4.5Lake George(2.209 reviews) - Actively serene spot Bodies of Water
During a 1791 visit, Thomas Jefferson was moved to say, "Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw." Not much has changed. Today this 32-mile long, 3-mile wide dazzling lake draws vactioners who come to enjoy a plethora of outdoor endeavors including sailing, swimming, cruising on historic steamboats, hiking and more.See more..
5.0Mirror Lake(1.069 reviews) - Absolutely Lovely Bodies of Water
Mirror Lake is absolutely lovely. At times during the day it is just like a mirror with waters reflecting its surroundings in the calm water. The lake is great for swimming, canoeing or other water activities. One may stroll around the lake on sidewalks and through Lake Placid. Staying on the lake is magical, and sunsets reflecting on the lake are spectacular.See more..
This clean, serene lake is the easternmost of New York's Finger Lakes.See more..
4.5Otsego Lake(405 reviews) - A Beautiful Experience Bodies of Water
This picturesque nine-mile-long lake is the centerpiece of Cooperstown.See more..
4.5Cayuga Lake(396 reviews) - Lots of fun Bodies of Water
One of the largest of New York's Finger Lakes, this area is used for swimming, boating, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities.See more..
4.5Lake Placid(251 reviews) - Pontooning on Lake Placid Bodies of Water
Wonderful experience to rent a pontoon with canopy for 4 hours 10-2pm for $550 plus lots of tax and see all parts of the lake and coasts at one’s leisure. Good idea to do this after taking a narrated one hour boat tour so you know your way around. You can motor along, stop to swim, stop to fish and stop to quietly float. Check out you pontoon carefully: they can be dirty and the seats all torn and not situated stably. Be sure to get a mobile phone number to call in case of unexpected emergencies like loss of power or lack of gas. 4hours is plenty of fun. Pontoons are less expensive on Lake Saranac but these book up far in advance ($375 for a full day)!See more..
4.5Saranac Lake(147 reviews) - Visit Saranac Lake NY Bodies of Water
Lake region that was settled in 1819 as a health resort and recreation area for winter and summer sports.See more..
4.5Great Sacandaga Lake(55 reviews) - Good catch and release smallmouth bass Bodies of Water
My wife and I fished the lake twice during our visit, once from our canoe, launched from the beach newar the Braadalbin boat launch, once from the boat of Fish Attractor Guide Service. The pike that I had hoped for eluded us on both days, but we caught a lot of smallmouth bass (27, the morning we fished with the guide) on swimbaits. Fishing for bass was catch and release only, which was fine, as we enjoyed the fast action.See more..
Yes, great. Nice walk to see plants and animals along the river good parking easy walk. I will surely visit again soonSee more..
4.5Findley Lake(42 reviews) - Exceptional all-season beautiful lake setting in foothills Bodies of Water
Findley Lake is a very pretty Allegheny-Chautauqua lake area location with excellent wintertime sporting activities close-by, festivals, summertime boating, cottages and various small shops in town as well as plentiful assorted activities at nearby Chautauqua Lake and Institute. It is very accessible via major highways or secondary highways with very good dining opportunities and hotel/inn accommodations and larger cities within easy travel distance and including outlet mall shopping and the shores of Lake Erie. See more..
I enjoyed a social distancing walk here with a friend. So peaceful! Good combination of narrow wooded trails and wide open grassy paths..lovely views of this pond which is quite big. Saw kayakers and people fishing. Small parking area. Some benches and picnic areas. Trail maps are posted and information is also on their website. Don't forget to check for ticks.See more..
4.5Shepherd Park(30 reviews) - Beautiful park Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water • Beaches • Parks
Beautiful park that is maintained and landscaped beautifully. There is an excellent view of the lake from the park, and there are chairs and benches scattered throughout the park so you can just sit and look at the view. The park also hosts summer concerts.See more..
4.5Chautauqua Lake(29 reviews) - Chautauqua Lake Estates on Chautauqua Lake Airbnb Joan’s Bodies of Water
Beautiful condo equipment with everything you need. Amazing lake view. So much to do in Chautauqua County. The National Comedy club .. Lucy Ball hometown. Wine country... many wineries, many breweries, beautiful park of upstate NY... highly recommended !!See more..
