Destinations
New York outdoors
Six million acres of Adirondack wilderness, the Catskills' waterfalls, and the "Grand Canyon of the East" at Letchworth.
New York surprises people who only know the skyline. Upstate, the land tilts into real mountains and big water, and most of the best terrain sits inside two protected giants. Adirondack Park covers more than 6 million acres with over 2,000 miles of trail, hundreds of lakes, and the 46 High Peaks that draw hikers from across the country to summits above 4,000 feet. To the south, Catskill Park packs roughly 700,000 acres of ridge trails, trout streams, and waterfalls, including Kaaterskill Falls, the tallest in the state at 260 feet.
Beyond the two parks, the state-park system carries plenty of weight. Letchworth, the "Grand Canyon of the East," runs a 17-mile gorge with three major waterfalls and is reliably ranked among the best state parks in the country. Watkins Glen threads a stream through 19 waterfalls in the Finger Lakes, and just an hour north of the city, Bear Mountain and Harriman give day-hikers serious terrain without a long drive. There is no national park here, so the outdoor identity is built on state parks, forest preserve, and the two big mountain regions.
Fall is the headline season. Foliage peaks first in the High Peaks (late September into early October), then rolls south into the Catskills (early to mid October), and it is worth timing a trip around. Summer is warm and green with comfortable hiking in the 70s F and 80s F, ideal for lakes and swimming holes, while winter turns Lake Placid and the higher peaks into a snow-sports hub. Whatever the month, pack layers: mountain weather shifts fast and high summits can run 15 to 20 degrees colder than the trailhead, so plan for sturdy footwear, a rain shell, and warm layers even on a bright morning.
State park reservations
New York booking basics
State parks, DEC campgrounds, Adirondack sites, and Catskill sites are adjacent but not interchangeable.
Booking note
New York State Park and DEC campground reservations run through the state reservation system, with same-day rules published by New York.
Agency
New York State Parks and DEC
State park directory
New York state park system places
A source-backed inventory layer for planning breadth. Full Kit Authority guides are marked when a park has imagery, camping detail, rules, and packing notes.
194 directory entries
1 full guides live
- Official page
Allan H. Treman State Marine Park
State Marine Park
One of the largest inland marinas in New York, this marina-only park offers seasonal, transient and dry boat slips plus an 8-lane launch ramp at the south end of Cayuga Lake.
- Fishing
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Allegany State Park - Quaker Area
State Park
The Quaker area of New York's largest state park centers on two lakes, offering camping, a swimming beach, fishing piers, hiking trails and a restored park museum.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Allegany State Park - Red House Area
State Park
The Red House area of Allegany centers on Red House Lake, offering paved bike paths, boat and bike rentals, a sandy swimming beach, fishing and a natural history museum.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Anthony Wayne Recreation Area - Bear Mountain State Park
State Park
This area of Bear Mountain State Park lies in a wooded valley with picnic areas, playing fields, and cross-country ski and hiking trails.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Artpark State Park (Earl W. Brydges)
State Park
Earl W. Brydges Artpark presents performing and visual arts programs alongside historic sites, scenic gorge nature trails, picnic facilities and fishing access.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Barcelona Lighthouse
State park system area
Finished in 1829, this 40-foot Barcelona Lighthouse was the first natural gas lighthouse in the world and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Battle Island State Park
State Park
Named for a mid-1700s battle on the Oswego River, this park's 18-hole golf course offers river views and is used for cross-country skiing in winter.
- Golf
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park
State Park
Set on 691 acres along the Connetquot River, this arboretum offers informal plantings, a pinetum, rhododendrons, an estate mansion with seasonal tours and a café.
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Bayswater Point State Park
State Park
Bayswater comprises 12 acres on the eastern shore of Jamaica Bay, with beachfront, wetlands and woodlands that make it ideal habitat for migrating and nesting birds.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Bear Mountain State Park
State Park
Set in rugged mountains above the Hudson River, Bear Mountain features a swimming pool, Trailside Museums and Zoo, hiking and biking trails, and the Perkins Memorial Tower.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Beaver Island State Park
State Park
This 950-acre park at the south end of Grand Island offers a half-mile sandy beach, marina, fishing access, kayak launches, bike trails and an 18-hole golf course.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Golf
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Beaver Pond Campgrounds - Harriman State Park
State Park
Located in Harriman State Park beside Lake Welch, Beaver Pond offers campsites with shared bathrooms and convenient access to swimming beaches and hiking trails.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Belmont Lake State Park
State Park
This 463-acre park, headquarters for Long Island state parks, offers picnic areas, multi-use trails, pedal boat and kayak rentals on Belmont Lake, and fishing.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Wildlife Viewing
- Paddling
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
New York State Parks
- Official page
Bethpage State Park
State Park
Bethpage is best known for its five golf courses, including the Black Course that hosted U.S. Opens and the Ryder Cup, plus picnic areas, bridle paths and ski trails.
- Hiking
- Playground
- Biking
- Golf
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park
State Park
Perched on a hill in Otsego County near Cooperstown, this 229-acre park offers cottages, picnic areas, hiking trails, catch-and-release fishing and winter ski trails.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Big Six Mile Creek Marina
State park system area
Located in a protected inlet off the upper Niagara River, this marina provides a boat launch, world-class fishing access and 125 seasonal boat slips.
