List of New York state parks facts for kids

New York is a big state with lots of amazing places to explore! This article will tell you all about the state parks in New York. These parks are special places where you can have fun outdoors and learn about nature and history. You'll find everything from huge forests to beautiful beaches and even golf courses!

In New York, most state parks are looked after by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). But there are two very large parks, the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, that are managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The state parks department divides New York into eleven regions to help manage all these wonderful places:

• Niagara
• Allegany
• Genesee
• Finger Lakes
• Central
• Taconic
• Palisades
• Long Island
• Thousand Islands
• Saratoga/Capital District
• New York City

New York's Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States.

New York's Amazing Forest Preserves

The biggest parks in New York are the Adirondack Park and the Catskill Park. The Adirondack Park is huge, covering about 6 million acres (24,000 km²)! The Catskill Park is also very large, with about 700,000 acres (2,800 km²).

These two parks are part of something called the New York Forest Preserve. This means they must be kept "Forever Wild," as stated in the New York Constitution. This rule helps protect their natural beauty and wildlife for everyone to enjoy. The DEC helps manage both of these parks.

Discovering New York's State Parks

New York has many state parks and historic sites. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) looks after these lands. Their goal is to provide fun outdoor activities for people. They also work hard to protect the natural and historical treasures found in these parks.

As of 2017, New York had 215 state parks and historic sites. These cover a massive area of 350,000 acres! The OPRHP also manages 28 golf courses, 35 swimming pools, 67 beaches, and 18 museums and nature centers. You can even get an "Empire Passport" for unlimited entry to most state parks and recreation spots.

A Look at Current State Parks

Here's a list of some of the current state parks in New York. You can see where they are, how big they are, and what makes them special.

