Free Things to Do with Kids in New York
We pulled these 44 free adventures out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in New York. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.
44 adventures found
New York State Museum
Albany, NY
MuseumFree Albany museum with a full-size mastodon, New York habitat dioramas and a working 1890s carousel …
Kaaterskill Falls Trail
Haines Falls, NY
HikingThe tallest two-tiered waterfall in New York State at 260 feet. Free. Best from about age 5. About …
Cascade Mountain
Keene, NY
HikingThe most popular Adirondack High Peak with stunning 360-degree summit views. Free. Better for ages 7 …
Walkway Over the Hudson
Poughkeepsie, NY
HikingWalk 212 feet above the Hudson River on the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Free. …
Peekamoose Blue Hole
Sundown, NY
SwimmingStunning blue-green natural swimming hole with waterfall in the Catskill forest. Free. Best from …
Blue Mountain Trail
Blue Mountain Lake, NY
HikingPopular fire tower hike with panoramic views over Blue Mountain Lake. Free. Better for ages 6 and …
Pixley Falls State Park
Boonville, NY
HikingQuick roadside walk to a beautiful 50-foot waterfall near Boonville. Free. Best from about age 3. …
Kane Mountain Fire Tower
Caroga Lake, NY
HikingQuick and easy fire tower hike perfect for young or beginner hikers. Free. Best from about age 4. …
Chittenango Falls State Park
Cazenovia, NY
HikingDramatic 167-foot single-plunge waterfall with easy overlook access. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Storm King State Park
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
HikingRugged Highland trails with dramatic Hudson River panoramas. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. A …
Cascade Lake Trail
Eagle Bay, NY
HikingEasy loop trail around a scenic Adirondack lake with lean-tos and swimming spots. Free. Best from …
Moss Lake Trail
Eagle Bay, NY
HikingEasy loop trail around a pristine Adirondack lake perfect for young hikers. Free. Best from about …
Pilot Knob Preserve
Fort Ann, NY
HikingGentle nature trails with lake views above southern Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About …
Shelving Rock Falls Trail
Fort Ann, NY
HikingShort family hike to a beautiful waterfall near Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About two …
Sleeping Beauty Mountain
Fort Ann, NY
HikingModerate summit hike with one of the best Lake George panoramic views. Free. Better for ages 6 and …
Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area
Gowanda, NY
HikingWild 600-foot gorge with old-growth forest and deep swimming holes. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. …
Hadley Mountain Fire Tower
Hadley, NY
HikingFire tower hike with views of Great Sacandaga Lake and the southern Adirondacks. Free. Best from …
Finger Lakes National Forest
Hector, NY
HikingThe only national forest in New York with free camping and 30+ miles of trails. Free. Best from …
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
Honeoye, NY
HikingEasy hilltop trails with stunning views over Honeoye Lake and the Finger Lakes. Free. Best from …
Snowy Mountain Trail
Indian Lake, NY
HikingChallenging hike to the tallest peak in the southern Adirondacks with fire tower summit. Free. …
Baxter Mountain
Keene, NY
HikingModerate short hike near Keene with excellent High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. About …
Beaver Meadow Falls Trail
Keene Valley, NY
HikingScenic river trail to a beautiful 30-foot waterfall in the High Peaks. Free. Best from about age 5. …
Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail
Keene Valley, NY
HikingEpic hike past a 150-foot waterfall to the iconic Ausable Lakes cliff-top view. Free. Better for …
Poke-O-Moonshine Fire Tower Trail
Keeseville, NY
HikingShort steep hike to a fire tower with views of Lake Champlain and the High Peaks. Free. Better for …
Vernooy Kill Falls Trail
Kerhonkson, NY
HikingEasy forest hike to a beautiful waterfall with a swimming pool at the base. Free. Best from about …
Cobble Hill Trail
Lake Placid, NY
HikingQuick family hike with a big High Peaks view just outside Lake Placid village. Free. Best from about …
Lake Placid Public Beach
Lake Placid, NY
SwimmingFree sandy village beach on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid NY with summer lifeguards, a roped …
Frick Pond Loop Trail
Livingston Manor, NY
HikingPeaceful forest loop to a quiet Catskill pond with lean-tos. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day …
Buttermilk Falls
Long Lake, NY
HikingOne of the tallest Adirondack waterfalls with easy staircase access. Free. Best from about age 3. …
Vroman's Nose
Middleburgh, NY
HikingShort hike to a cliff-top meadow with sweeping Schoharie Valley views. Free. Best from about age 5. …
Grimes Glen Park
Naples, NY
HikingWade up a fossil-filled creek to reach two hidden waterfalls in a narrow gorge. Free. Best from …
Camp Santanoni Historic Area
Newcomb, NY
HikingCarriage road hike or bike to a historic Great Camp on pristine Newcomb Lake. Free. Best from about …
Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower
Newcomb, NY
HikingFamily-friendly fire tower hike with interpretive signs and High Peaks views. Free. Best from about …
Niagara Gorge Trail
Niagara Falls, NY
HikingHike the bottom of Niagara Gorge with boulder scrambles and whirlpool rapids. Free. Better for ages …
Buck Mountain Trail
Pilot Knob, NY
HikingChallenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and …
Raquette Lake Beach
Raquette Lake, NY
SwimmingQuiet sandy beach on one of the prettiest lakes in the central Adirondacks. Free. Works from toddler …
Azure Mountain Fire Tower
Santa Clara, NY
HikingFamily-friendly fire tower hike with northern Adirondack wilderness views. Free. Best from about age …
Ampersand Mountain
Saranac Lake, NY
HikingChallenging hike to a bald summit with 360-degree Adirondack panorama. Free. Better for ages 8 and …
Floodwood Pond
Saranac Lake, NY
KayakingMotor-free interconnected ponds perfect for family kayaking and canoe adventures. Free. Best from …
Pharaoh Lake Wilderness
Schroon Lake, NY
HikingPristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and …
Giant Ledge Trail
Shandaken, NY
HikingPopular hike to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints in the Catskill Mountains. Free. Better for ages 6 and …
Slide Mountain Trail
Shandaken, NY
HikingHike the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full …
Chimney Bluffs State Park
Wolcott, NY
HikingOtherworldly clay spires sculpted by erosion on the shore of Lake Ontario. Free. Best from about age …
Overlook Mountain Trail
Woodstock, NY
HikingFire tower hike past ruins of an old mountain hotel near Woodstock. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. …