August 8, 2024

Before walking the trails at Shawangunk Grasslands NWR (previous post), I visited Sam’s Point Area to check out the ice caves. These caves were formed by quartz conglomerate fault debris and are part of the “largest known exposed fault system in the United States” (NPS website).

There is a $10 parking fee at the Sam’s Point Visitor Area, but there are plenty of other trails besides the one leading to the ice caves, so the price of admission is worth it. I walked a bit on some of the other trails, but I will focus on the ice caves here.

There’s a moderately steep walk along a former access road to the top of the hills, then a short descent to the loop hike through the caves. Total roundup is about 3.4 miles, with less than a mile of that on the actual ice cave loop.

There are slippery steps, a short ladder, and a lot of places where you need to duck. There are handrails on the stairs and motion sensor lights in the darkest areas. I saw no ice on my trip, but it’s been a hot summer.

This was a fun excursion. If one wants to see a different section of the exposed fault and take a more risky and adventurous hike, one can contact the visitor center and ask about guided treks through the “permit only” areas. There are one or two scheduled each week.