- Fishing
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Black Diamond Trail
State Trail
The Black Diamond Trail is an 8.4-mile stone-dust rail trail along the western slope of Cayuga Lake, suited to hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Black River Trail
State Trail
The Black River Trail is a 4.5-mile paved rail trail through woodland following the Black River, suited to hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Blauvelt State Park
State Park
Blauvelt is 590 acres of forested green space in Rockland County, accessible only by hiking trails that offer spectacular views of the Hudson Valley.
- Hiking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Bonavista State Park
State Park
Overlooking Seneca Lake, this park's 9-hole golf course can be played twice for an 18-hole round, with a clubhouse restaurant and shaded picnic areas.
- Hiking
- Golf
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Bowman Lake State Park
State Park
This 967-acre remote retreat known as a camper's paradise offers shady campsites, a sandy lakefront, a trout-stocked lake, a nature center and winter ski trails.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Golf
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Brentwood State Park
State Park
Brentwood is a 52-acre sport facility consisting of baseball fields and soccer fields, open from 8am to sunset.
New York State Parks
- Official page
Brookhaven State Park
State Park
This 1,638-acre former military site is part of the central Long Island Pine Barrens, featuring the Brookhaven Trail that connects to the Paumanok Path.
- Hiking
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Buckhorn Island State Park
State Park
This 895-acre nature preserve of marsh, meadows and woods is the last vestige of marshlands bordering the Niagara River, open for hiking, biking, paddling and fishing.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
Show 170 more New York entries
- Official page
Buffalo Harbor State Park
State Park
The first state park in the city of Buffalo offers Lake Erie views, a 1,100-slip marina, a restaurant, boat launches, a pier and a nautical-themed playground.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Paddling
- Biking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Burnham Point State Park
State Park
Burnham Point is a small, quiet park with lightly-wooded campsites on the St. Lawrence River, ideal for boating and fishing, with boat docks and a playground.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Playground
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Buttermilk Falls State Park
State Park
Named for the cascade formed by Buttermilk Creek flowing toward Cayuga Lake, the park offers gorge and rim hiking trails, a small lake, a campground and a natural pool.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Playground
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
State Park
This 543-acre passive-use preserve in Smithtown offers varied habitats, a nature museum, hiking trails, fly-fishing and winter cross-country skiing.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Nature Trails
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Camp Hero State Park
State Park
This 415-acre park offers wooded areas, Atlantic beachfront, dramatic bluffs and a former military base registered as a National Historic Site, with trails and surf fishing.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Canadarago State Marine Park
State Marine Park
This 1.2-acre marine park near Cooperstown offers two boat slips, fishing access and picnic tables with grills on Canadarago Lake.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park
State Marine Park
Canandaigua Lake Marine Park is a boat launch facility providing fishing access to Canandaigua Lake.
- Fishing
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Canoe-Picnic Point State Park
State Park
Reachable only by boat, Canoe-Picnic Point offers a quiet wooded camping experience with dock space, a picnic gazebo, shore dinner facilities and excellent fishing.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Captree State Park
State Park
Home to Long Island's largest public fishing fleet, Captree offers charter and open boats, two fishing piers, a restaurant, a bait shop and a boat launch.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Paddling
New York State Parks
- Official page
Catharine Valley Trail
State Trail
This year-round stone-dust trail follows former railroad and canal towpath corridors through the glacial valley south of Seneca Lake, with 13 miles currently open.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
State park system area
Set on a peninsula extending into Long Island Sound, Caumsett offers bridle paths and walking, hiking, biking and ski trails over woodland, meadows and salt marsh.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Cayuga Lake State Park
State Park
Cayuga Lake State Park offers a lakeshore beach, campsites and cabins, a boat launch, playground, playing field and an expansive view of Cayuga Lake.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Cedar Island State Park
State Park
Cedar Island State Park is favored for quiet boating, fishing and scenery, with lightly-wooded campsites and a day-use area and picnic pavilion nearby.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Cedar Point State Park
State Park
One of New York's oldest state parks, Cedar Point offers camping, fishing, boating and swimming, a sheltered sandy beach, boat docks and a fishing pier.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Chenango Valley State Park
State Park
An ice-age park with two glacial kettle lakes, Chenango Valley offers a swimming beach, campsites and cabins, trails, fishing, an 18-hole golf course and winter sports.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Biking
- Golf
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Cherry Plain State Park
State Park
This 175-acre park features a day-use picnic area on Black River Pond, a boat launch, bridle paths, hiking and biking trails, fishing and winter ski trails.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Chimney Bluffs State Park
State Park
Chimney Bluffs offers the most dramatic landscape on the Lake Ontario shore, with massive earthen spires viewed from above or along the lakeshore on nature trails.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Chittenango Falls State Park
State Park
A picturesque waterfall formed by glacial sculpting over ancient bedrock is the main attraction, with trails leading into the gorge and across a footbridge.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Clark Reservation State Park
State Park
An ice-age geologic wonder, Clark Reservation features rugged cliffs, a glacial lake, a seasonal nature center and five trails including a cliff trail overlook.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Playground
- Nature Trails
New York State Parks
- Official page
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
State Park
This 265-acre Staten Island nature preserve contains wetlands, ponds, sand barrens and woodlands, with an interpretive center, hiking trails and bridle paths.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
- Horseback Riding
New York State Parks
- Official page
Cold Spring Harbor State Park
State Park
This 40-acre hilly park offers scenic vistas of Cold Spring Harbor and serves as the northern trailhead of the Nassau Suffolk Greenbelt Trail.