4.5Schodack Island State Park(24 reviews) - Beautiful campground! Spent 2-3 hours State Parks • Bodies of Water
My husband and I recently camped at Schodack island state park just south of Albany NY. Price was very reasonable with huge private camp sites.The park is on the Hudson River with tons of picnic areas, beautiful clean restrooms, free showers, boat launch ,playgrounds and a weekly fireman’s Friday night cook off. we toured the area and drove to Albany and saw the state capital area and president Chester Arthur’s grave site in next town. We drove to Saratoga past horse tract which was operating without spectators. Then we went to Saratoga spa state park and visited the Saratoga auto museum! On to beautiful lake george and took a boat ride on minne ha ha.its beautiful country up there with plenty to do but the state park is so nice for camping there’s no need to leave!See more..
4.5Red Wing Park(20 reviews) - Great place to spend a warm summer day! Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water • Beaches • Parks
Red Wing is a hidden gem for the residents of East Fishkill and the local towns that are included in gaining access. The lake is spring fed and offers fantastic swimming, playing or just relaxing. The sand beach is warm and inviting, the staff and life guards are the best! It's great for an all day picnic, a few hours on the beach or just a quick swim. Included are slides in the water, docks, swimming lanes, recent upgrades to make the water handicapped accessible, new playground equipment, picnic tables, grills, basketball and volley ball, fishing in the evenings, concession stand, showers and changing rooms. Very family friendly and well maintained. All the pleasure of a day at the beach without the ocean and long travel.See more..
4.5The Narrows(19 reviews) - Beautiful picture op! Bodies of Water
A lovely day in Staten Island looking over the Narrows from Fort Wadsworth with the Verrazano Bridge in the background. Didn't spend too much time here as it was getting late. Manhattan can be viewed from this spot. Lots of history here.See more..
4.0Mahopac Lake(15 reviews) - Local gem Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water
I have lived in Mahopac for 25 years and never went on the lake. I've admired its calmness and beauty, but never have been in it or on it. Over the summer we rented a boat with some neighbors and admired it in a brand new way. It is a must do and stopping at the restaurants along its outer rim was very enjoyableSee more..
4.5Grass Point State Park(14 reviews) - Wonderful place for family camping! State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
The campground is very clean and very well maintained. The new playground and shower/rest room facility near by are amazing. Our grandchildren loved being able to ride their bikes and meet other kids so easily. Easy accesss to the boat launch. The river view sites offer many opportunities to watch large boats and tugs. We had a great time there! See more..
4.5Emmons Pond Bog(13 reviews) - One of a Kind - Must See Near Oneonta! Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water • Hiking Trails • Forests
This is a unique opportunity to visit and hike around a sphagnum peat bog...not many of these around, so come on up and check it out! Great hiking in any season...during the summer, there are boardwalks to take you out onto the bog...pretty cool!See more..
5.0Holley Canal Falls(12 reviews) - Nice Hidden Gem in Holley, beautiful falls Spent < 1 hour Bodies of Water
Went here last weekend when looking for something nearby to relax. It is a small but beautiful waterfall set close to the parking lot and has nice benches and picnic tables to sit at or eat lunch at. The area around the falls was nicely kept and numerous people were fishing and walking dogs. We walked a bit and sat down and just relaxed and did some reading. I wish there was a bit more shade near some of the benches but it was just perfect for a nice day Hear waterfall is best viewed between April and mid NovemberSee more..
5.0Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park(10 reviews) - 5 day stay in July Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
There are a few bizarre things about renting a cabin here. Mostly you have to rent starting on a Friday, no linens and the walk through inspection. I also I found the constant threat of financial retaliation for just about anything was less than pleasant. However, the cabins are well kept and clean. We stayed in cabin #2, my wife and I and her mother. The one bathroom was a bit of a challenge but we endured. The idyllic setting is one of the best things about the stay. No traffic noise just the constant chirping of the birds and the sound of the wind in the trees. The beds are horrible. Thin plastic covered mattresses and pillows, I think they were surplus from the NY penal system. We plan on staying again, we'll be better prepared this time. The park itself is beautiful, lots of great views and hiking.See more..
4.5Coles Creek State Park(10 reviews) - Cole's Creek best hidden gem!!! State Parks • Bodies of Water
Very Beautiful park. Very quite in evening!!! You have North Pole, Lake Placid to the South. Vermont to the east and Canada to the North. Bring your passports and enjoy time in Ottawa's Byway market. Montreal is also close by, very beautiful city. Park is clean, showers are hot and bathrooms are very clean. Lots of activities in the rec area for kids and playgrounds are beautiful! Been coming here for years and will continue to do so. The only negative thing I can say is that when it rains, it rains. Which we have no control over. Best time to camp here is early August. Very cool breeze coming off St Lawrence, to cool you off from the summer rays.. I highly recommend this park. Family friendly!!!See more..
5.0Avalanche Lake(8 reviews) - Very Cool Bodies of Water
A remote and beautiful lake near Mt. Marcy.See more..
