Water Adventures with Kids in New York
We pulled these 68 water 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.
68 adventures found
Letchworth State Park
Castile, NY
HikingGrand Canyon of the East with three major waterfalls and a 600-foot gorge. Paid entry. Works from …
Green Lakes State Park
Fayetteville, NY
SwimmingSwim in Caribbean-blue glacial lakes at Green Lakes State Park near Syracuse NY - sandy lifeguarded …
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 …
North-South Lake Campground
Haines Falls, NY
CampingPremier Catskills campground with twin lakes and a swimming beach - campsites from about $22/night …
Robert H. Treman State Park
Ithaca, NY
SwimmingGorge trails, multiple waterfalls, and a stunning natural swimming hole near Ithaca. Paid entry. …
Ausable Chasm
Keeseville, NY
NatureWalk through a 500-million-year-old sandstone gorge with optional rafting. Paid entry. Best from …
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Kerhonkson, NY
HikingSky lakes, cliff-top trails, and swimming on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age …
Lake George Islands Camping
Lake George, NY
CampingBoat-access island camping on pristine Lake George. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay …
Million Dollar Beach
Lake George, NY
SwimmingSandy public beach on crystal-clear Lake George with lifeguards and mountain views. Paid entry. …
Saranac Lake Islands Camping
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingPaddle-in island camping on the Saranac Lakes with 87 primitive sites. Paid entry. Best from about …
Peekamoose Blue Hole
Sundown, NY
SwimmingStunning blue-green natural swimming hole with waterfall in the Catskill forest. Free. Best from …
Taughannock Falls State Park
Trumansburg, NY
HikingEasy walk to a 215-foot waterfall taller than Niagara Falls. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen, NY
HikingWalk behind 19 waterfalls through a stunning 200-foot-deep gorge. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
High Falls Gorge
Wilmington, NY
NatureWalkway-accessible waterfalls through an ancient Ausable River gorge. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Grass Point State Park
Alexandria Bay, NY
CampingRiver campground near Alexandria Bay with beach and easy Thousand Islands access. Paid entry. Works …
Keuka Lake State Park
Bluff Point, NY
SwimmingSandy beach and campground on one of the cleanest Finger Lakes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Keuka Lake State Park Camping
Bluff Point, NY
CampingOpen lakeside and shaded wooded campsites with a swim beach and boat launch on Keuka, the quietest …
Pixley Falls State Park
Boonville, NY
HikingQuick roadside walk to a beautiful 50-foot waterfall near Boonville. Free. Best from about age 3. …
Burnham Point State Park
Cape Vincent, NY
CampingQuiet waterfront campground where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River. Paid entry. Works from …
Chittenango Falls State Park
Cazenovia, NY
HikingDramatic 167-foot single-plunge waterfall with easy overlook access. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Cherry Plain State Park
Cherry Plain, NY
SwimmingQuiet swimming beach and intimate campground on Black River Pond. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Cedar Point State Park
Clayton, NY
CampingWaterfront camping on the St. Lawrence River with Thousand Islands views. Paid entry. Works from …
Sam's Point Preserve
Cragsmoor, NY
HikingIce caves, dwarf pine barrens, and cliff-top views on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from …
Cranberry Lake Campground
Cranberry Lake, NY
CampingRemote lakefront campground on one of the largest and wildest Adirondack lakes. Paid entry. Best …
Stony Brook State Park
Dansville, NY
SwimmingGorge swimming, three waterfalls, and rock formations in a quiet setting. Paid entry. Works from …
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 …
Wellesley Island State Park
Fineview, NY
NatureIsland park in the Thousand Islands with nature center, beach, and 430-site campground. Paid entry. …
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 …
Moreau Lake State Park
Gansevoort, NY
SwimmingSandy lake beach, campground, and ridge trails near Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Seneca Lake State Park
Geneva, NY
SwimmingLakefront park with splash pad, playground, and marina on Seneca Lake. Paid entry. Works from …
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. …
Grafton Lakes State Park
Grafton, NY
SwimmingLifeguarded sandy beach, easy nature trails, and shore fishing at Grafton Lakes State Park near Troy …
Indian Lake Islands Campground
Indian Lake, NY
