Wampus Pond Park is located on 102 acres in Armonk, Westchester County. It is named after the Indian from whom this land was bought in 1696. Wampus Pond means “opossum". A recent cultural resources inventory performed by Parker Harrington indicates that early 20th century rock shelters, several Native American artifacts and remnants of historically significant residential developments were found within or near the park.
The natural pond, at one time known as Wampus Lake Reservoir, was once part of the New York City water supply. In 1963 the County bought Wampus pond and 93 acres from the City of New York.
Parks attractions include: Boating, Fishing, Ice-Skating, Nature Study, Picnicking
The Cross River Reservoir is located in northeastern Westchester County, about one mile east of the Village of Katonah and approximately 25 miles north of New York City. It is located within the towns of Bedford and Lewisboro. The Cross River Reservoir was formed by the damming of Cross River and was placed into service in 1908. This reservoir is part of the New York City water supply system.
Cross River Reservoir Surface Area = 903.8 acres Mean Depth = 35.8 feet Consists of one basin, approximately 3.2 miles in length. Holds 10.3 billion gallons at full capacity.
Fish Species Present Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Carp, Panfish Sourced from: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Croton Point Park is a 508-acre park situated on a peninsula on the east shore of the Hudson River. This park offers year-round events and activities, including camping, hiking, and swimming. Also, home of wine cellars, thought to be the oldest in New York State, and the Croton Point Nature Center that offers a year-round schedule of interpretive programs.
Things To Do Boat Launch Cabin Rental, RV Camping, and Tent Camping Cross-country Skiing Fishing Hiking / Walking Historic Wine Cellars Museum Nature Study Pavilions Picnicking Playground Swimming Beach
George’s Island Park is a 208 acre waterfront park offering magnificent views of the historic Hudson River. It contains tidal wetlands, a fresh water pond and wooded trails, and provides boat access to the Hudson River as well as areas for nature study and picnicking.
Mountain Lakes Park is Westchester’s northernmost county park. It is set on 1038 acres and is characterized by a rugged landscape and native hardwood forest with miles of trails. Situated in this lovely park is Mt. Bailey, the highest point in Westchester. Mt. Baily offers breathtaking vistas in every season. The park offers many types of recreational activities including boating, group and self-reliant camping.
Parks attractions include: Boating, Camping, Cross-Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking Trails, Ice Skating, Mt. Bailey Westchester's Highest Point, Nature Study
Glen Island Park is a 105 acre park located on the Long Island Sound, offering a variety recreational facilities including a foot beach, 18-hole miniature golf course, playground and picnicking area with a pavilion, and magnificent waterfront views.
Rye Playland is Metro New York's great family amusement park and entertainment center. Featuring more than 50 rides for children and adults, Playland also offers free entertainment and has a beach, pool, boardwalk and pier on scenic Long Island Sound, lake boating, picnic area, mini golf and indoor ice-skating.
Point of Interest: Rye Playland has the distinction of being America's first totally planned amusement park and prototype for today's successful theme parks. Dedicated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987, Playland has provided family fun since 1928. Often referred to as "Rye Playland", it is America's only government owned and operated amusement park.
The Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park offers a scenic haven. The park's spacious picnic areas, which can accommodate individual families as well as large groups, may be reserved in advance. The park's mammoth pool can hold 4,000 bathers at one time.
The park's oasis of blue water, Mohansic Lake and Crom Pond, provide excellent freshwater fishing and boating. Popular catches include bass, perch, and sun fish. A New York State Freshwater Fishing License is required. Licenses can be purchased at town halls or a variety of sporting good stores. Both rowboats and pedal boats are available for rental; however, a regional boating permit allows visitors to launch their own rowboats, canoes or kayaks. For an additional fee, rowboat owners may also store their boats. In wintertime, the water's tree lined border provides a winter wonderland backdrop for ice skaters and ice fisherman.
The park's picnic areas have volleyball nets and many have softball fields or basketball courts. There is also a soccer field. Sports enthusiasts may wish to try their hand at Disc golf, a short distance from the picnic areas. You can play either 9 or 18 holes. The rules and scorecards are located at the course and loaner Frisbees are available from the park office. The park’s hills and trails are perfect for winter sports.