5.0Rushford Lake(8 reviews) - Thank Goodness for Lakes! Bodies of Water
I'd only been to lakes or river shores when in Germany or the Italian Alps, so it was with relief that we heard of this place to head for a picnic and to chill out in the scorching hot summer of 2012. The public access part of the lake is clean and tidy with totes for changing and plenty of space to set up by the shore and let the kids splash or swim out to the many floating booms. There were lifeguards there on both a Sunday afternoon and Tuesday so we were pleased to let the kids spend hours in the waterSee more..
4.5Greenwood Park(7 reviews) - Beautiful Park Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water • Parks • Ski & Snowboard Areas
Clean, quiet and never too crowded. Take a walk around the lake or go for a picnic lunch or dinner. There are grills and picnic tables. Swimming during the summer months and cross country when the trails are open. Nice to have in Broome County!See more..
5.0Minerva Lake(6 reviews) - Great Snack Bar "The Stand" Great beach Bodies of Water
This is a great beach. You can rent small boats at the stand. The beach is clean and well protected by lifeguards. You can play tennis, basketball volleyball fish swim BBQ sit under a covered pavilion and explore the three small islands if you have a canoe. Its great for all ages and there are campsites to rent. All around a great place with $1 Dollar french fries. Yes there are public bathrooms its got what you need. Great place in a great townSee more..
4.5Wonder Lake State Park(6 reviews) - Nice calm hike on a sunny September day Spent 1-2 hours State Parks • Bodies of Water
Decided to break up my drive from Poughkeepsie area to Long Island with a hike to stretch my legs. Basic parking lot with a map and printed maps to take along. Map was pretty accurate (doesn't show elevation change, but that's fine). There were some uphill and downhill sections, but nothing killer. Definitely worth wearing the hiking boots, as plenty of rocks in/near the trails. Trails were clear, well-marked and well-maintained. I did a counter clockwise loop, up to the lake, around, and back. I did seem to miss one intersection, and went a bit further to the small pond before getting back on track, but nothing drastic. Critterwise I didn't see too much: a few birds and frogs and chipmunks, and a couple of splashes in the lake of something larger, turtle maybe? Nice trees, some cool mushrooms. Ran into maybe a dozen people (plus a few dogs), so generally a nice quiet hike. Really enjoyed it.See more..
3.5Whaley Lake(6 reviews) - no public access but scenic Bodies of Water
only lake residents have access-owner of former marina restricts public access too bad for nye residents!See more..
5.0Stewart State Forest(6 reviews) - Undeveloped but not unloved Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails Stewart State Forest is a huge tracer of land that was preserved through the efforts of a citizen activist organization SPARC. It's administered by the NYS DEC, and key info is available at their website, including maps. Access is via old roads and parking areas along NYS Rt 207. Hunting is permitted in season, but most of the year you can walk the woods roads and trails and wander the wetlands and meadows. Took a class of kids there one September and found thousands of praying mantis. Don't be surprised if you're buzzed by low flying aircraft- Stewart Airport and National Guard Airbase are due east, and the park is in the flight path.See more..
5.0Lake Tear of the Clouds(6 reviews) - A remote, beautiful site. Bodies of Water Pond located on top of Mount Marcy that is the source of the Hudson River.See more..
We kayaked through the swamp starting in Brewster and heading up to Pawling. So much wildlife and beauty. It is truly an incredible experience. See more..
5.0Elk Lake(5 reviews) - Beatiful mountain lake surrounded by dramatic cirque Bodies of Water Love the beavers, loons, great blue herons, frogs, blueberries that you can scoop off of the bushes as you pass by in your canoe! See more..
3.5White Pond Multiple Use Area(5 reviews) - Way too many people (animals) Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This place used to be quite. Now you have way too many people .Garbage in the parking lot garbage in the lake in the woods. Some D shot a swan a few weeks back. Should be residents only. People really are stupid. When the parking lot gets full (which it does any nice day) people just park on the road. I used to love this place but like anything that is wonderful people will f it up. Have a nice day.See more..
4.5Rudd Pond Area(4 reviews) - Swimming, Fishing and boating in a peaceful and beautiful setting. Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
This is a great place to spend the day - or the weekend! There are also campsites available. For a day trip, there's a beach area and a children's playground (a nice one!). There are also plenty of grills available and many of the picnic tables and grills looked to be pretty new this year. Also, you can rent boats or go fishing. This is one of my favorite state parks - we've been there several times and it's never crowded.See more..
3.0Silver Lake State Park(4 reviews) - Lake view was limited State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
The access path to the lake was not defined or cleared well. We did make it to the lake in great difficulty and saw nice views in this place.See more..
