State-Park

A family park on the St. Lawrence River and Barnhart Island with a sandy beach, nature center, campground, and boat launch. The swimming beach on the river is excellent with warm shallow water and lifeguards. The nature center offers programs for kids and the park has trails through riverfront wetlands that are great for birding. The campground has 168 sites in a wooded setting. Watching the massive ships navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway from the observation area is an unforgettable experience for kids.

A large state park on the east shore of Seneca Lake with a spacious beach, 309-site campground, marina, playground, and recreation hall. The swimming beach is one of the best on any Finger Lake with a wide sandy shore and gradual entry. The campground has both tent and full-hookup RV sites. A naval station museum on the grounds tells the history of the WWII training base that once occupied the site. Bike paths connect the park areas and the marina rents boats. This is a full-service family vacation park.

A 2300-acre state park in Saratoga Springs with mineral springs, swimming pools, nature trails, a performing arts center, and a golf course. The Geyser Creek Trail is an easy 1-mile walk past natural mineral springs where kids can taste the fizzy mineral water (it is safe and surprising). The Victoria Pool is a massive pool complex from the 1930s that feels like swimming in history. The Peerless Pool complex is more modern and family-oriented. Trails wind through pine forests and along Geyser Creek. The park combines nature, history, and recreation in a unique way.

A family campground perched on bluffs above Lake Ontario with a beach, cabins, and trails along the Salmon River. The 148 campsites and 36 cabins are set in a wooded area above the lake. The beach has dramatic bluff views and Lake Ontario sunsets. The Salmon River at the park boundary is famous for salmon and steelhead fishing. Trails along the bluffs and through the woods connect the park areas. The combination of lake swimming, river fishing, and bluff-top camping makes this a unique family destination.

A popular park on the north end of Seneca Lake, the deepest of the Finger Lakes, with a large splash pad, playground, marina, and lakefront walking paths. The splash pad is free with park admission and keeps younger kids entertained for hours. The marina offers boat rentals and the lakefront is great for fishing. Picnic pavilions and a concession stand make it easy to spend a full day. The park hosts family events throughout the summer. It is right next to downtown Geneva for ice cream and shopping.

A beautiful gorge park with a natural swimming area, three waterfalls, and rugged gorge trails. The swimming area in the creek-fed pool at the base of the gorge is a summertime favorite for families. The Gorge Trail climbs past sculpted rock formations and the three waterfalls are each uniquely beautiful. The park is smaller and less crowded than the Ithaca gorge parks making it feel more intimate. Picnic areas with grills and a playground round out the family amenities.

A sprawling park along the Taconic Range on the Massachusetts border with two camping areas, swimming, hiking, and waterfalls. The Copake Falls area has a campground, lake swimming at Ore Pit Pond, and a short trail to Bash Bish Brook. The Rudd Pond Area has another campground and a beautiful swimming pond. Over 20 miles of trails including a section of the South Taconic Trail offer ridge-top views. The park spans both gentle terrain for young families and rugged terrain for adventurous older kids.

Home to a 215-foot waterfall that is taller than Niagara Falls, plunging into a natural amphitheater of rock walls. The Gorge Trail is a flat, easy 1.5-mile round trip walk along the creek bed to the base of the falls. Even toddlers in carriers can make this walk. The scale of the falls and the surrounding cliffs is genuinely awe-inspiring. A rim trail on top offers a different perspective looking down into the gorge. The park also has a swimming beach, playground, and picnic area on Cayuga Lake.

A dramatic escarpment park with cliff-top views stretching 40 miles across the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys. The Indian Ladder Trail is the signature hike, descending along the cliff face on stairs and walkways behind a waterfall. Kids love walking behind the waterfall and the geology exposed in the cliff face spans millions of years. The park has over 25 miles of trails, a swimming pool, playgrounds, and picnic areas. The Helderberg Escarpment is one of the richest fossil-bearing rock formations in the world.

A family park on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake with a 1000-foot sandy beach, campground, and nature trails. The beach is excellent for families with a gentle slope into the water and lifeguards during summer. The lake is warm and shallow near shore. The 45-site campground is set back in the woods. Trails wind through a variety of habitats including wetlands that are great for birding. The park connects to the Erie Canalway Trail for biking. Oneida Lake sunsets from the beach are gorgeous.