Parks attractions include: Biking, Boat Launch Sites, Boat Rentals, Cross-Country Skiing, Disk Golf Course, Fishing, Food, Hiking Trails / Walking, Ice Skating, Picnic Tables, Playground, Playing Fields, Pool, Recreation Programs, Snowmobiling
Lake Taghkanic State Park was named in 2005 as one of the Top 100 Campgrounds in the nation. Lake Taghkanic State Park, nestled next to Lake Taghkanic in the rolling hills and lush forests of Columbia County, offers a wonderful variety of recreational activities. The park has tent and trailer campsites and cabin and cottage camping facilities, two beaches, picnic grounds and a boat launch. In addition, the park has hiking, biking, cross-country ski and snowmobile trails. Ice skating and ice fishing are permitted when conditions are appropriate.
There are three Vacation Rental Cottages that have the amenities of home. The units are outfitted with a bathroom with toilet and shower, a kitchen with hot and cold running water, refrigerator, stove, microwave, cooking and eating utensils, enclosed/screened-in back porch facing the water, a picnic table and fire ring. Press "Blue Button" for photos, and more about Lake Taghkanic State Park.
Chadwick Lake Park is located in Newburgh, NY, Orange County in the lower Hudson Valley. Chadwick Lake is a reservoir supplying water to the Town of Newburgh. It was created by damming Quassaick Creek in 1926. It is located immediately to the northwest of the junction of NY 32 and 300 in the Cronomer Valley section of the town. It is open to the public, and there are recreational facilities near the southern end.
Facilities near the lake's southern end, include three picnic shelters, a playground, walking trails, boating launches, basketball courts, and a roller rink. Fishing is also allowed on the lake, with largemouth bass a common catch. Press "Blue Button" for more about Chadwick Lake Park.
Note: A permit is required for entrance to Chadwick Lake Park.
Park Attractions Boating (boats are available to rent) Boat launches Bocce Basketball Fishing Ice Skating Picnic facility Playground Roller Hockey Rink Walking trail around the lake
A mostly undeveloped preserve of nearly 6,000 acres, Hudson Highlands State Park consists of a series of separate parcels of land stretching from Annsville Creek in Peekskill, north to Dennings Point in Beacon. The spacious park is perfect for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, and birding. The Hudson Highlands and Hudson River provide spectacular backdrops for the many activities that can be enjoyed here.
The park's extensive hiking trail network includes terrain that varies from easy to challenging. Trail maps can be obtained at the Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park office. The park’s most well known trail – Breakneck Ridge was rated by Newsweek as one of the top 10 day hikes in America. The 5.5 mile Breakneck Ridge trail rises 1,250 feet in only a ¾ mile stretch.
For visitors who wish to view the scenic park from the water, kayaks and canoes are available for rental at Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center in Cortlandt Manor. Rentals, as well as instruction, tours, and educational programs, are provided by Atlantic Kayak Tours. Visitors may also launch their own kayaks and canoes from the Annsville dock. Fishing from the dock is also permitted.
Points of Interest: One area of Hudson Highlands State Park, Bannerman Island, can only be accessed by water and explored via guided tour. Known originally as Pollepel Island, this island is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This majestic Hudson River landmark is home to Bannerman Castle, built by American entrepreneur Frank Bannerman VI between 1901 and 1918. For more information on visiting this unique site see Historic Sites at www.WestchesterTowns.com
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park is wonderful for outdoor enthusiasts. This 14,086 acre park, covering land in Putnam and Dutchess counties, boasts hiking trails, a beautiful beach, picnic areas, scenic campground, and abundant opportunities for boating, hunting, fishing, and birding. The park is also home to the Taconic Outdoor Education Center which provides high quality environmental programming and Fahnestock Winter Park which includes 15 kilometers of groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and an area for sledding.
The large beach at Canopus Lake is the jewel of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial Park. Its sandy shore and nearby picnic area are enjoyed by thousands of bathers. In addition to swimming, campers and day trippers can fish in or tour Canopus Lake by row boats which are available for rental by the hour or the day. Fishing by boat is permitted at Stillwater and Canopus Lakes. Fishing at both lakes and four ponds is excellent in all seasons for anglers seeking bass, pickerel, perch or brook and rainbow trout.
The scenic campground, formed along the park’s natural rock ridges, provides alcoves of privacy and tranquility for campers. Each of the 80 campsites has a picnic table and fire ring. Additionally there is an area for RV camping. The campground’s nature center houses environmental displays and a variety of touch boxes. On weekends, park staff organizes hikes and craft activities. Movies are shown on Saturday evenings for the enjoyment of all campers.