Park Name	Region	County	Size (acres)	Year Created	What You'll Find	Image
Allan H. Treman State Marine Park	Finger Lakes	Tompkins	93		This park has a big marina with 430 boat slips. It's great for fishing, birdwatching, and picnics.	Marina at Allan H. Treman State Marine Park
Allegany State Park	Allegany	Cattaraugus	64,800	1921	This is the largest state park in New York! It has two main areas, Red House and Quaker, both with cabins and campsites. It's also a special place for birdwatching.	The Allegany State Park Administration Building.
Amherst State Park	Niagara	Erie	77	2000	This park is on the land of a former Catholic convent. The Town of Amherst helps manage it.
Amsterdam Beach State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	198	2005	This park is mostly undeveloped, with trails for exploring. It's managed with the Town of East Hampton and Suffolk County.
Battle Island State Park	Central	Oswego	235	1938	This park has an 18-hole golf course. It's named after a battle from the French and Indian War in 1756.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	690	1936	This park features a large arboretum (a garden with many different trees). It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park!	View of the arboretum grounds.
Bayswater Point State Park	New York City	Queens	17	1991	This undeveloped park is great for relaxing and watching shorebirds. It used to have a large mansion.
Bear Mountain State Park	Palisades	Rockland	5,277	1913	This park is managed with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. It's a popular spot for outdoor fun.	The stone and wood Bear Mountain Inn.
Beaver Island State Park	Niagara	Erie	952	1935	Located on Grand Island, this park has an 18-hole golf course.	The beach at Beaver Island State Park.
Beechwood State Park	Finger Lakes	Wayne	288	1999	This undeveloped park was once a Girl Scout camp. The Town of Sodus helps manage it.
Belmont Lake State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	463	1926	This park is for day-use only. It used to be the main office for the Long Island State Park Commission.	View of Belmont Lake.
Bethpage State Park	Long Island	Nassau, Suffolk	1,477	1934	This park is famous for its five golf courses, including the Bethpage Black Course. This course has hosted major golf championships!	Clubhouse at Bethpage State Park
Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park	Central	Otsego	223	2001	This park offers cabins and trails through meadows and forests.
Sunset Bay State Marine Park	Allegany	Chautauqua			This park has a marina, and is great for fishing and birdwatching.	Marina at Sunset Bay State Marine Park
Barcelona Lighthouse	Allegany	Chautauqua		2007	This park includes a historic lighthouse and its keeper's house.	Barcelona Light
Blauvelt State Park	Palisades	Rockland	639	1913	This undeveloped park was once a rifle range for the New York National Guard.
Bonavista State Park Golf Course	Finger Lakes	Seneca	247		This park features a nine-hole golf course.
Bowman Lake State Park	Central	Chenango	653	1966	This park has one of the largest campgrounds in central New York, with 188 campsites.
Braddock Bay State Park	Genesee	Monroe	387	1956	This park is a popular spot for birdwatching. The Town of Greece helps maintain it.
Brentwood State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	52	2003	This park is an athletic complex with eight soccer fields and two baseball fields.	Rules sign at Brentwood State Park.
Bristol Beach State Park	Palisades	Ulster	134	1967	This undeveloped park is managed with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
Brookhaven State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	1,638	1971	This park protects a large area of the Long Island Pine Barrens and has wetlands.
Buckhorn Island State Park	Niagara	Erie	895	1935	This park is a preserve for biking, hiking, and fishing. It's also a bird conservation area.	Woods Creek is the west boundary of Buckhorn Island State Park.
Buffalo Harbor State Park	Niagara	Erie	190	2015	This park has a large marina and is part of a plan to improve Buffalo's outer harbor.	Gallagher Beach at Buffalo Harbor State Park.
Burnham Point State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	12	1898	This park is mainly for camping, with 47 tent and trailer sites.
Buttermilk Falls State Park	Finger Lakes	Tompkins	811	1924	This park is known for its beautiful waterfalls and wooded gorges.	Buttermilk Falls
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve	Long Island	Suffolk	545	1963	This park is a nature preserve that protects wildlife. It includes the historic Wyandanch Club.	Caleb Smith House
Camp Hero State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	754	2002	This park is on part of a former Air Force station.	Former gun emplacement at Camp Hero State Park
Canadarago State Marine Park	Central	Otsego	1.2		This park offers boat launch facilities for access to Canadarago Lake.
Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park	Finger Lakes	Ontario	15		This park offers boat launch facilities for access to Canandaigua Lake.
Canoe-Picnic Point State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	70	1897	You can only get to this park by boat! It has a campground with tent sites.
Captree State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	343	1954	This park is home to "The Captree Fleet," a large group of charter boats for fishing, diving, and tours.	Charter fishing boats at Captree State Park
Catharine Valley Trail	Finger Lakes	Schuyler, Chemung	218	2000	This park is a planned 12-mile recreation trail. It follows old railroad tracks and canal paths.
Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve	Long Island	Suffolk	1,520	1961	This park includes a huge former estate house built in 1925. It's also a bird conservation area.	Winter Cottage at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
Cayuga Lake State Park	Finger Lakes	Seneca	141	1927	This park has a beach, a boat launch, and a campground.
Cedar Island State Park	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	10	1898	This park is only reachable by boat. It has docks, a day-use area, and a small campground.
Cedar Point State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	48	1898	This park offers a campground, a beach, and a boat launch.
Chenango Valley State Park	Central	Broome	1,112		This park has a beach, campground, cabins, and an 18-hole golf course.
Cherry Plain State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Rensselaer	175	1962	This park has a beach, fishing, and 30 campsites. It's next to a large wildlife management area.
Chimney Bluffs State Park	Finger Lakes	Wayne	597	1963	This park features amazing 150-foot tall cliffs formed by erosion. It's for day-use only.	View of Chimney Bluffs from below
Chittenango Falls State Park	Central	Madison	195	1922	This day-use park has a beautiful 167-foot waterfall. It's also home to a rare and endangered snail.	Chittenango Falls
Clarence Fahnestock State Park	Taconic	Putnam, Dutchess	14,379	1929	This park includes an outdoor education center. It has a beach, fishing, camping, and winter recreation facilities.	A view of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park in Autumn.
Clark Reservation State Park	Central	Onondaga	378	1926	This park is centered around a lake formed by a huge ice age waterfall. It's home to a rare fern.	Glacier Lake and the cliff of the fossil waterfall.
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve	New York City	Richmond	265	1977	This park is a nature preserve on Staten Island. It protects wetlands, ponds, and forests, and is a bird conservation area.
Cold Spring Harbor State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	50	2000	This day-use park has steep wooded slopes and is great for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Coles Creek State Park	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	1,800		This park has a beach, a marina, and a campground with 232 tent and trailer sites.
Conesus Lake Boat Launch	Genesee	Livingston	3		This park offers a boat launch, fishing access, and picnic tables.
Connetquot River State Park Preserve	Long Island	Suffolk	3,473	1973	This park is home to the Long Island Environmental Interpretive Center. It's managed to protect wildlife and is great for hiking and fishing.	View from the Gristmill at Connetquot River State Park Preserve.
Crab Island State Park	Thousand Islands	Clinton	40	1988	This undeveloped park was acquired to protect a historic site and cemetery from the War of 1812.	View of Crab Island from Plattsburgh, New York
Croil Island State Park	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	796		This undeveloped park is maintained by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Cumberland Bay State Park	Thousand Islands	Clinton	350	1932	This park has a 2,700-foot sand beach, playing fields, and a campground.
Darien Lakes State Park	Genesee	Genesee	1,845	1965	This park is mainly a campground, with a beach, fishing, and hiking trails.	View of Harlow Lake at Darien Lakes State Park
De Veaux Woods State Park	Niagara	Niagara	51	2001	This park was once part of a college campus. It has recreational facilities and an area of old-growth forest.
Deans Cove Boat Launch	Finger Lakes	Seneca	10		This park offers boat launch facilities.
Delta Lake State Park	Central	Oneida	720	1962	This park offers a beach, boat launch, campground, and hiking.
Devil's Hole State Park	Niagara	Niagara	42	1924	This park overlooks the beautiful Niagara River gorge.
Dewolf Point State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	13	1898	Located on Wellesley Island, this park has a boat launch, dock, and campsites.
Donald J. Trump State Park	Taconic	Westchester, Putnam	435	2006	This park is undeveloped. The land was donated by Donald Trump.	Entrance sign to Donald J. Trump State Park
Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park	Niagara	Niagara	197	1974	This park is a place for outdoor sculptures and concerts.