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Coles Creek State Park
State Park
Coles Creek offers wooded and open campsites near a swimming beach on Lake St. Lawrence, with a nearby marina, playground, playing fields and a large pavilion.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Conesus Lake Boat Launch
State park system area
Conesus Lake Boat Launch provides boaters with water access and excellent fishing, plus picnic facilities and a public restroom.
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Connetquot River State Park Preserve
State Park
This 3,473-acre preserve protects game birds, fish and animals, offering extensive hiking, bridle and nature trails plus permit fly-fishing on the Connetquot River.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Nature Trails
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Cumberland Bay State Park
State Park
On the west shore of Lake Champlain, Cumberland Bay is popular for its large natural sand beach and picnic grounds, with campsites, a playground and playing fields.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Swimming
- Playground
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Darien Lakes State Park
State Park
Darien Lakes offers hilly woodlands and 12-acre Harlow Lake, with 154 campsites, a beach, playgrounds, fishing, hiking and horseback riding trails and winter trails.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Deans Cove Boat Launch
State park system area
Dean's Cove Boat Launch is a boat launch site, including power boats, with fishing access and no other facilities.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Delta Lake State Park
State Park
Set on a peninsula extending into Delta Reservoir, this park offers picnic areas, hiking and nature trails, a boat launch, shoreline fishing, camping and a sandy beach.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
DeVeaux Woods State Park
State Park
Located between Niagara Falls and Lake Ontario, this park has ball diamonds, a playground, picnic facilities and nature trails connecting to Whirlpool State Park.
- Hiking
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Dewolf Point State Park
State Park
Dewolf Point offers a cabin colony, camping area, stone gazebo and boat dockage on the Lake of the Isles in the St. Lawrence River, with rustic charm.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Eel Weir State Park
State Park
Located on the Oswegatchie River near Black Lake, Eel Weir offers excellent bass fishing, 38 campsites, a picnic area and pavilion in a small, secluded setting.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Boating
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Evangola State Park
State Park
Evangola's main attraction is a natural sand beach on Lake Erie, with shale cliffs, swimming, picnic shelters, ball courts, disc golf, campsites, yurts and a nature center.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Fahnestock State Park (Clarence Fahnestock)
State Park
This 15,000-acre park offers hiking trails, a Canopus Lake beach, a campground, boating, hunting, fishing and a winter park with groomed cross-country ski trails.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Fahnestock Winter Park
State park system area
Nestled in Clarence Fahnestock State Park, this winter park offers 20 km of groomed cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails, sledding and tubing with rental equipment.
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Fair Haven Beach State Park
State Park
On the Lake Ontario shoreline, Fair Haven Beach offers shoreline bluffs, 1,500 feet of sand beach with a guarded swim area, campgrounds, cabins, fishing and boating.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Fillmore Glen State Park
State Park
This gorge park offers hiking trails with five waterfalls, a botanically rich glen, 60 campsites, a stream-fed swimming pool and fishing in the Owasco Lake inlet.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Playground
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Fort Niagara State Park
State Park
Fort Niagara State Park has a boat launch providing access to the Lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario, woodland hiking trails, swimming pools, a view of Lake Ontario, picnic grounds.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Four Mile Creek State Park
State Park
Four Mile Creek State Park is located just 20 minutes north of the mighty Niagara Falls.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Biking
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park
State Park
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is a public memorial to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose term lasted from March 4, 1933 to April 12.
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park
State Park
A scenic haven approximately 40 miles from New York City, Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park offers day-trippers a day of fun and relaxation.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Franny Reese State Park
State Park
Franny Reese State Park provides an exciting place to explore nature up close.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Gantry Plaza State Park
State Park
Gantry Plaza State Park is a 12-acre riverside oasis that boasts spectacular views of the midtown Manhattan skyline, including the Empire State Building and the United Nations.
- Fishing
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Genesee Valley Greenway State Park
State Park
The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park is a 90-mile open space corridor that follows the route of the Genesee Valley Canal (1840-1878) and the Pennsylvania Railroad Rochester Branch (1882-1963) from.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Gilbert Lake State Park
State Park
Gilbert Lake State Park's lake and three ponds lie in wooded, hilly terrain in the foothills of the Catskills.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Gilgo State Park
State Park
Gilgo State Park is located on a barrier beach on the south shore of Long Island, with the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay frontage.
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Wildlife Viewing
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Glimmerglass State Park
State Park
Glimmerglass State Park, located eight miles outside the village of Cooperstown, overlooks Otsego Lake, the "Glimmerglass" of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Wildlife Viewing
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Golden Hill State Park
State Park
Golden Hill State Park was acquired by New York State in 1962. The Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1958.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Goosepond Mountain State Park
State Park
Goosepond Mountain State Park, located in Orange County, is managed as 1,558 acres of open space.