CampingPaddle-in island camping on scenic Indian Lake in the central Adirondacks. Paid entry. Best from …
Lewey Lake Campground
Indian Lake, NY
CampingBeach and boat launch between two lakes beneath Snowy Mountain, with wilderness trailheads and …
Eighth Lake Campground
Inlet, NY
CampingLakefront campground with beach and calm water on the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Paid entry. Works from …
Limekiln Lake Campground
Inlet, NY
CampingLarge pine-shaded campground on a clear lake near Inlet, with a sandy beach, boat launch and the …
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Ithaca, NY
SwimmingNatural swimming pool at the base of a cascading waterfall near Ithaca. Paid entry. Best from 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 …
Vernooy Kill Falls Trail
Kerhonkson, NY
HikingEasy forest hike to a beautiful waterfall with a swimming pool at the base. Free. Best from about …
Hearthstone Point Campground
Lake George, NY
CampingWaterfront state campground on Lake George close to the village. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Heart Lake
Lake Placid, NY
SwimmingSandy mountain lake beach with High Peaks backdrop and canoe rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Lake Placid Public Beach
Lake Placid, NY
SwimmingFree sandy village beach on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid NY with summer lifeguards, a roped …
Mirror Lake Paddle
Lake Placid, NY
KayakingPaddle a kayak or canoe on the calm motor-free waters of Mirror Lake. Paid entry. Best from about …
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 …
Mongaup Pond Campground
Livingston Manor, NY
CampingSandy beach and motor-free paddling on the largest Catskill pond, with wilderness trails from camp …
Buttermilk Falls
Long Lake, NY
HikingOne of the tallest Adirondack waterfalls with easy staircase access. Free. Best from about age 3. …
Forked Lake Campground
Long Lake, NY
CampingMostly paddle-in shoreline campsites on a quiet Adirondack lake, a real step up from car camping for …
Robert Moses State Park (Massena)
Massena, NY
SwimmingRiver beach, nature center, and ship-watching on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Paid entry. Works from …
Fillmore Glen State Park
Moravia, NY
HikingQuiet gorge with five waterfalls, a walk-behind cascade, and swimming pool. Paid entry. Best from …
Kenneth L. Wilson Campground
Mount Tremper, NY
CampingLakeside Catskills campground with sandy beach and boat rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
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 …
Niagara Gorge Trail
Niagara Falls, NY
HikingHike the bottom of Niagara Gorge with boulder scrambles and whirlpool rapids. Free. Better for ages …
Selkirk Shores State Park
Pulaski, NY
CampingBluff-top campground on Lake Ontario with beach and Salmon River access. Paid entry. Works from …
Golden Beach Campground
Raquette Lake, NY
CampingLong sandy swimming beach with a gradual toddler-friendly entry on Raquette Lake, backed by …
Raquette Lake Beach
Raquette Lake, NY
SwimmingQuiet sandy beach on one of the prettiest lakes in the central Adirondacks. Free. Works from toddler …
Delta Lake State Park
Rome, NY
Swimming900-foot sandy swimming beach on Delta Lake in central New York. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Sampson State Park
Romulus, NY
SwimmingBig family park on Seneca Lake with beach, campground, marina, and playground. Paid entry. Works …
Fish Creek Pond Campground
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingMassive waterfront campground with beach and access to a chain of Adirondack ponds. Paid entry. …
Floodwood Pond
Saranac Lake, NY
KayakingMotor-free interconnected ponds perfect for family kayaking and canoe adventures. Free. Best from …
Rollins Pond Campground
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingMotor-free Adirondack pond camping next door to Fish Creek, with glassy water, loons at dawn and …
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Springs, NY
HikingNatural mineral springs, historic pools, and forest trails in Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works …
Pharaoh Lake Wilderness
Schroon Lake, NY
HikingPristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and …
Verona Beach State Park
Verona Beach, NY
Swimming1,000-foot sandy beach on Oneida Lake with campground and nature trails. Paid entry. Works from …
Thacher State Park
Voorheesville, NY
HikingCliff-top escarpment park with a walk-behind waterfall and 40-mile views. Paid entry. Best from …
Wilmington Notch Campground
Wilmington, NY
CampingRiverside state campground in the notch between Lake Placid and Wilmington, minutes from High Falls …