East River State Park	New York City	Kings	11	2007	This day-use park offers open space and amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.	East River State Park
Eel Weir State Park	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	16		This park has a small campground, fishing, and trails.
Evangola State Park	Niagara	Erie	733	1954	This park offers a campground, playing fields, and trails.	The beach at Evangola State Park.
Fair Haven Beach State Park	Finger Lakes	Cayuga	1,141	1928	This park includes the Springbrook Greens State Golf Course.
Fillmore Glen State Park	Finger Lakes	Cayuga	941	1925	This park is known for its several waterfalls and offers camping.	The Cowsheds, a waterfall at Fillmore Glen State Park.
Fort Niagara State Park	Niagara	Niagara	504	1948	The historic Fort Niagara is located within this park.	Entrance to Fort Niagara State Park
Four Mile Creek State Park	Niagara	Niagara	248	1961	This park is a great place to visit.
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park	Taconic	Westchester	761	1957	This day-use park has a large pool and two lakes.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park	New York City	New York	4	2012	This park is a monument dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech.	Monument within Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
Franny Reese State Park	Palisades	Ulster	251	2009	This day-use park is managed by Scenic Hudson.
Galop Island State Park	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	675		This park is undeveloped.
Gantry Plaza State Park	New York City	Queens	10	1998	This park highlights structures from Long Island City's industrial past and offers views of the Manhattan skyline.	Gantry Plaza State Park's gantries.
Genesee Valley Greenway	Genesee	Monroe, Livingston, Wyoming, Allegany	1,364	1984	This is a 90-mile trail that follows old canals and railways.	Intersection of the Genesee Valley Greenway with the Lehigh Valley Trail.
Gilbert Lake State Park	Central	Otsego	1,586	1926	This park is a great place to visit.
Gilgo State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	1,223	1928	This park is undeveloped.
Glimmerglass State Park	Central	Otsego	593	1963	This park is a great place to visit.	The covered bridge at Glimmerglass State Park.
Golden Hill State Park	Niagara	Niagara	510	1962	This park is a great place to visit.
Goosepond Mountain State Park	Palisades	Orange	1,706	1960	This undeveloped park is managed with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.	A boardwalk through the marshes at Goosepond Mountain State Park.
Grafton Lakes State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Rensselaer	2,545	1971	This park includes a bird conservation area.
Grass Point State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	114	1926	This park is a great place to visit.
Green Lakes State Park	Central	Onondaga	1,957	1928	This park includes a golf course and a bird conservation area.	Green Lake, seen from its eastern shore.
Hallock State Park Preserve	Long Island	Suffolk	225	2006	This park is undeveloped.
Hamlin Beach State Park	Genesee	Monroe	1,287	1938	This park is a great place to visit.	The beach at Hamlin Beach State Park.
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area	Finger Lakes	Ontario	1,589	1962	This park is a great place for recreation.	Picnic area at Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area.
Harriman State Park	Palisades	Orange, Rockland	47,527	1910	This huge park has several lakes, including Lake Sebago and Lake Tiorati.	Lake Kanawauke within Harriman State Park
Hart's Brook Nature Preserve	Taconic	Westchester	123	1999	This wildlife preserve has trails and is managed with Westchester County and the Town of Greenburgh.
Haverstraw Beach State Park	Palisades	Rockland	73	1911	This park is a great place to visit.
Heckscher State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	1,657	1929	This park is a great place to visit.	Dunes at Heckscher State Park
Helen L. McNitt State Park	Central	Madison	134	1999	This park is undeveloped.
Hempstead Lake State Park	Long Island	Nassau	784	1928	This park is a great place to visit.	Peninsula Boulevard in Hempstead Lake State Park.
High Tor State Park	Palisades	Rockland	691	1943	This park is a great place to visit.	View from atop High Tor Mountain.
Highland Lakes State Park	Palisades	Orange	3,115	1964	This undeveloped park is managed with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
Higley Flow State Park	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	1,115	1936	This park is a great place to visit.
Hither Hills State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	1,755	1924	This park includes a bird conservation area.	Hither Hills State Park headquarters.
Honeoye Lake Boat Launch State Park	Finger Lakes	Ontario	9		This park is a great place to visit.
Hook Mountain State Park	Palisades	Rockland	676	1911	This park is undeveloped.	View of the Hudson River from Hook Mountain State Park.