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
New York State Parks
- Official page
Grafton Lakes State Park
State Park
Grafton Lakes State Park, on the forested plateau between the Taconic and Hudson Valleys, includes six ponds and nearly 2500 acres.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Paddling
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Grass Point State Park
State Park
Grass Point State Park is on a point of land that projects into the American Channel of the St. Lawrence River.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Green Lakes State Park
State Park
Green Lakes State Park's outstanding features are its two glacial lakes surrounded by upland forest.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Golf
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Hallock State Park Preserve
State Park
Hallock State Park Preserve offers a total of 225 acres.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Hamlin Beach State Park
State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park's clear water, sandy beaches, and 264 tent and trailer campsites bring thousands of visitors to the park each year.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
State Recreation Area
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park is located just South of Honeoye Lake in Canadice, NY.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Harriman State Park
State Park
Harriman State Park, located in Rockland and Orange counties, is the second-largest park in the parks system, with 31 lakes and reservoirs, 200 miles of hiking trails, two beaches.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Heckscher State Park
State Park
Heckscher State Park was once the 19th century estates of George C. Taylor and J. Neal Plum.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Wildlife Viewing
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Helen McNitt State Park
State Park
Established as a passive-use park in 1999 from a gift from James and Helen McNitt, this 133-acre park straddles both Chard and East Lake Roads in Cazenovia, N.Y.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Wildlife Viewing
- Paddling
New York State Parks
- Official page
Hempstead Lake State Park
State Park
Hempstead Lake State Park is a multiuse facility.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Paddling
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
High Tor State Park
State Park
High Tor State Park, a day-use facility for picnicking, swimming and hiking, affords spectacular views of the Hudson River.
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Highland Lakes State Park
State Park
Highland Lakes State Park consists of more than 3,000 acres of undeveloped woods and lakes in Orange County.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Higley Flow State Park
State Park
Higley Flow State Park is nestled among the Adirondack foothills on the picturesque Raquette River.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Paddling
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Hither Hills State Park
State Park
Hither Hills State Park offers visitors scenic picnic areas and fireplaces, sport fishing, a sandy ocean beach, playing fields, a playground and a 189-site campground on the ocean.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Paddling
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Honeoye Lake Boat Launch State Park
State Park
Honeoye Lake State Boat Launch is located at the South-East corner of Honeoye Lake.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve
State Park
A mostly undeveloped preserve of over 8,000 acres with over 70 miles of trail.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Wildlife Viewing
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Hudson River Islands State Park
State Park
Accessible only by boat, Hudson River Islands State Park facilities are concentrated on the islands of Gay's Point and Stockport Middle Ground.
- Camping
- Boating
- Wildlife Viewing
- Paddling
New York State Parks
- Official page
Hudson River Park
State park system area
Hudson River Park offers a scenic riverside experience in New York City, featuring several piers and landscaped areas for relaxation and recreation.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Playground
- Biking
- Golf
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park
State Marine Park
Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park offers boat launches and fishing opportunities in a beautiful natural setting.
- Fishing
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Jacques Cartier State Park
State Park
Jacques Cartier State Park has a sheltered bay protecting the sandy swimming beach and campers dock.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
James Baird State Park
State Park
James Baird State Park is situated on farmland once owned by James Baird, a contractor and engineer whose firm constructed the Lincoln Memorial.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Biking
- Golf
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Jones Beach State Park
State Park
World famous Jones Beach State Park, home of 6.5 miles of beautiful white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean, is made up of more than 2.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Paddling
- Golf
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Joseph Davis State Park
State Park
Joseph Davis State Park offers facilities for a wide variety of recreational activities, with generally flat terrain comprising fields, woodlands, and ponds.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Paddling
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Keewaydin State Park
State Park
Keewaydin State Park is on the St. Lawrence River, offering excellent boating, fishing and, during the winter, ice fishing and cross-country skiing.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Keuka Lake State Park
State Park
Keuka Lake State Park, located in the heart of wine country, has a gentle charm, offering views of vineyard-covered slopes, glimmering water and clear blue sky.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Knox Farm State Park
State Park
Knox Farm State Park is the former country estate of Buffalo's renowned Knox Family.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Kring Point State Park
State Park
Kring Point State Park is a narrow peninsula whose south shore faces Goose Bay and north shore faces the St. Lawrence River.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lake Erie State Park
State Park
High bluffs overlooking Lake Erie provide a breathtaking view for the visitor to Lake Erie State Park.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lake Sebago Beach - Harriman State Park
State Park
Lake Sebago Beach in Harriman State Park is currently closed. The boat launch on Lake Sebago remains open.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lake Superior State Park
State Park
Lake Superior State Park consists of 1,409 acres and features Lake Superior and Chestnut Ridge Pond.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Paddling
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lake Taghkanic State Park
State Park
Lake Taghkanic State Park, nestled next to Lake Taghkanic in the rolling hills and lush forests of Columbia County, offers a wonderful variety of recreational activities.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lake Tiorati Beach - Harriman State Park
State Park
Lake Tiorati was formed by clearing swampland in Harriman State Park and constructing a concrete dam to make two ponds into one large lake.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lake Welch Beach - Harriman State Park
State Park
Lake Welch Beach State Park's man-made Lake Welch, with its half-mile-long sandy beach in the wooded hills of the Ramapo Mountains, is the largest beach in Harriman State Park.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lakeside State Park
State Park
Lakeside State Park offers an outstanding panoramic view of Lake Ontario and surrounding farms and fruit orchards.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Full guide
Letchworth State Park
State Park
Letchworth State Park, renowned as the 'Grand Canyon of the East.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Paddling
- Biking
- Horseback Riding
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Lodi Point State Park
State Park
Lodi Point Marine Park is a boat launch and picnic site. The park has modest accommodations for boaters, picnickers and anglers.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Long Point State Park - Finger Lakes
State Park
Located on the east shore of Cayuga Lake just South of Aurora NY, in Finger Lakes Wine country, Long Point State Park provides a 4-lane boat launch, a modern playground.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Wildlife Viewing
- Paddling
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Long Point State Park - Thousand Islands
State Park
Long Point State Park is in a remote area, offering a peaceful, relaxing camping experience.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Long Point State Park on Lake Chautauqua
State Park
Long Point, which juts peninsula-like into Chautauqua Lake, is one of the moraines left long ago by a retreating glacier.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Macomb Reservation State Park
State Park
Macomb Reservation State Park lies just outside the Adirondack Park along the Salmon River's course toward Lake Champlain.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Paddling
- Winter Sports
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Mark Twain State Park and Soaring Eagles Golf Course
State Park
Named for the great 19th-century author who spent summers in the area.