5.0Baker Woods Preserve(4 reviews) - Great Nature Preserve Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
This is a beautiful nature preserve that includes both trails and canoe/kayak access to the river. We enjoyed both during our stay in the Natural Bridge area. The trails are meticulously maintained by an enthusiastic group of neighbors, and are among the best we have seen. The crew was busy building a boardwalk through a low area when we passed by. They have added numerous improvements to the trails, including boardwalks in the wet areas, stairs on steep slopes, and a rope assist on a short steep pitch. Don't miss the Beaversprite (blue) trail, which overlooks a pond with lots of beaver activity. The kayaking in the flat water river is outstanding, with the range limited only by your willingness to portage over the numerous beaver dams along the way. Lots of birds, although we never actually managed to spot a beaver. The parking area is well marked, and all trails are well signed.See more..
4.5Moody Pond(4 reviews) - Easy walk Bodies of Water Walk around Moody Pond is easy and pleasant. Good for a short walk during the day and a way to avoid Saranac Lake See more..
5.0The Mill At Green Hole(3 reviews) - Mill at Green Hole - One of a Kind! Bodies of Water • Gardens
Went for another visit and still discovering the wonder there! Water was up and couldn't ask for prettier scenery or a more relaxing spot to unwind.See more..
My Hubby and I stopped to have a picnic here on our way to Lake Placid. Beautiful river. So peaceful, and relaxing. :-)See more..
4.5Lake Hadlock(3 reviews) - Calm, Beautiful Lake Bodies of Water
My family and I come up to the Lake George Region every year! In recent years we have recently been staying on Hadlock with our family! Such a calm and beautiful lake! Would recommend to anyone!See more..
4.5Bond Lake Park(2 reviews) - Beautiful grounds Bodies of Water This is a beautiful and underrated park in the WNY region. There are a bunch of trails that go through scenic woods and by small lakes. It would be absolutely stunning in fall with the leaves changing colors. a. nice big park with many interchanging trails b. grass/dirt trails through woods and trees c. scenic, overlooking steep hills and a few small lakes d. would be great in fall to see all the trees changing colors overlooking the fields and hillsSee more..
4.0Gorton Lake(1 review) - Beautiful lake Spent < 1 hour Bodies of Water
A very beautiful lake. Lots of cabins and houses around it, but walking paths and swimming available. The scenery around it was very nice, lots of great views of the lake and the surrounding hills and forest. A very quiet area.See more..
3.0Cossayuna Lake(1 review) - Popular Boat Launch for fisherman Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water I went kayaking on this Washington County Lake which has an approximate 8 mile shoreline with one large island. The lake looks like it is getting over grown with Eurasian Watermilfoil, and Curly-leaf Pondweed. There is a hard launch surface, and there is parking for 30 car. On a beautiful summer day, the launch site was very busy with motor boaters. It was a little over an hour drive from Albany, and while I wanted to explore this lake since I had not been here before, there are better spots for me to kayak with less of a drive, e.g., Lake George. However, since it looked like most of the people in motor boats were fisherman, nobody was speeding up and down the lake.See more..
4.0Tom Bevill Lock and Dam(1 review) - Fun place to visit Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Parks • Dams
We found this place by accident and we had a lot of fun here. The visitor center has a small museum in it and the U.S.S Snag boat Montgomery is dry docked here. You can also tour the boat and when you make it to the wheelhouse you can blow the ships horn. This is a fun place to spend some time. See more..
4.0Oak Orchard State Marine Park(1 review) - Boat launch State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas This is a nice spot to launch your boat with plenty of parking. They also have a nice restroom. The water is higher at this time of year so it is good that they have the floating docks here. There is lots of debris on the boat ramps so make sure you take a look before you launch as we noticed a big log in the water in one of the launches.See more..
3.0Foster Lake(1 review) - Fun place to visit if in the area Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water Foster Lake is fun for swimming, canoeing or kayaking and hiking or having picnics. If you are in the area for college it is a nice getaway that's close by. If you are visiting the area or live year round, it is especially nice in the summertime when the majority of the students are gone.See more..
4.0Pawling Nature Reserve(1 review) - Lovely place to hike, hard to find Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails Pawling's Nature Reserve is beautiful and wild. There is a spectacular waterfall, and some boardwalks that go through marshy areas. Some kid-friendly signs dot the trails telling about the flora and fauna. There used to be more signs to this place, now it's very difficult to find. Admission is free. You can make a donation on their website, not required.See more..
Clarksville Cave(0 review) Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Caverns & Caves • Geologic Formations See more..