Hudson Highlands State Park	Taconic	Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester	7,550	1970	This park includes a bird conservation area.	Hudson Highlands State Park at its lowest point along the Hudson River.
Hudson River Islands State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Columbia, Greene	235		This park is a great place to visit.
Hudson River Park	New York City	New York	550	1998	This park is a great place to visit.	Hudson River Park with the Empire State Building in the background.
Iona Island State Park	Palisades	Rockland	134	1965	This park is undeveloped.	Aerial view of Iona Island.
Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park	Genesee	Monroe	44	1970	This park is a great place to visit.
Jacques Cartier State Park	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	461		This park is a great place to visit.
James Baird State Park	Taconic	Dutchess	655	1939	This day-use park has trails, an 18-hole golf course, and a sports complex.	The golf course and clubhouse at James Baird State Park.
Jay Estate	Taconic	Westchester	23	1992	This park is jointly owned and managed. It's a historic site with tours and conservation programs.	View of Jay Meadow
John Boyd Thacher State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Albany	2,482	1914	This park is a great place to visit.	The base of a cliff along the Indian Ladder Trail at John Boyd Thacher State Park.
Jones Beach State Park	Long Island	Nassau	2,413	1929	This park includes a pitch and putt golf course.	Jones Beach at sunset.
Joseph Davis State Park	Niagara	Niagara	388	1964	This park includes a bird conservation area.
Keewaydin State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	282	1962	This park is a great place to visit.
Keuka Lake State Park	Finger Lakes	Yates	621	1961	This park is a great place to visit.	Looking north over Keuka Lake from Keuka Lake State Park.
Knox Farm State Park	Niagara	Erie	633	2001	This park is a great place to visit.	Farm buildings at Knox Farm State Park.
Kring Point State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	61	1898	This park is a great place to visit.
Lake Erie State Park	Allegany	Chautauqua	355	1928	This park is a great place to visit.
Lake Lauderdale State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Washington	117	1968	This park has been managed by Washington County as a county park since the late 1980s.
Lake Superior State Park	Palisades	Sullivan	1,410	1967	This park is a great place to visit.
Lake Taghkanic State Park	Taconic	Columbia	1,569	1929	This park is a great place to visit.
Lakeside Beach State Park	Genesee	Orleans	744	1962	This park is a great place to visit.	View of Lake Ontario along the shore of Lakeside Beach State Park.
Letchworth State Park	Genesee	Livingston, Wyoming	14,427	1906	This park includes a bird conservation area.	The gorge and Middle Falls at Letchworth State Park.
Lock 32 State Canal Park	Genesee	Monroe	9	1978	This park is a great place to visit.
Lodi Point State Park	Finger Lakes	Seneca	12	1963	This park is a great place to visit.
Long Point State Park - Finger Lakes	Finger Lakes	Cayuga	297	1963	This park is a great place to visit.
Long Point State Park - Thousand Islands	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	23	1913	This park is a great place to visit.
Long Point State Park on Lake Chautauqua	Allegany	Chautauqua	360	1956	This park is a great place to visit.
Macomb Reservation State Park	Thousand Islands	Clinton	600	1968	This park is a great place to visit.
Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park	Taconic	Dutchess	352	1934	This park includes a bird conservation area.	Entrance to Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park.
Mark Twain State Park and Soaring Eagles Golf Course	Finger Lakes	Chemung	464		This park includes the Soaring Eagles Golf Course.
Mary Island State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	13	1897	This park is a great place to visit.
Max V. Shaul State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Schoharie	70	1959	This park is a great place to visit.	Max V. Shaul State Park's entrance.
Mexico Point State Park	Central	Oswego	122		The Town of Mexico has operated and developed this park since 1992.
Mexico Point Boat Launch	Central	Oswego	20		This park is a great place to visit.
Midway State Park	Allegany	Chautauqua	43	2007	This park is a great place to visit.	Carousel at Midway State Park.
Mine Kill State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Schoharie	500	1973	This park is a great place to visit.	Mine Kill Falls at Mine Kill State Park.
Miner Lake State Park	Thousand Islands	Clinton	700		This park is not currently functioning as a park. The land is managed by the Ganienkeh Mohawk community.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve	Palisades	Ulster	22,279	1987	This park includes a bird conservation area.	Lake Minnewaska at Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Mohawk River State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Schenectady	113	2006	This park is undeveloped except for hiking trails. It used to be called the Schenectady Museum Nature Preserve.