- Golf
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Marsha P. Johnson State Park (East River State Park)
State Park
Marsha P. Johnson State Park is a seven-acre waterfront park located along the East River in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Mary Island State Park
State Park
Mary Island State Park comprises 12 heavily-wooded acres with steep rocky outcroppings offering spectacular views of the Canadian shore or the shipping channel.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Max V. Shaul State Park
State Park
Max V. Shaul State Park is a small, quiet camping area with 30 wooded tent and trailer sites.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Mexico Point Boat Launch
State park system area
Located off State Rt.104 B on County Rt 40, Mexico Point offers a large concrete boat launch into the Little Salmon River with close access to Lake Ontario.
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Midway State Park
State Park
Located on the shores of beautiful Chautauqua Lake, Midway State Park is a family treasure.
- Golf
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Mills Norrie State Park (Margaret Lewis Norrie)
State Park
Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park adjoins Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park and together, comprise more than 1,000 acres.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Biking
- Golf
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Mine Kill State Park
State Park
Located in the scenic Schoharie Valley, Mine Kill State Park overlooks the NY Power Authority's Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Disc Golf
- Playground
- Paddling
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Hunting
New York State Parks
- Official page
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
State Park
A park preserve on the Shawangunk Mountain ridge featuring waterfalls, crystalline lakes, dense forests, sheer cliffs, carriage roads, and footpaths.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Climbing
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: Sam's Point Area
State Park
The popular Sam's Point Area sits on the highest section of the Shawangunk Mountains, the most southerly section of Minnewaska, with cliffs, forests and views.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Montauk Downs State Park
State Park
The park is best known for its Robert Trent Jones-designed 18-hole golf course, plus a driving range, tennis courts, swimming pool and clubhouse.
- Golf
- Swimming
New York State Parks
- Official page
Montauk Point State Park
State Park
On the eastern tip of Long Island's South Shore, the park has stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean where it meets Block Island Sound.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Moreau Lake State Park
State Park
Shady groves shelter picnic grounds and a pavilion overlooking the lake, with secluded campgrounds, a sandy beach, trails and a nature center.
- Camping
- RV Camping
- Picnicking
- Beach
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Paddling
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Newtown Battlefield State Park
State Park
Campsites and cabins overlook the site of the 1779 Battle of Newtown, a Revolutionary War clash on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Niagara Falls State Park
State Park
The nation's oldest state park draws millions of visitors to the magnificent waterfall, with year-round scenery, attractions and miles of hiking trails.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
New York State Parks
- Official page
Niagara Falls State Park - Devil's Hole Area
State Park
Devil's Hole State Park overlooks the Niagara River's Devil's Hole Rapids, with picnic areas, scenic overlooks, hiking trails and a stone staircase to the gorge.
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Fishing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Niagara Falls State Park - Whirlpool Area
State Park
The two-level park has scenic overlooks of the Niagara River Whirlpool and rapids at street level and hiking and fishing access at river level.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Nissequogue River State Park
State Park
On Long Island's north shore, the park is home to shore birds, reptiles and amphibians, with a designated State Bird Conservation Area and the Greenbelt Trail.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Paddling
- Fishing
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Nyack Beach State Park
State Park
The park has 61 acres of Hudson River riverfront in Rockland County, popular for picnicking, hiking, bicycling and fishing.
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Biking
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Oak Orchard State Marine Park
State Marine Park
Oak Orchard State Marine Park is a boat launch facility on Lake Ontario with fishing access and picnic areas.
- Boating
- Fishing
- Picnicking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park
State Park
Adjoining Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park to form more than 1,000 acres, the park has trails with river views, campsites, cabins, a marina and an environmental center.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
- Camping
- Cabins
- Boating
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
State Historic Park
This 26.2-mile portion of the Croton Aqueduct route traverses local villages and varied landscapes, with 22 miles part of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Old Erie Canal State Historic Park
State Historic Park
This 36-mile stretch of the Old Erie Canal is a designated National Recreational Trail with footbridges, remnants of stone aqueducts and a canal boat museum.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Horseback Riding
- Biking
- Paddling
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Oquaga Creek State Park
State Park
A quiet escape with no cell or WiFi service, the park has a beach, forested campsites, cabins, a cottage and a 55-acre lake for anglers.
