids couldn't hurt, incase of an accidental scrape. A camera is always nice to have to capture the breath taking views of the region. Make sure to bring extra batteries for those using a digital camera.

Sam's Point Preserve

by krzykrl

"Natural Wonders Abound"

Sam's Point Dwarf Pine Preserver is located outside the town of Ellenville on the Shawanagunk Ridge is a pleasure for hikers. The Shawanagunks (or Gunks) are the largest area of uninterrupted cliffs east of the Mississippi.

Sam's Point has several features beyond the spectacular views of Southeastern New York and New Jersey. They include hiking trails, waterfalls and the ice caves.

Sam's Point Preserve

by edjessup

"Sam's Point Preserve, Upstate's Secret Gem"

I first went to "Sam's Point Preserve" in the late 80's and early 90's when I owned a green '74 Chevy Chevette. Back then this area of the Shawangunk Mountain Range was known as "Ice Cave Mountain" and was a dying tourist trap leftover from the heydays when people would flock to the Catskill's for a vacation. You could actually drive up the mountain back then and park at the top. Then you could take a quick walk to the point and to the "Ice Caves", after paying a small admission to a woman in a hut at the bottom of the mountain. It was perfect for a lazy fool like myself and my friends, who wanted to see nature but not have to hike it too much. Since then the area was closed for many years and now it has reopened and is run and taken care of by The Nature Conservancy. You can no longer drive up the mountain, you must walk. At first I was put off, but quickly realized this is a much better way to appreciate the natural beauty of this secret regional gem. Having no cars here also helps in preserving the fragile eco-system hosting approximately 40 rare plants and species of animals. The caves and the point are still accessible and more breath taking than ever. The hike from the bottom to the top and back is scenic and easy for those looking for a quick stroll. For those more adventurous hikers, the region has been connected to others areas of the mountain range such as Awosting falls, Gertrude’s nose etc.