Montauk Downs State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	171	1978	This park includes the Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course.	Montauk Downs State Park entrance.
Montauk Point State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	862	1924	This park is a great place to visit.	Sunrise over the Montauk Point Light in Montauk Point State Park.
Moreau Lake State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Saratoga	4,531	1967	This park includes a bird conservation area.	Moreau Lake at Moreau Lake State Park.
Napeague State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	1,364	1978	This park is undeveloped.	Dunes at Napeague State Park.
Newtown Battlefield State Park	Finger Lakes	Chemung	372	1911	This park is a great place to visit.	Monument to the Battle of Newtown.
Niagara Falls State Park	Niagara	Niagara	221	1885	This park is a great place to visit.	The American Falls within Niagara Falls State Park.
Nissequogue River State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	521	2000	This park includes a bird conservation area.	The mouth of the Nissequogue River.
Nyack Beach State Park	Palisades	Rockland	61	1911	This park is a great place to visit.	Path along the Hudson River at Nyack Beach State Park
Oak Orchard State Marine Park	Genesee	Orleans	81		This park is a great place to visit.
Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park	Taconic	Dutchess	630		This park includes the Dinsmore Golf Course and a bird conservation area.	View of the Hudson River from Ogden Mills & Ruth Livingston Mills State Park.
Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park	Taconic	Westchester	216	1968	This park is a great place to visit.
Old Erie Canal State Historic Park	Central	Madison, Oneida, Onondaga	1,191		This park is a great place to visit.	The Old Erie Canal and its towpath.
Oquaga Creek State Park	Central	Broome, Delaware, Chenango	1,385		This park is a great place to visit.	Arctic Lake at Oquaga Creek State Park.
Orient Beach State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	364	1929	This park is a great place to visit.	Entrance to Orient Beach State Park.
Peebles Island State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Saratoga, Albany	142	1973	This park is a great place to visit.	View of the Mohawk River from Peebles Island State Park.
Pixley Falls State Park	Central	Oneida	375	1924	This park is a great place to visit.	Pixley Falls
Point Au Roche State Park	Thousand Islands	Clinton	856	1975	This park is a great place to visit.
Reservoir State Park	Niagara	Niagara	132	1962	This park is a great place to visit.
Riverbank State Park	New York City	New York	28	1993	This park is a great place to visit.	Riverbank State Park as seen from across the Hudson River.
Robert Moses State Park (Long Island)	Long Island	Suffolk	875	1908	This park includes the Robert Moses State Park Pitch and Putt Course.	A life boat on the beach at Robert Moses State Park.
Robert Moses State Park (Thousand Islands)	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	2,322	1958	This park is a great place to visit.	Picnic tables along the Saint Lawrence River in Robert Moses State Park.
Robert V. Riddell State Park	Central	Otsego	2,322	2005	This park allows for passive recreation like hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and fishing.
Robert H. Treman State Park	Finger Lakes	Tompkins	1,257	1920	This park is a great place to visit.	Waterfalls at Robert H. Treman State Park.
Robert G. Wehle State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	1,067	2004	This park is a great place to visit.
Roberto Clemente State Park	New York City	Bronx	24	1973	This was the first New York state park in an urban setting. It has swimming pools, sports fields, and picnic areas.
Rock Island Lighthouse State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	4	1976	This park is only reachable by boat. You can tour the lighthouse and a museum.	Rock Island Light.
Rockefeller State Park Preserve	Taconic	Westchester	1,486	1983	This park is an "Important Bird Area" recognized by the National Audubon Society.	The Pocantico River within Rockefeller State Park Preserve.
Rockland Lake State Park	Palisades	Rockland	1,080	1958	This park includes a golf course and a bird conservation area.
St. Lawrence State Park Golf Course	Thousand Islands	St. Lawrence	316		This park includes a golf course.
Sampson State Park	Finger Lakes	Seneca	2,070	1960	This park is a great place to visit.	Seneca Lake from Sampson State Park.
Sandy Island Beach State Park	Central	Oswego	227	2006	This park is a great place to visit.	Sandy Island Beach State Park's main beach.
Saratoga Lake State Boat Launch	Saratoga/Capital District	Saratoga	4		This park is a great place to visit.