About Bear Mountain State Park The 5,000-acre Bear Mountain State Park, flagship of the Palisades Interstate Park System, is renowned for its natural beauty and rugged mountains. Bear Mountain State Park is located at Bear Mountain, New York 10911; just 45 miles north of New York City in the historic and very beautiful Hudson River Valley.
Lakes, ponds, forest, hills, and mountains abound at Bear Mountain. Bear Mountain is heavily forested, offering the natural beauty of sights such as Perkins Memorial Tower.
Of interest to hikers, the historic Appalachian trail is carried across the Bear Mountain Bridge and the Popolopen Suspension Bridge. Although campgrounds and lodging are available, Bear Mountain Park is primarily a day-use park offering magnificent scenery, photo opportunities, and great hiking for all levels of hikers. The historic Bear Mountain Inn, situated in Bear Mountain Park, overlooks Hessian Lake and provides food and overnight accommodations. Food is also available at several vendors around Hessian Lake and in other areas of the park.
Bear Mountain Park attractions and activities include: a large playing field, picnic groves, rowboat docks on Hessian Lake, swimming pool and bathhouse, nature trails including key segments of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Long Path, basketball court, Trailside Museums and Zoo, Iona Island Estuarine Reserve and Bird Refuge, Perkins Tower, and the Merry-Go-Round. Many winter activities are available at Bear Mountain Park, including an outdoor rink that is open for ice skating from late October through mid-March.
Perkins Memorial Tower, atop Bear Mountain, affords spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Driving, biking, or hiking along Perkins Memorial Drive offers breathtaking views from many vantage points leading to Perkins Memorial Tower perched at the top of the mountain. Don't forget to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of many picnic spots that are available along Perkins Memorial Drive.
Special attraction for kids: The Merry-Go-Round at Bear Mountain features hand painted scenes of the park and 42 hand carved seats of native animals including: black bear, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, skunk, Canada goose, fox, swan, bobcat, rabbit and more.
Things To Do Biking Boat Rentals Cross-Country Skiing Dockage Fishing (lake and river fishing) Food at park and at Bear Mountain Inn Hiking Trails / Walking Ice Skating Merry-Go-Round Pavilion Museum/Visitor Center & Gift Shop Nature Trail Picnic Tables Playground & Playing Fields Pool Zoo and Nature Park
Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain Park
845-786-2701
Click to enlarge photo of Hessian Lake.
Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain Park offers activities such as: fishing, paddle boat and rowboat rentals, and picnicking at Hessian Lake. For more activities and attractions go to Bear Mountain State Park.
Bear Mountain State Park is situated in rugged mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River. The park features a large play field, shaded picnic groves, a dock on the Hudson for mooring small craft, lake and river fishing access, a swimming pool, a zoo and nature, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails, and ski-jumps. An outdoor rink is open to ice skaters from late October through mid-March. The Perkins Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain affords spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park.
Activities and Attractions at Bear Mountain Park Biking Boat Rentals cross-country Skiing Fishing Hiking Ice Skating Merry-Go-Round Museum Nature Trail Picnic Tables Playground Playing Field(s) Pool
Piermont Pier offers beautiful views and excellent springtime fishing. Rental boats, canoes, and kayaks, are available in the immediate area.
Piermont Pier extends one mile across the Hudson River, from Rockland toward Westchester County. You can bike, walk, jog, or drive (with a yearly parking permit) to the end of the pier. Fishing along the pier is popular (check the fishing rule limits) and often very rewarding, especially during the spring run of stripers.
Piermont Marsh Piermont Marsh, part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Department of Environmental Conservation, is located on the west shore of the Tappan Zee Bridge, in the village of Piermont, Orangetown, Rockland County, NY. The site occupies two miles of shoreline south of the mile-long Erie Pier and includes the mouth of Sparkill Creek and extensive tidal shallows. For information about flora (plant life), fauna (animal life) and endangered species at Piermont Marsh, visit Hudson River Reserve, New York, Piermont Marsh Component.
Click to enlarge photo of Bench on Piermont Pier.
For your comfort, benches have been placed frequently on both sides of the path. Walk to the end of the pier as mild to strong breezes keep the air cool and delightful; even on the warmest days of summer. For summer evening and early morning walks you may need a light jacket.