- Beach
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Orient Beach State Park
State Park
On the eastern tip of Long Island's north fork, this National Natural Landmark has waterfront on Gardiner's Bay and a rare maritime forest.
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Hiking
- Biking
- Nature Trails
New York State Parks
- Official page
Pat McGee Trail
State Trail
The 12.1-mile Pat McGee Trail in Cattaraugus County connects Salamanca and Cattaraugus along a former rail bed, linking to the Finger Lakes and North Country trails.
- Hiking
- Biking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Peebles Island State Park
State Park
At the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, the park offers river and rapids views along miles of wooded paths and is headquarters of State Parks' historic sites bureaus.
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Pine Grove Boat Launch
State park system area
This boat launch features a shallow water launch into the Salmon River, about half a mile to Lake Ontario, with fishing and restrooms.
- Boating
- Fishing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Pixley Falls State Park
State Park
The park's main attraction is a 50-foot waterfall near the picnic area, with steep wooded hills, a mountain stream, a nature trail and trout streams.
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
- Hiking
- Fishing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Point Au Roche State Park
State Park
On the shores of Lake Champlain, the park has a sandy beach, picnic areas, nature, hiking and biking trails, a nature center and mooring sites.
- Beach
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
- Hiking
- Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Reservoir State Park
State Park
A favorite in Niagara County, the park offers tennis courts, softball diamonds, basketball courts, picnic facilities and an overlook of the Robert Moses Power Plant Reservoir.
- Picnicking
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Riverbank State Park (Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park)
State Park
This 28-acre rooftop park rises above the Hudson River in New York City, offering a pool complex, track, ballfields, courts, skating rink, playgrounds and river views.
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Robert G. Wehle State Park
State Park
The park boasts 1,100 acres of Lake Ontario shorefront with a rentable compound, formal gardens and over 10 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Picnicking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Robert H. Treman State Park
State Park
This Finger Lakes gem centers on the rugged Enfield Glen gorge, with trails past 12 waterfalls including the 115-foot Lucifer Falls.
- Hiking
- Camping
- RV Camping
- Cabins
- Swimming
New York State Parks
- Official page
Robert Moses State Park - Long Island
State Park
At the westernmost point of Fire Island, this local favorite has a landmark water tower and nearly five miles of shoreline.
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Beach
- Fishing
- Golf
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Robert Moses State Park - Thousand Islands
State Park
Located partly on Barnhart Island via a tunnel under the Eisenhower Lock, the park has campsites, cabins, a marina, fishing, a swimming beach and a nature center.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Boating
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Beach
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Robert V. Riddell State Park
State Park
More than 2,000 acres of fields and forested woodlands in the Susquehanna River Valley, part of an extensive statewide trail network favored by hikers.
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Winter Sports
- Fishing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Roberto Clemente State Park
State Park
A 25-acre waterfront park along the Harlem River in the Bronx, with a recreation building, Olympic-size pool complex, ball fields, courts, picnic areas and playgrounds.
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Rock Island Lighthouse State Park
State Park
Visit the historic Rock Island Lighthouse on the St. Lawrence Seaway, climb to the lantern room and tour the museum in the keeper's quarters.
- Historic Site
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Rockefeller State Park Preserve
State Park
Quiet countryside walks lead through forested hills and pastoral fields on the former country estates of the Rockefeller family, 30 miles north of New York City.
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Wildlife Viewing
- Nature Trails
New York State Parks
- Official page
Rockland Lake State Park
State Park
On a ridge of Hook Mountain above the Hudson River, the park has a large water complex, playground, tennis courts, hiking trails, two golf courses and a lake trail.
- Swimming
- Playground
- Picnicking
- Boating
- Hiking
- Golf
- Fishing
- Biking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Sampson State Park
State Park
On the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, the park has campsites, waterfront cottages, a marina, a sandy beach with guarded swimming and a scenic lake trail.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Boating
- Beach
- Swimming
- Playground
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Biking
- Hiking
- Geocaching
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Sandy Island Beach State Park
State Park
Part of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland System, the only significant freshwater dune site in the northeastern United States, with walkovers and viewing platforms.
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Paddling
- Beach
New York State Parks
- Official page
Saratoga Lake State Boat Launch
State park system area
Located on Route 9P on Saratoga Lake, this boat launch is open year-round with parking capacity for up to 100 trailers.
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Saratoga Spa State Park
State Park
A National Historic Landmark with classical architecture and mineral springs, home to the Gideon Putnam Resort, two golf courses and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
- Golf
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Schodack Island State Park
State Park
Just south of Albany with seven miles of Hudson River and Schodack Creek shoreline, home to bald eagles and herons, with multi-use trails and launches.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Camping
- Playground
- Boating
- Paddling
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Schunnemunk State Park
State Park
More than 3,300 acres of rolling meadow and mountain top offer 360-degree views, with eight marked trails totaling over 20 miles across the mountain.