Saratoga Spa State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Saratoga	2,379	1909	This park includes a golf course and a bird conservation area.	The Geyser Island Spouter at Saratoga Spa State Park.
Schodack Island State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Rensselaer, Greene, Columbia	1,060	2002	This park includes a bird conservation area.	Schodack Island State Park's boat launch area.
Schunnemunk State Park	Palisades	Orange	2,910	2003	This park is undeveloped except for hiking trails.
Selkirk Shores State Park	Central	Oswego	980		This park includes a bird conservation area.
Seneca Lake State Park	Finger Lakes	Seneca	141	1957	This park is a great place to visit.	Seneca Lake State Park's marina.
Shadmoor State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	66	2000	This park is a great place to visit.	World War II-era observation bunker at Shadmoor State Park.
Shirley Chisholm State Park	New York City	Kings	407	2019	This park is currently being built and was dedicated in 2019.
Silver Lake State Park	Genesee	Wyoming	776		This park is a great place to visit.
Sojourner Truth State Park	Palisades	Ulster	508	2022	This park was officially opened on February 28, 2022.
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park	Finger Lakes	Ontario	50	2005	This park is a great place to visit.	Sonnenberg Mansion
Southwick Beach State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	541	1966	This park is a great place to visit.	Beach and bathers at Southwick Beach State Park.
State Park at the Fair	Central	Onondaga	1	1974	This is New York's smallest state park! It's open during the Great New York State Fair and shows off New York's parks.
Sterling Forest State Park	Palisades	Orange	19,085	1998	This park includes a bird conservation area.
Stony Brook State Park	Finger Lakes	Steuben	568	1928	This park is a great place to visit.	Waterfall at Stony Brook State Park.
Storm King State Park	Palisades	Orange	1,972	1922	This undeveloped park has hiking trails and includes the summit of Storm King Mountain.	Storm King mountain as viewed from top of Break Neck Ridge
Strawberry Island State Park	Niagara	Erie	8	1989	This undeveloped park is managed as a fish and wildlife preserve.
Sunken Meadow State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	1,288	1926	Also known as Governor Alfred E. Smith State Park, this park includes a golf course.	Boardwalk at the beachfront at Sunken Meadow State Park.
Taconic State Park – Copake Falls area	Taconic	Columbia	3,064		This park is a great place to visit.	Entrance to the Copake Falls Area on NY 344.
Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond area	Taconic	Dutchess	4,492		This park is a great place to visit.
Tallman Mountain State Park	Palisades	Rockland	687	1928	This park is a great place to visit.	Tallman Mountain State Park as viewed from Piermont.
Taughannock Falls State Park	Finger Lakes	Tompkins	750	1925	This park is a great place to visit.	Taughannock Falls
Thompson's Lake State Park	Saratoga/Capital District	Albany	308	1961	This park is a great place to visit.
Trail View State Park	Long Island	Nassau, Suffolk	454	2002	This park is a great place to visit.	Entrance sign at Trail View State Park
Two Rivers State Park Recreation Area	Finger Lakes	Tioga	573	2005	This park is undeveloped except for hiking trails.
Valley Stream State Park	Long Island	Nassau	97	1928	This park is a great place to visit.	Entrance to Valley Stream State Park.
Verona Beach State Park	Central	Oneida	1,735	1944	This park is a great place to visit.	Autumn scenery on the hiking trails of Verona Beach State Park.
Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park	Taconic	Dutchess, Ulster	17	2009	This park is a great place to visit.	The Walkway Over the Hudson shortly after its opening.
Waterson Point State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	6	1898	This park is a great place to visit.
Watkins Glen State Park	Finger Lakes	Schuyler	778	1906	This park is a great place to visit.	Rainbow Bridge and Falls at Watkins Glen State Park.
Wellesley Island State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	2,636	1951	This park includes the Wellesley Island State Park Golf Course.	View from the shore of Wellesley Island in Wellesley Island State Park.
Westcott Beach State Park	Thousand Islands	Jefferson	319	1946	This park is a great place to visit.
Whetstone Gulf State Park	Thousand Islands	Lewis	2,100	1929	This park is a great place to visit.	Whetstone Creek in Whetstone Gulf State Park.
Whirlpool State Park	Niagara	Niagara	109	1928	This park is a great place to visit.
Wildwood State Park	Long Island	Suffolk	772	1925	This park is a great place to visit.	Trailer Campground at Wildwood State Park.
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park	Niagara	Niagara	485	1965	This park is a great place to visit.
Wonder Lake State Park	Taconic	Putnam	1,145	1998	This park is a great place to visit.	Wonder Lake
Woodlawn Beach State Park	Niagara	Erie	107	1996	The Town of Hamburg has operated this park since 2011.

