Summer swimming
Summer is flying by and if you haven’t gotten your swimming in for this season, here are a few of the 100+ New York State Park swimming opportunities. From sandy beaches and refreshing lakes, to family friendly swimming pools, NY State parks has something for everyone to enjoy. Swimming is a fun and active way to experience our parks. Remember to stay safe and to adhere to the rules and regulations of the park you are visiting. To see the complete list of parks with swimming opportunities, click here.
Beach Swimming
Long Point State Park on Lake Chautauqua – Allegany Region
Formed by a retreating glacier, Long Point is a moraine that juts out into Lake Chatauqua. Visitors can enjoy many of the day-use activities this park has to offer including, swimming, fishing, and the marina.
Green Lakes State Park – Central region
The unique blue green water at Green Lakes State Park is what attracts so many beach goers making it one of the more popular swimming beaches in Central New York. Both Round and Green Lakes are glacial lakes formed at the end of the last ice age (about 15,000 years ago), thus there is a high potential for evidence of ancient plant and animal life.
Oquaga Creek State Park – Central Region
Located just three hours from NYC and New Jersey, Oquaga Creek State Park’s beach facilities and forested campsites are the perfect summer escape. The 55-acre Arctic Lake has a sand beach for swimmers and the park is a popular spot for anglers. It is also perfect for those truly looking to unplug, as there is no cell or WIFI service, enabling you to reconnect with your family and get back to basics.
Seneca Lake State Park - Finger Lakes Region
In addition to swimming in the beautiful lake, children will be excited to play in the sprayground and playground at the park. The sprayground has over 100 water jets, sure to cool you down and keep your kids busy.
Hamlin Beach State Park - Genesee Region
Each year, thousands of visitors head to Hamlin Beach State Park for it’s clear water, sandy beaches and campsites. There is also a former CCC/POW camp on the park property, located just east of the southern entrance to the park. There is a self-guided tour, for those that are interested.
Jones Beach State Park – Long Island Region
The 6 million annual visitors of Jones Beach state park come to enjoy the variety of activities the park has to offer, making it fun for the whole family. In addition to the 6.5 miles of white-sand beach, visitors can enjoy strolling the boardwalk, fishing, playing miniature golf, shuffleboard or basketball, or enjoying food at one of the many concession stands.
Higley Flow State Park – Thousand Islands Region
Located along the Raquette River and the foothills of the Adirondacks, Higley Flow has a sandy beach on the reservoir of the Raquette River. Visitors can also enjoy the Beaver Pond Nature Trail with interpretive signs that identify the six distinct habitats along the trail.
Southwick Beach State Park – Thousand Islands Region
Known for the outstanding swimming and sunning on the long sandy beach, it’s no wonder Southwick is a popular state park. You will also want to make time to visit the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area, which is adjacent to the park and home to the environmentally sensitive coastal sand dunes.
Pools
Mine Kill State Park – Capital District Region
Nestled in the Schoharie Valley, Mine Kill State Park has an Olympic size pool, wading pool and a diving pool available at no cost to anyone. You can also learn to play disc-golf at the park, or enjoy hiking or mountain biking on the eight miles of trails.
Saratoga Spa State Park – Capital District Region
This park has two options for pools, the Victoria Pool and the recently renovated Peerless Pool Complex. The kid friendly Peerless Pool Complex, consists of the main Olympic size pool, waterslide pool, and children's wading pool and fountain. It’s easy to see why it attracts over 30,000 visitors on average a year. The Historic Victoria Pool is a smaller pool surrounded by arched promenades.
Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park - New York City Region
Inspired by urban rooftop designs in Japan, this park is truly unique. It includes an indoor Olympic size swimming pool, an outdoor 25-yard lap pool, a wading pool and water splash area. Other fun activities visitors can enjoy are roller skating, tennis, basketball, paddleball, and a 2,500 seat athletic complex.
Fort Niagara State Park – Niagara Region
Located next to the Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site, Fort Niagara State Park has swimming pools, a waterslide, woodland hiking trails, two boat launches, and a nature center. Outdoor education programs and "A Walker's Guide to the Natural History of Fort Niagara State Park" are available upon request.
Bear Mountain State Park – Palisades Region
Bear Mountain has a lot to offer its visitors, including a swimming pool, a trailside museum and zoo, and a merry-go-round with 42 hand carved seats of native animals. Another fun fact – key segments of the Appalachian National Scenic trail and the Long Path cut through this park.
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park – Taconic Region
Just a short 40 miles from NYC, it’s a popular day-trip destination. Visitors can enjoy the parks huge pool – twice the size of an Olympic size pool, which can accommodate up to 3,500 people at the same time! It’s worth a visit for the pool alone, however there are many other activities for people to enjoy, like rowboats, fishing, and a playground.