Facing Westchester County, with Rockland County behind you; look to your left and see Hook Mountain in Nyack (another scenic spot along the Hudson River), the Tappan Zee Bridge, and Westchester County on the east side of the Hudson River. With Westchester County straight ahead, look to the right and you can see the New York City skyline; and the Piermont Marsh is to the far right.
Piermont Pier
Piermont Pier is located in Piermont, New York, Rockland County in the Hudson River Valley. The pier is open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm all year. Parking is available at the beginning of the pier. Yearly passes that allow you to drive out on the pier are also available (but book early as they are limited).
Restaurants near Piermont Pier Several good restaurants (and a few exceptional restaurants) ice cream shops, and a coffee cafe, are located near Piermont Pier. Find more activities, attractions, and things to do in Rockland County and the beautiful Hudson River Valley
Lake Tiorati was formed by clearing swampland in Harriman State Park and constructing a concrete dam to make two ponds into one large lake. Surrounded by meadows and rolling, wooded hills, the park offers excellent swimming, fishing, boating and picnicking. In winter, if conditions allow, the lake is used for ice fishing. The pioneer campsites near the lake may be used by bonafide groups.
Parks attractions include: Beach, Biking, Boat Launch Sites, Fishing, Food, Group Camping, Hiking / Walking, Ice Fishing, Picnic Tables, Scout Camping, Showers
Lake Welch Beach State Park's man-made Lake Welch, with its half-mile-long sandy beach in the wooded hills of the Ramapo Mountains, is the largest beach in Harriman State Park. Originally a small body of water with farmland around the edges, Lake Welch became the large lake that it is today when a dam was completed in 1942. The park offers cool breezes, swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking and camping in adjacent Beaver Pond Campground. Winter activities include ice fishing and snowmobiling.
Rockland Lake State Park's lake is located on a ridge of Hook Mountain above the west bank of the Hudson River. The park offers two Olympic-sized swimming pools and two kiddie pools, picnic tables and grills, a car-top boat launch and boat rentals, hiking trails with breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley, six tennis courts and two golf courses. Anglers can fish Rockland Lake for bass, perch and norlunge; walkers and joggers can use the fitness trail around the lake. Winter visitors can enjoy designated cross-country ski trails and sledding slopes.
Atlantic Kayak Tours is located at 320 West Saugerties Road, Saugerties NY 12477, Ulster County in the Hudson River Valley. Atlantic Kayak Tours is the largest paddlesport company in the tri-state area. We paddle in locations along the Hudson River from New York Harbor to the Albany area, and along the Atlantic coastline from southern New Jersey to Cape Cod. Our kayaks are first quality craft from a variety of U.S. and British designers. Our paddles and accessory equipment is, likewise, first rate.
Atlantic Kayak Tours is the largest and most experienced kayak outfitter in the New York tri-state area, specializing on the Hudson River Valley. We offer over 75 different kayak tours and instructional programs from New Jersey to Cape Cod. Tours and instructional programs are offered at our Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center and Norrie Point Paddlesport Center located in New York on the Hudson River.
The Catskill Park is a mountainous region of public and private lands in Southeastern New York's Ulster, Greene, Delaware and Sullivan Counties - the "forest preserve" counties. Ninety-eight peaks over 3,000 feet high form an impressive skyline. Its blend of public and private lands is typical of large parks in Europe, where people and unique lands have coexisted for centuries. The Catskill Forest Preserve is the state land within the Catskill Park. Since its creation in 1885, it has grown from 34,000 to 287,500 acres. An 1894 amendment to the New York State Constitution (now Article 14) directs:
"the lands of the State now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed."
The forest preserve has thousands of acres of forests with meadows, remnants of old farmsteads, lakes, rivers, springs, waterfalls, cliffs, fire towers, bears, rattlesnakes and other wildlife, rare plants and animals. Also, there are hundreds of miles of abandoned woods roads and trails to enjoy. Today, it serves as watershed, recreation area and ecological and scenic reserve. Press "Blue Button" for more information about the following outdoor activities:
Attractions and Outdoor Activities Accessible Recreation Boating Camping Cross-Country Skiing Fishing Hiking & Rock Climbing Hunting Shellfishing Trapping Snowmobiles
Wampus Pond Park