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Sebago Cabin Camp - Harriman State Park
State Park
Harriman is the second-largest state park in the system, with the Appalachian Trail, 46,000 acres, over 200 miles of trails, 31 lakes and three beaches.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Beach
- Swimming
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Selkirk Shores State Park
State Park
On Lake Ontario in the bird migration route, the park has outstanding fishing and camping plus popular hiking and biking trails, with boat launches on the Salmon River.
- Fishing
- Camping
- Hiking
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Seneca Lake State Park
State Park
A waterfront gem in the heart of the Finger Lakes with a relaxing setting for swimmers and picnickers, a 100-jet sprayground, a playground and two marinas.
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Boating
New York State Parks
- Official page
Shadmoor State Park
State Park
A quarter-mile east of Montauk Village, the park features more than 2,400 feet of ocean beach with two stairways and two World War II concrete bunkers.
- Beach
- Picnicking
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Shirley Chisholm State Park
State Park
Named for the trailblazing congresswoman, this park rises 130 feet above sea level on some of the highest ground in New York City, with panoramic views and trails.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
- Biking
- Picnicking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Silver Lake State Park
State Park
Silver Lake State Park provides a boat launch facility for boating and fishing on the lake, with picnic facilities and a year-round public restroom.
- Boating
- Fishing
- Picnicking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Silver Mine - Harriman State Park
State Park
Harriman is the second-largest state park in the system, with the Appalachian Trail, 46,000 acres, over 200 miles of trails, 31 lakes and three beaches.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Beach
- Swimming
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Sojourner Truth State Park
State Park
The first state park in the City of Kingston, named for the 19th century abolitionist, with Hudson River views, historic industrial ruins and diverse habitats.
- Hiking
- Historic Site
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Southwick Beach State Park
State Park
Known for swimming and sunning on its long sandy Lake Ontario beach, with camping, picnicking, hiking and trails adjoining a wildlife management area.
- Beach
- Swimming
- Camping
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
State Park at the Fair
State Park
Located by the reflecting pool at the New York State Fair, this park setting offers hands-on activities, demonstrations, exhibits and a mini-golf course.
- Golf
New York State Parks
- Official page
Sterling Forest State Park
State Park
This unbroken deep-forest habitat is important for black bear, hawks, songbirds and rare species, with a visitor center overlooking Sterling Lake.
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Stony Brook State Park
State Park
Set among a rugged gorge, the park offers camping, picnicking, a stream-fed pool, a playground and a gorge trail passing three major waterfalls.
- Camping
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Playground
New York State Parks
- Official page
Storm King State Park
State Park
The undeveloped Storm King State Park offers unsurpassed views of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley in an undisturbed green space.
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Sunken Meadow State Park (Governor Alfred E. Smith)
State Park
On Long Island Sound, the park offers ball fields, lawn areas, swimming, a boardwalk, a golf course and launches for paddling and windsurfing.
- Swimming
- Beach
- Golf
- Paddling
New York State Parks
- Official page
Sunset Bay State Marine Park
State Marine Park
Located on Cattaraugus Creek with easy access to Lake Erie, the park has accommodations for boaters, picnickers and anglers and is wheelchair accessible.
- Boating
- Picnicking
- Fishing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Taconic State Park - Copake Falls Area
State Park
Along 16 miles of the Taconic Mountain Range bordering Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Copake Falls Area has an extensive trail system and camping near Bash Bish Falls.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Biking
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Taconic State Park - Rudd Pond Area
State Park
Along 16 miles of the Taconic Mountain Range bordering Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Rudd Pond Area has an extensive trail system, camping, swimming and fishing.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Biking
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Tallman Mountain State Park
State Park
On the easterly slope of the Palisades overlooking the Hudson and Piermont Marsh, the park has a running track, tennis courts, a playfield and a walking trail.
- Winter Sports
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Taughannock Falls State Park
State Park
The park's namesake waterfall is among the highest in the Northeast, plunging past cliffs nearly 400 feet above the gorge, with campsites and cabins on Cayuga Lake.
- Hiking
- Camping
- Cabins
- Beach
- Boating
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Thacher State Park
State Park
Situated along the fossil-rich Helderberg Escarpment, the park has playgrounds, ball fields, campsites, an adventure course, climbing and the Indian Ladder Trail.
- Playground
- Picnicking
- Camping
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Thompson's Lake Campground - Thacher State Park
State Park
Situated along the fossil-rich Helderberg Escarpment, the park has playgrounds, ball fields, campsites, an adventure course, climbing and the Indian Ladder Trail.
- Camping
- Beach
- Swimming
- Playground
- Hiking
- Biking
- Climbing
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Trail View State Park
State Park
Trail View is a 7.4-mile linear park for hiking and biking that links Cold Spring Harbor State Park to Bethpage State Park along the Nassau/Suffolk Greenbelt Trail.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Two Rivers State Park Recreation Area
State Park
Near the Pennsylvania border in the Southern Tier, Two Rivers State Park features recreation trails through steep forested slopes and open hilltop meadows.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Valley Stream State Park
State Park
Valley Stream is a day-use picnic facility next to a residential area, offering picnic areas, children's play areas, ball fields, nature trails, and cross-country ski trails.
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Nature Trails
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Verona Beach State Park
State Park
Located on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake, this park offers picnicking, a beach, a campground, and winter snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing.
- Camping
- Beach
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Fishing
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park
State Historic Park
One of the Hudson Valley's top attractions, this elevated pedestrian bridge stands 212 feet above the river and stretches 1.28 miles for hikers, joggers, and bicyclists.
