Prettiest lake ever. I want to spend the rest of my life living on it and swimming in it!read more

I'm a boater but the only ramp to launch my boat is in Cooperstown one ramp is concrete and very…read moreshort with a sharp drop off at the end of the ramp in the water . It's been like that even back in the 70s ..... then there is the MAJOR parking problem. There is also a dirt ramp next door but it's very shallow also a very small parking area . Once in the water you need to stay in n the water because there is no public shoreline to pull up to and there is a privately paid patrol to keep you off the miles of empty shoreline. The state beach and campgrounds does not have a boat launch and is about eight miles from the boat launch ( by water ) much longer by road . ..... good luck !

Great visit to Kaaterskill Falls on Wednesday, October 7, 2026…read more Decided to visit mid-week to avoid the crowds as it approached peak fall colors...I think October 7th was a bit too early...another week or so would have been better for colors. I have read that the Main Trailhead Lot (Laurel House Road), closest to the waterfall trails, fills up quickly during the fall. I arrived there at 8:30am and was the 9th car in the 40-50-capacity parking lot. When I left at 11:30am, the lot was full and staff was routing visiting from the main road (North Lake Road) to the Scutt Road parking lot...which is a bit further away from the falls. Once parked, the fall viewing platform was a short 0.1 mile walk. It offers some lovely views of the falls from higher up. From there, the walk to the lower falls was about 0.5 miles, but be advised that there are lots of steps (over 300) to get from the top of the falls to the bottom of the falls. You can walk even further from the base of the falls, along Spruce Creek, toward Route 23A and you will get to Bastion Falls. Since I arrived earlier, there were too many people on the trails...which made picture-taking a lot easier. I suspect the crowds increase as the area approached peak fall colors and on the weekends...so plan accordingly. The falls were great...I actually preferred the lower falls viewing area, for its consistent lighting and heavier waterfall flow. The upper was very high but the flow wasn't as heavy. The park is well-maintained with efficient trail marking and directional signage throughout. Free to park and enter the park/waterfall area. Port a potties in parking lot...are as clean as you can expect from a popular public parking port a potty.

Be prepared, the trail down to the falls is very long and while its quite easy going down ,getting…read moreback up is a definitely a treck. It's so worth it though. If however you decide not to go down to the bottom, there is a viewing platform . The waterfall pressure/flow can vary depending on when you visit. Heavy after rain or less during the summer months. Swimming is allowed in the basin , the water is cold . The fall and parking are free in designated parking lots. There was a porta potty in tje lot we parked in. Not sure if there's one in each parking lot though. Don't park anywhere along the roads as you will get ticketed and/or towed. Arrive early aa the parking lots fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Personally I wouldn't do this trail on a rainy day especially if you're a beginner. Lots of stepping stones that can be slippery when wet. Other than that it's one of the most beautiful trails I've been on.

Have you guys heard of this coronavirus thing?…read more Anyway, it's this worldwide pandemic thingy that confined everyone to their homes for basically the last five months. Seeing as how my home is a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, this left my wife and I both working full-time from home, with a toddler, and nowhere to go. We're extremely lucky in our family, and had a small (but far bigger than our apartment), old, house we could shelter in next to this beautiful lake in the Adirondack Park. And this lake has been a lifesaver. In cold weather, it provided me with a shoreline overrun by nature that I could take out my excess energy on to fix up. In hot weather, swimming keeps me from flying into murderous rages (no air conditioning in this old house). When calm, we can kayak, and paddleboard, and just float when we feel lazy. At dusk, we can fish, and skim rocks, and point out frogs to our daughter. With its mountain backdrop, Lake Algonquin is gorgeous in all seasons. The sun glitters like diamonds in the summer. The colors of the autumn leaves are brief but spectacular. It freezes so solid in the winter that they have car races on it, and the snow remains pristine and perfect, unlike the sludge of NYC that appears after an hour or two. And when everything wakes up and starts blooming in spring, it's incredible and alive and downright magical. My father-in-law disparages it as merely a dammed river (perhaps he means 'damned'), but I love this lake, and I feel so fortunate to spend time next to it. Worldwide pandemics aren't my favorite, but Lake Algonquin has been a silver lining for sure.