One of the most spectacular state parks in the entire country with a gorge trail that passes behind and under 19 waterfalls in just 2 miles. The stone pathway winds through 200-foot-deep gorge walls with water cascading all around you. Kids are wide-eyed the entire time. The trail is paved with stone steps and has railings making it accessible for careful young walkers. The centerpiece Rainbow Falls is unforgettable. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds and have the gorge to yourselves.

A state park on an island in the St. Lawrence River in the heart of the Thousand Islands with a nature center, sandy beach, campground, and hiking trails. The Minna Anthony Common Nature Center has over 600 acres with 8 miles of trails through diverse habitats. Kids love the nature museum with live animal displays and the beach on the river is clean and has a gradual entry. The campground has 430 sites. Watching huge freighters pass through the St. Lawrence Seaway from the shore is mesmerizing for kids.

A flat 2-mile loop through a gorgeous loblolly pine forest inside Beavers Bend State Park. The trail is wide and shaded making it one of the best family hikes in the area. Kids love spotting wildlife and the forested scenery keeps them engaged without any steep sections to slow things down. It is a great way to stretch your legs after the drive in and takes about an hour at a relaxed family pace.

A two-for-one family stop in the heart of Beavers Bend State Park offering both a replica 1/3 scale train ride through towering Ouachita pines and guided horseback trail rides along peaceful forest paths. The train leaves every 30 minutes and is a huge hit with younger kids while horseback rides depart hourly and welcome riders as young as 3. Pairing the train with a short horseback ride makes for a perfect morning that covers both the little ones and older kids.

One of Oklahoma’s most visited state parks spanning over 3400 acres of Ouachita Mountain forest along the Mountain Fork River. Kids can hike miles of shaded trails, fish in the river, paddle on Broken Bow Lake, or explore the nature center. The miniature train ride is a huge hit with little ones and the seasonal pool near the lodge is perfect for cooling off. Between the towering pines and crystal-clear water, it feels a world away from the flatlands most families drive in from.

Family campgrounds nestled among towering pines along the Mountain Fork River inside Beavers Bend State Park. Sites range from primitive tent spots to full RV hookups and many sit right on the riverbank. Kids fall asleep to the sound of running water and wake up ready to explore trails that start right from camp. The campgrounds connect to the full park trail system so you can hike straight from your tent. Book well in advance during peak season because these sites fill up months out.

A quick 0.8-mile loop across from Dogwood Campground in Beavers Bend State Park that delivers beautiful views of the Mountain Fork River without a big time commitment. The trail follows blue blazes through mixed forest and down to the riverbank where kids can toss rocks and watch the water flow. It is one of the easiest trails in the park and a perfect add-on when you have 30 minutes to fill between activities.

Named after a former Oklahoma governor this 12-mile trail system is the crown jewel of hiking in the Broken Bow area. It is made up of seven smaller trails that can be mixed and matched so families can pick a distance that works for their crew. The path winds through native hardwood forests and towering pines across creek beds and up to ridge tops with breathtaking views of Broken Bow Lake. Older kids love the sense of real adventure on the longer sections while shorter loops keep it manageable for younger hikers.

The newest trail addition to Beavers Bend State Park and already one of the most popular with families. This 1.5-mile loop is rated 4.8 stars for good reason. The highlight is a small waterfall along the Mountain Fork River that kids go crazy for. The trail is well maintained and manageable for younger hikers while still feeling like a genuine woods adventure. If you only have time for one trail during your trip this is the one to pick.

A surprising island of loblolly pines known as the Lost Pines sits 100 miles east of the main Hill Country pine range and kids find the shady canopy unlike anything else near Austin. Seven miles of trails wind through recovering forest with white-tailed deer and woodpecker sightings along the way. The staffed swimming pool with lifeguards is open May through September and the Junior Ranger program gives curious kids a structured way to explore. Park Road 1C to Buescher State Park is a beautiful 12-mile drive or bike route through the pines.