Ten miles east of Syracuse, New York, the mood changed dramatically as I drove through the woods of Green Lakes State Park. I had heard that the two lakes – Green Lake and Round Lake – were meromictic, meaning their water layers don’t mix. But when I actually saw them, I gasped.

Not only were they unusually clear, but they also had that calming bluish-green tinge you normally associate with the Caribbean. That’s exactly why I found them so shocking: I was far inland, in the middle of upstate New York, but I was looking out over waters that seemed to belong on an island a thousand miles away. The 1,955-acre park – centered around the two peculiar but stunning lakes – may not be the most talked about park in the Finger Lakes region, but it is undoubtedly one of the most unique.

“The two lakes were formed during the last ice age nearly 15,000 years ago and are essentially giant plunge pools,” the Finger Lakes Land Trust says online about the park. “Large waterfalls cascading down from the retreating edge of the glaciers have eroded nearly 500 feet of rock, forming deep, steep-sided lakes that no longer fit into the current landscape.”

Green Lake and Round Lake are about 190 feet and 180 feet deep, respectively, and their unique coloring is attributed to minerals and salts such as calcium carbonate. “(Minerals and salts) seep into the lake from the groundwater,” the nonprofit explains. From May to early June, the lakes experience an annual “whitening” event, where “the calcium carbonate precipitates out of the water and settles, forming reef-like structures.” The land trust adds that this is “another spectacle that can only be seen in this park.”

Surrounding the lakes are ravines with drops up to 46 meters high, as well as old-growth forests that are “a rarity in the Northeast” and “feature multi-layered tree canopies with large diameters,” the Land Trust added.

Here you’ll find all the practical details you need to plan a visit to stunning Green Lakes State Park.

Plan your visit

Green Lakes State Park is located in the New York city of Fayetteville, just outside of Syracuse. From Syracuse, a short detour east on Interstate 690 and NY-290 will take you to Green Lakes Park Drive, which you can follow into the park.

The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and charges a $10 vehicle entrance fee.

Pets are allowed but must be supervised at all times and kept either on a leash or in a crate. Only service animals are allowed on the park’s boats, boardwalks, buildings, golf courses, playgrounds and patrolled beaches. Those camping on-site must show staff proof of rabies vaccination.

Best time to travel

Summer is when the park and its namesake lakes are at their most beautiful, but it’s also the busiest time of year, with peak season running from late June through Labor Day. Summer is also the only time you can enjoy the park’s beaches and swimming areas – they’re open exclusively from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Although fall is not a good time of year for swimming, it is another stunning time of year to visit as the park is in full bloom. You can track the seasons when fall foliage is at its strongest by checking out the I Love New York Fall Foliage Report.

There’s adventure in the winter too, as there are about 10 miles of groomed cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. In short, there’s no wrong time to visit Green Lakes State Park.

The best activities in the park

A true all-around destination for outdoor lovers, the park offers activities of all kinds, including biking, bird watching, boating, cross-country skiing, disc golf, golfing, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing and swimming.

The boathouse is open Memorial Day through Labor Day and offers rentals. Rowboats and single kayaks are $5 for a half hour and $10 for an hour, while tandem kayaks are $10 for a half hour and $15 for an hour. Crystal tandem kayaks are also available for $15 for a half hour and $20 for an hour. Private boats, kayaks and canoes are not allowed on either lake.

One of the park’s highlights is its 18-hole golf course, designed by renowned course architect Robert Trent Jones. The State Park Service points out that the park’s rolling hills make the course challenging even for advanced players, as there are deep bunkers and woods that mean “errant tee shots can prove costly.”

Tee times can be booked up to seven days in advance. The green fee for nine holes is $18 on weekdays and $20 on weekends and holidays, while the fee for 18 holes is $22 on weekdays and $32 on weekends and holidays. There is also a special evening rate for 18 holes after 6 p.m. of $14 from June through August. The junior rate for New York State residents under 17 and the senior rate for those 62 and older is $11 for nine holes and $16 for 18 holes and is valid only on weekdays and after 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

If golf isn’t your thing, the park also offers a great place to go birdwatching. Birdwatchers can spot nearly 170 species at Green Lakes—from purple finches and wrens to snow geese and black-billed cuckoos—and check them off the park’s official checklist.

Geocachers can also search for caches locally and even participate in the 2024 Central Region Geocache Challenge through November 11. Those who find 45 of the 80 caches in the area will receive a unique geocoin to collect and track.

Best hikes

The park offers 19 miles of hiking trails, but the most popular routes circle the lakes: the 1.9-mile Green Lake Trail and the 0.9-mile Round Lake Trail. If you want to avoid the more crowded spots, the 2.5-mile Deer Run Trail can be accessed from the parking lot in the northwest corner of the park, while the 2.8-mile Spruce Ridge Trail begins on Pierson Road on the east side. A map of all 21 trails can be found here.

Just beyond the entrance to NY-290, a bridge connects the park to the Erie Canalway Trail.

Accommodation

Since the park is only about a 15-minute drive from Syracuse, there are a number of affordable hotels nearby. Many of them are branches of well-known brands, such as the Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, near the Syracuse University campus, or the Hampton Inn & Suites Syracuse North Airport Area between Onondaga Lake and Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). A closer alternative is the Craftsman Inn & Suites in Fayetteville, just a seven-minute drive from the park.

If you want to combine your trip with an adventure on a larger lake, drive about 20 minutes southeast to Cazenovia, at the southern end of Cazenovia Lake. There you can stay at the Gilded Age mansion The Brewster Inn or the historic Lincklaen House, which dates back to 1835.

Another option: Turning Stone Resort Casino, located a half-hour east of Green Lakes in Verona, offers 24-hour activities, from bars, lounges and live entertainment to golf, a spa and, of course, a sprawling casino floor.

camping

The 2024 camping season at Green Lakes State Park’s campgrounds began May 17 and runs through Oct. 13. Reservations can be made online up to nine months in advance. The 135 campsites range in price from $18 to $37 per night, and the seven cabins cost $115.50 per night (with a two-night minimum stay), or $462 per week. There is an additional $7.25 registration fee, plus another fee of $7 per night or $28 per week for those who are not New York State residents.

Some sites have electricity, others have full hookups. There are also sites with water and sewer hookups. Pets are allowed. Details of each site will be shown at the time of booking.

You can mark the 2025 season in your calendar now – it runs from May 16 to October 12, 2025.

Restaurants

Located in the state park is the Yards Grille, known for its views of the golf course and lakes. The restaurant focuses on classic American cuisine, with crab cakes, salads, a Waldorf chicken sandwich and fried haddock on the current menu. For something more casual, the north end of Green Lake features the Beach House Snack Bar, which serves staples like pizza, burgers, chicken tenders and ice cream.

Outside the park, nearby Fayetteville offers a number of options, including the Arad Evans Inn, which serves American cuisine in a 19th-century Federalist-style farmhouse, and the Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House, which offers everything from scallops and fish and chips to steaks. For a true upstate experience, head to the Fayetteville branch of the Wegmans grocery store, which also serves as a community space. Pick up food for a picnic lunch to enjoy in the park.