Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- Just outside Syracuse, Green Lakes is a popular city escape, which means that you should make weekend bookings as far in advance as possible.
- Bookings can easily be secured online or by phone, up to nine months in advance.
- From mid-May to early October, same-day reservations are permitted only until 3pm. No walk-ins are allowed.
When to Go
Spring and summer are the busiest seasons and the best times for enjoying paddling and swimming in the lakes and playing a round of golf but fall and winter have their own appeal. The park’s lush foliage explodes into rich colors in fall, which is also the ideal time for tackling the park’s hiking trails. In the colder months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are possibilities.
Know Before You Go
- No outside boats, kayaks, or canoes are allowed on the lakes. Rowboat and kayak rentals are normally available from the Boat House Wednesdays through Sundays, Memorial through Labor Day.
- Up to two pets per site are welcome, as long as they are kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are not allowed in buildings or swimming areas.
- There is a fee for vehicles entering the park. If you plan to visit multiple New York state parks, buying an Empire Pass card can save you money.
Green Lakes State Park
This upstate New York park has striking scenery and year-round adventure.
The scenery at Green Lakes State Park lives up to its name, with sprawling old-growth forest and both its Green and Round Lakes displaying a blue-greenish color. Visitors can swim or rent a rowboat or kayak to explore the lakes in summer, while winter offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There’s also an 18-hole golf course, hiking trails through a gorge and across hills, and more than 170 species of birds to look out for. The park has two campgrounds—Pine Woods and the primitive Rolling Hills can accommodate tents, RVs, trailers, and campervans.
The scenery at Green Lakes State Park lives up to its name, with sprawling old-growth forest and both its Green and Round Lakes displaying a blue-greenish color. Visitors can swim or rent a rowboat or kayak to explore the lakes in summer, while winter offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There’s also an 18-hole golf course, hiking trails through a gorge and across hills, and more than 170 species of birds to look out for. The park has two campgrounds—Pine Woods and the primitive Rolling Hills can accommodate tents, RVs, trailers, and campervans.
Activities in the park
3 campgrounds in Green Lakes State Park
Nestled between two ancient glacial lakes, Pine Woods Campground offers all the summertime fishin’ and lake dippin’ you’ve been dreaming about. Whether you choose to explore by kayak or by foot, Round and Green Lakes and the surrounding trails will keep you plenty busy. This scenic paradise is quite the sight any time of year—lush green in the sum Read more...
How does a dip in a glacial lake surrounded by scenic upland forest sound? That’s what we thought. Round Lake is a beautiful gem that makes Rolling Hills Campground the prime spot to crash nearly any time of year. With beach access, you can enjoy swimming, fishing, or boating to your heart’s content. Be sure to bring some craft beer or wine and fa Read more...
Get off the grid at Green Lakes Cabin Colony, a row of lodging set apart from the main campsite loop in Green Lakes State Park. By staying in the cabins, you have the added bonus of being a smidge closer to the park’s crown jewels, the beautiful glacial Green and Round Lakes. Row boat rental, top-notch birdwatching and beach access are just a few Read more...
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Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- Just outside Syracuse, Green Lakes is a popular city escape, which means that you should make weekend bookings as far in advance as possible.
- Bookings can easily be secured online or by phone, up to nine months in advance.
- From mid-May to early October, same-day reservations are permitted only until 3pm. No walk-ins are allowed.
Read more...Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
Spring and summer are the busiest seasons and the best times for enjoying paddling and swimming in the lakes and playing a round of golf but fall and winter have their own appeal. The park’s lush foliage explodes into rich colors in fall, which is also the ideal time for tackling the park’s hiking trails. In the colder months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are possibilities.
Know Before You Go
Public campgrounds (book externally) —