Cool place. Nice and relaxing. The waters are calm. Take a nice walk and watch the water over the…read moreDam. A good fishing spot.

This is a gorgeous state park on the northeast edge of Otsego Lake. My wife, two teenage sons (15…read moreyrs, 13 yrs), and I came here with our miniature poodle for a quick visit during a 4-night stay in Sharon Springs, NY. We came here every day to enjoy the lovely view of the lake, take a leisurely stroll with the dog, and spend an afternoon fishing (for my 15 year old son). It's about a 15-20 minute drive from Cooperstown along the east shore. At the main entrance, you'll pay a $7 admission fee per vehiecle, or you can just show your NY State Parks Empire Pass card. This is a gem of a park that is well worth the price of admission. First, it feels open and spacious with nice hiking trails. Second, the view of Lake Otsego is lovely. You may see a few kayakers or windsurfers on the lake depending on weather conditions. If you have young children, this is a must-visit place as there are kid-friendly playgrounds. Third, the lake is shallow and calm by the beach, but the water temperature can feel a bit chilly. In the summer, they have lifeguards available starting at 11:00am. Finally, the park has a concession stand which sells basic snacks, hot dogs, and drinks. It's also worth it to take a short walk up the hill to see Hyde Hall and the view of the lake from there!

Very friendly staff at front gate beautiful lake to swim in and camping available as well.read more

Live this tranquil wooded lake. So calming to get there early am and just sit and gaze across the…read morelake and beautiful surroundings

Love going here. Such a nice place. Dog friendly if your…read moredog is well behaved. Some people don't watch their dogs and the run wild but it's been getting better.

Serene little spot in the Catskills of upstate New York. Perfect place to enjoy nature on the…read moretrails or on their surprisingly large lake. My girlfriend and I spent a few hours here on a Sunday afternoon in May. If you rent a boat you can keep it out as long as you want, and you have access to the whole property for the entire day. We spent awhile in kayaks and had the whole lake to ourselves for the entire time. We then spent some time down at the swimming hole and had that to ourselves as well. Everyone who works there was incredibly friendly and helpful. Beautiful day overall and the perfect end to a perfect weekend getaway.

Fantastic place with kayaking, a water hole, a light trail, picnic tables, and great friendly…read morestaff. Thank you Dana! Also, a nice niche store with ice cream, wine, and more.

We have been coming to thatcher park for years. Such a quick little hike (can be challenging) but…read moregorgeous views. The bathrooms were extremely clean.

Before you come here, if you want to hike behind the waterfalls, Indian Ladder Trail is closed…read moreduring the winter and through April due to ice. Other than that, all the trails are open and still fun to hike and enjoy the views. Also the state park is free during off season and much less traffic, which is a bonus. Luckily, I came in late March where most of the snow and ice has melted, and I could explore with regular hiking shoe. I did a loop at the Paint Mine trail. Maybe 2miles total. There are some small waterfalls there, fairly easy loop, no real elevation change. There are a couple overlooks at the park where you can see over the valley. If weather permits, you can see city of Albany at far away with a waterfall on the side. It was very foggy at my first day, so I had to go back again.

This is a small state park off US 7 about 10 miles north of Manchester Center VT. It's a 5-10…read moreminute walk from parking lot to the lake. The lake is fairly shallow, it's very clean, not a large beach area and very picturesque. It's not Lake Tahoe by any means but it's very pleasant and refreshing.

This is a beautiful park with a Great Lake for swimming. Parking is plentiful and close to the…read moreswimming area. The bathrooms and changing areas are clean.

I have lived next to Lake Shaftsbury for 32 years. Great place for a walk, a swim, to have a…read morepicnic. Beautiful spot all round to spend quality time with family or friends.

We love, love, love this lake! We're spending the summer in Vermont and our family goes nearly…read moreafternoon for a swim and to play on the (very clean) beach. Red-winged blackbirds zip around looking for picnic crumbs, there's lots of shade, and the lake is shallow enough around the edge for my two young grandchildren to play. We had my grandson's 6th birthday party here and used one of the charcoal grills to make hot dogs. Be prepared to bring a table and chairs because all of the picnic tables have been removed due to COVID. The lake closes at sunset. Go!