Glimmerglass State Park: Something for Everyone

The summer vacation season has officially arrived in New York State, as long days and warm temperatures beckon us to seek out adventure.While this years’ summer outings may be much closer to home than they have been in the past, it doesn’t mean that they need to be short on excitement. We recommend exploring Glimmerglass State Park, which offers a little something for everyone.

Glimmerglass State Park, located on picturesque Otsego Lake, is an ideal summertime destination.The park gets its name from the “Glimmerglass” of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales, which so adeptly describes the tranquil and unspoiled ambiance of the lake. The park features rolling, wooded hills and fields, providing visitors with opportunities to spot a wide variety of wildlife that call the park their home.

Start your adventure by exploring the hiking trails, including the 2.5-mile-long Sleeping Lion Trail. For those seeking a moderately difficult hike, this trail offers variable terrain as it meanders through a hemlock forest on its way up Mount Wellington. Your efforts will be well rewarded by the spectacular view of Otsego Lake, which is said to resemble a sleeping lion, and charming Cooperstown in the distance. For more on the trails at the park, click here.

Other trails and paths lead visitors to picturesque areas of the park. The Beaver Pond Trail, an ADA-accessible path, and the Woodland Trail bring visitors up close and personal with wildflowers, shrubs, ferns and shaded woods ideal for a hot summer day. We also encourage you to traverse the Covered Bridge Trail which leads hikers to the oldest wooden covered bridge in the United States.

If history and architecture pique your interest, continue on the Covered Bridge Trail to visit Hyde Hall State Historic Site, nestled inside the park further down the lake. Completed in 1835, Hyde Hall’s neoclassic design and sheer scale solidified its place as one of the largest private homes in the county when it was completed. Built for George Clarke, international agriculture magnate, the home features 50 rooms adorned with period furniture and rich with history. Tours of the home have resumed, so book your tour in advance with the Friends of Hyde Hall and bring a picnic to enjoy on the rolling lawns above the lake.

Do you need even more reasons to visit Glimmerglass State Park? After a day of hiking and exploring, you can end the day by cooling off with a swim in the lake. A sandy beach and an array of facilities --including restrooms, playground and kayak/canoe rentals--offer something for everyone.There are also opportunities for fishing, with over 20 miles of shoreline to try your hand at catching lake trout, walleye, and perch.The lake also supports an under-fished smallmouth bass fishery.

Beyond the amenities offered by the park, the quaint village of Cooperstown lies just down the road. Home to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Fenimore Art Museum, the Farmer’s Museum, and sailing excursions, there are plenty of attractions to entertain even the most discerning visitor. Still need more convincing?Cooperstown, once the hops-growing capital of North America, has a 37-mile Beverage Trail featuring wineries, distilleries, breweries and a historic cider mill.

So as you think about options for your close-to-home trip this summer, consider Glimmerglass State Park.With trails, vistas, history, swimming and fishing , it’s a great destination for adventure.



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