- Hiking
- Biking
- Historic Site
New York State Parks
- Official page
Waterson Point State Park
State Park
Accessible by boat only, this small, picturesque park offers overnight and day dockage for 30 boats, picnic facilities, and shoreline fishing.
- Boating
- Fishing
- Picnicking
New York State Parks
- Official page
Watkins Glen State Park
State Park
Watkins Glen is famous for a stream that descends past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls, with an Olympic-size pool, campsites, picnicking, and fishing.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Fishing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Wellesley Island State Park
State Park
This flagship Thousand Islands park is the region's largest camping complex, with over 400 campsites, cabins, a marina, boat launches, a sandy beach, and a 9-hole golf course.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Beach
- Golf
New York State Parks
- Official page
Westcott Beach State Park
State Park
A popular day-use and camping park on Lake Ontario sheltered by Henderson Bay, with bluff campsites, a marina, a sandy beach, fishing, a playground, and hiking trails.
- Camping
- Beach
- Swimming
- Boating
- Fishing
- Playground
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Whetstone Gulf State Park
State Park
Whetstone is built around a three-mile-long gorge cut into the Tug Hill Plateau, with wooded campsites, a man-made swimming area, hiking and skiing trails, and a reservoir for anglers.
- Camping
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Winter Sports
- Fishing
- Paddling
New York State Parks
- Official page
Wildwood State Park
State Park
Wildwood sits on a high bluff overlooking Long Island Sound, with trailer and tent sites, cottages, swimming, shaded picnic areas, a playground, multi-use trails, and fishing.
- Camping
- Cabins
- Swimming
- Beach
- Picnicking
- Playground
- Hiking
- Fishing
New York State Parks
- Official page
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park
State Park
A well-preserved natural area on Lake Ontario where Tuscarora Bay has a boat launch, with popular fishing and picnicking and a nature trail for hiking and skiing.
- Boating
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Winter Sports
New York State Parks
- Official page
Wonder Lake State Park
State Park
Wonder Lake offers 8.6 miles of marked trails along historic bridle paths across an 1,100-acre property surrounding the 3-acre Laurel Pond.
- Hiking
- Nature Trails
New York State Parks
- Official page
Woodlawn Beach State Park
State Park
Directly on Lake Erie near Buffalo, the park offers a one-mile natural sand beach with panoramic views, picnicking, beach volleyball, nature trails, and an interpretive boardwalk.
- Beach
- Swimming
- Picnicking
- Nature Trails
New York State Parks
Inventory source: USGS PAD-US 4.1. Curated states also use official agency directories where available. Official reservations and rules remain state-specific, so use the state booking links above before committing to dates.
State parks in New York
State-park guides focus on the decisions that usually make or break the weekend: camping reservations, day-use access, trail difficulty, and seasonal crowd pressure.
Getting around New York
Most outdoor trips upstate route through one of three airports. Albany International (ALB) is the natural hub for both big mountain regions: the Catskills are about 50 miles south (under an hour and a half), and Lake Placid in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks is roughly 130 miles north, about a two-hour drive. For the western parks, fly into Rochester or Buffalo instead, since Letchworth and Watkins Glen sit far across the state from Albany. New York City's airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark) work well if you are headed to the southern Catskills or the Hudson Valley parks.
Distances stretch out once you are upstate, so a car is essential. From New York City, the Catskills are about 120 miles (a little over 2 hours), while Lake Placid and the High Peaks are closer to 290 miles, a 5-hour haul up the Northway (I-87). From Albany, the Catskills and Adirondacks are both easy day-trip range, but the western Finger Lakes and Letchworth are a 4 to 5 hour drive across the state, so pair those with Rochester or Buffalo rather than backtracking. Within the Adirondacks, trailhead parking at the popular High Peaks fills before dawn on peak fall weekends, so arrive early or pick a quieter trail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit New York's parks?
Early fall is the standout, with foliage peaking in the Adirondack High Peaks in late September to early October and rolling into the Catskills through mid October. Summer is excellent for lakes, swimming holes, and warm hiking in the 70s F and 80s F, while winter turns Lake Placid and the higher peaks into a snow-sports destination. Aim for late September if you want the best mix of color and reliable trail conditions.
Does New York have a national park?
No, New York has no national park. Its outdoor scene is built on the enormous Adirondack and Catskill parks (state-managed forest preserve) plus a strong state-park system. Standouts include Letchworth, the "Grand Canyon of the East," and Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes.
What are the best outdoor areas in New York for hiking?
Adirondack Park is the big draw, with over 2,000 miles of trail and the 46 High Peaks above 4,000 feet centered on Lake Placid. The Catskills offer ridge hikes and waterfalls like Kaaterskill Falls, and Letchworth's 17-mile gorge is among the best in the country. For a quick trip from New York City, Bear Mountain and Harriman state parks deliver real terrain about an hour north.
How far is the Adirondacks from New York City?
Lake Placid, in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks, is about 290 miles from New York City, roughly a 5-hour drive up I-87 (the Northway). If you would rather not drive the whole way, fly into Albany and rent a car: it is only about 130 miles (two hours) from there. The Catskills are far closer, around 120 miles and a little over two hours from the city.