Former State Parks: What Happened to Them?

Sometimes, state parks change how they are managed or become part of other parks. Here are a few examples of parks that used to be New York State Parks:

Park Name	Region	County	Size (acres)	Year Created	Year Changed	What Happened	Image
Empire – Fulton Ferry State Park	New York City	Kings	9	1977	2010	This park became part of Brooklyn Bridge Park.	Empire-Fulton Ferry section of Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Frenchman Island State Park	Central	Oswego	26		2009	This undeveloped park was transferred to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to become a wildlife management area.
Hunts Pond State Park	Central	Chenango	235		2011	This park was transferred to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to become part of Hunts Pond State Forest.
Pinnacle State Park and Golf Course	Finger Lakes	Steuben	714		2022	This park was transferred to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to become part of McCarthy Hill State Forest.	View of the Canisteo River valley from Pinnacle State Park.

State Golf Courses: Tee Off in Nature!

Besides the golf courses found within many state parks, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation also takes care of two other special state golf courses:

• Indian Hills State Golf Course (Finger Lakes Region) in Painted Post, New York. It has 18 holes.
• Sag Harbor State Golf Course (Long Island Region) in East Hampton (town), New York. This is a nine-hole course located in the Barcelona Neck Natural Resources Management Area.

Seasonal Hunting: A Park Activity

In some New York state parks and historic sites, hunting is allowed during certain times of the year. If you want to hunt, you need a state hunting license. Some places might also ask for a special park permit.

• Allegany
• Bonavista (only bow hunting)
• Bowman Lake
• Buttermilk Falls (only bow hunting)
• Cherry Plain
• Chimney Bluff
• Clarence Fahnestock (only bow hunting)
• Coles Creek (bow hunting and muzzle loader)
• Darien Lakes
• Fillmore Glen (bow hunting and muzzle loader)
• Gilbert Lake (only bow hunting)
• Grafton Lakes
• Harriet Hollister Spencer
• Higley Flow (bow hunting and muzzle loader)
• Hither Hills
• Hudson Highlands
• Hudson River Islands
• Jacques Cartier (bow hunting and muzzle loader)
• John Boyd Thacher
• Keuka Lake (bow hunting and muzzle loader)
• Lake Superior
• Lake Taghkanic (only bow hunting)
• Letchworth
• Long Point (Cayuga County)
• Mark Twain (only bow hunting)
• Mine Kill
• Minnewaska
• Montauk Point
• Moreau Lake
• Napeague (only bow hunting)
• Newtown Battlefield (only bow hunting)
• Oquaga Creek
• Pixley Falls
• Sampson
• Schodack Island
• Silver Lake
• Sterling Forest
• Stony Brook (only bow hunting)
• Storm King
• Taconic (Rudd Pond and Copake Falls)
• Taughannock Falls (only bow hunting)
• Robert H. Treman (only bow hunting)
• Verona Beach (only bow hunting)
• Watkins Glen (only bow hunting)
• Wellesley Island (bow hunting and muzzle loader)
• Whetstone Gulf (bow hunting and muzzle loader)

More to Explore

• Adirondack Park Agency
• Geography of New York
• List of New York City parks
• List of trails on Long Island
• New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
• New York State Canalway Trail
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
• Palisades Interstate Park Commission