On a hot summer day, New York State’s nearly 9,700 miles of lake, river, and ocean shoreline, as well as countless magnificent public swimming pools, make it easy to cool off. There are lots of family-friendly beaches in NYC if you get the need to cool yourself on a hot summer day. The ocean, though, can be scary for families with small children, with its rough waves and kilometres of hot beach with no cover.
Here is a list of the top swimming lakes for when you want to bring the kids out of the city for a dip in the fresh air.
Canopus Lake
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park has Canopus Lake. Visitors to the lake are not only welcome to swim in it, but they are also welcome to fish from a boat with verification of a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Fahnestock State Park’s 100-acre lake has a big beach, picnic spaces, and hiking trails nearby, as well as rowboat rentals and family campsites. A snack stand, bathrooms, and showers are also available. There are no lifeguards on duty at this beach, so be alert. As a precautionary effort to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the park currently has limited parking.
Lake Welch
It is the largest beach in Harriman State Park and is a man-made lake in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains. When a dam was built in 1942, Lake Welch grew from a tiny body of water with farms surrounding it to the huge lake it is today. This lake, located in the Hudson River Valley just under an hour from Manhattan, offers more than just swimming. Several boat launching, fishing, hiking, and even picnic sites are available for you and your family to enjoy. Ice fishing and snowmobiling are two popular winter hobbies.
The lake’s rules state that pets and alcohol are not permitted. This is a beautiful lake to relax and enjoy the cool wind while camping at Beaver Pond Campground, which is near to the lake.
Lake Tiorati
The man-made beach at Lake Welch Beach State Park The main beach in Harriman State Park is Lake Welch, which has a half-mile-long sandy beach nestled in the wooded hills of the Ramapo Mountains. When a dam was built in 1942, Lake Welch grew from a tiny body of water with farms surrounding it to the huge lake it is today. Cool breezes, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, picnicking, and camping in the adjacent Beaver Pond Campground are all available in the park. Ice fishing and snowmobiling are two popular winter hobbies.
Lake Taghkanic
Lake Taghkanic offers a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy while relaxing in the lush greenery of the Lake Taghkanic State Park. This lake offers cabin and cottage accomodation in addition to tent and trailer campgrounds. Visitors can also visit the boat shop, playgrounds, snack/souvenir shop, campground store, and picnic pavilion while at the lake. Visitors are permitted to bring a maximum of two pets, which must be caged or on a leash no more than six feet in length.
This beautiful Hudson Valley state park lake has a sandy beach, restrooms, hiking paths, and paddle boat and kayak rentals. Book a cabin or camping along the water’s edge if you can’t leave after just one day.
North-South Lake
North-South Lake is the Catskill Forest Preserve’s largest and most popular state campground. At this lake, you’ll find seven camping loops, 219 tent and trailer sites, two lakes, two picnic areas, a playground, and a variety of other attractions. Visitors can also witness historical landmarks such as Alligator Rock, Kaaterskill Falls, and the old location of Catskill Mountain House on North-South Lake. Fishing, hiking, swimming, watching wildlife, and boating (as long as the boats are not motorised) are some of the other activities available at North-South Lake. At this lake, only rowboats and canoes are permitted.
Greenwood Lake
The New Jersey-New York border divides this 9-mile lake in half. On the New York side, in the town of Warwick, you’ll discover Warwick Town Beach or Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park, a little sandy town beach for swimming. The beach park is popular with residents and has a low-key ambiance. (Greenwood Lake is the largest body of freshwater 50 miles northwest of New York City and is solely accessible to residents of the Town of Warwick.) It contains restrooms, a playground, a lifeguard-supervised swimming area, a children’s play area, a volleyball court, and a picnic area available to visitors to this lake. Dogs are not allowed, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. And a food truck or two may appear from time to time.
Highlands Natural Pool
The Highlands Natural Pool is located in Ringwood, New Jersey. This swimming pool is located near the Norvin Green State Forest in the Wyanokie Highlands. The pool is a non-chemically treated stream-fed swimming pond with stone retaining walls and a secure children’s section.
This Olympic-sized freshwater natural swimming pool in New Jersey was carved out of a hillside in the 1930s and is fed by a mountain stream. The pool has a fenced-off shallow children’s area and is up to 10-feet deep. A food kiosk, beach volleyball court, picnic area, hiking paths, and restrooms with changing facilities but no showers are available. Non-members are only permitted a certain amount of times.
Lake Marcia
The Highlands Natural Pool is located in Ringwood, New Jersey. This swimming pool is located near the Norvin Green State Forest in the Wyanokie Highlands. The pool is a non-chemically treated stream-fed swimming pond with stone retaining walls and a secure children’s section.
The view from the High Point Monument, which stands 1,803 feet above sea level, is a breathtaking vista of lush farming and forest that spans three states. For swimmers, the spring-fed Lake Marcia is cool and refreshing. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards, and there is a bathhouse and food concession nearby. High Point also has more than 50 miles of hiking paths, as well as picnic and camping areas. The monument’s interior is closed till further notice.
Lake Wawayanda
The pure waters of lovely Lake Wawayanda, which is part of the Wawayanda State Park, attract visitors from all over the state and beyond throughout the summer months. The park is recognised for its picturesque forested hills, numerous paths (including a section of the Appalachian Trail), and peaceful ambiance. Swimmers like the lake’s stunning clarity, which allows them to see fish as they swim by. Changing stations, restrooms, a first-aid station, and a concession stand are all located near the beach. Canoes, rowboats, and paddle boats are among the boats that visitors can rent. On weekends, the lake can fill up quickly, so get there early. The Park charges a fee per carload to enter. Prices can be found on this page. Once the lake’s capacity is achieved, the number of visitors will be limited.
Round Valley Recreation Area
Swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and camping are all popular activities in the Round Valley Reservoir. Lake visitors can relax and enjoy the gorgeous environment while participating in these activities. The campgrounds on the eastern side of the lake are only accessible by camping, making this park the only one that provides wilderness camping. The main reservoir is the only place where swimming is prohibited. Picnickers at this lake can take in three different types of views while eating their lunch. The first two spots, East and North, have pleasant, shaded grassy spaces, while the third position, West, is on a hill overlooking Round Valley’s waters.