Green Lakes State Park

[sureño]

Green Lakes State Park preserves the two lakes found within the Green Lakes Channel, Round Lake (a National Natural Landmark) to the west and Green Lake to the east. One of the unusual things a visitor to the park will experience is a good look at not only one but two meromictic lakes.



I spent my Easter Sunday 2012 driving from Berkshire County to the park with my (much, much) better half and then traipsing about the park for the afternoon. Given the holiday and the fact that the $8 seasonal parking fee was yet to go into effect there were quite a few folks at the park, especially at the beach at the eastern end of Green Lake. Nothing unpleasant, though, and it was nice to see folks out enjoying themselves.

I had visited the park a couple of times to snowshoe but this was my first look at the locale sans snowpack.

The post-Iroquois, pre-Park owners of the area never allowed most of the terrain to be lumbered and one of the attractions of the area is the old growth forest. There are also the Indian Ovens, outcrops of dolomite formerly used by the Onondaga as a bivy site and as hearths during nut-gathering season.


At the Indian Ovens.

Another cool aspect of a visit to the park is the amount of grassland—most of it within a big viewshed looking towards Oneida Lake—you have the opportunity to experience. (Deer experience it, too, and note that the park land is within the Lyme Disease-endemic boundary. Permethrin is your friend.)


The grasslands.


Sun goes down, deer come out.

If you ever get the chance to visit the park I do highly recommend it. There is a bit of relief but for those used to the Adirondack High Peaks it will be nothing to speak of. The real attractions are the natural and cultural features so rare east of the Mississippi nowadays.

[procook131]

I love Green Lakes! I lived in Syracuse for thirty years and spent plenty of time there being only about fifteen minutes from my house. Fun place to walk around for sure, also the beach in summer is great and the golf course is a challenge. Lots of good memories there; thanks for sharing!

[CPalmatier]

I spent a lot of time at Green Lakes. I lived in the Syracuse area off and on for years, and still have family in the ares. Green Lakes is a great place with lots of fond memories for me . Thanks for the post.

[ADKJack]

Ten minutes from my house and it is truly a great and unique state park. One warning the area is already tick infested this year so if you hike back there check yourself thouroghly.

[Kyler]

If you are going to visit, the park office has maps of the trails, which are color-coded and marked. Some trails are designated for foot traffic only, and some are open to bikes.

[sureño]

Originally Posted by CPalmatier

I lived in the Syracuse area off and on for years, and still have family in the ares. Green Lakes is a great place with lots of fond memories for me . Thanks for the post.

Originally Posted by procook131

Lots of good memories there; thanks for sharing!

Some people talk about the Syracuse area as if it were blighted or something, but I think it has a lot of neat stuff going on. Of course, Stowe’s not bad, either!

Originally Posted by ADKJack

Ten minutes from my house and it is truly a great and unique state park. One warning the area is already tick infested this year so if you hike back there check yourself thouroghly.

Being in the old growth is just a really different feeling
than being in a succession environment. As for the ticks, a couple of folks made mention to me when I passed them and I was like, “I’m visiting from western Massachusetts, let me tell you about deer ticks!”

Originally Posted by Kyler

Some trails are designated for foot traffic only, and some are open to bikes.

If you take the little branch trail off the White Trail right here you can access a couple of decent whoop-de-doos.

[procook131]

Originally Posted by sureño

Some people talk about the Syracuse area as if it were blighted or something, but I think it has a lot of neat stuff going on. Of course, Stowe’s not bad, either!

It gets knocked all the time, everywhere I go. There is so much going on all around central NY, Syracuse especially. You realize just how awesome it is once you leave, and miss it just that much more!

Stowe's alright, but serves more as a "basecamp" for going anywhere I want in the Northeast within a few hours. Having views of Mansfield and Camel's Hump from any room in my apartment is pretty sweet I must say! Playground right in my backyard...

[CatskillKev]

I have been to Green Lakes. My aunt loves it there and has a way with the animals and owls. She hasn't told me about the meromictic lakes, natural landmark, etc. Syracuse has had one of the best, if not the best, basketball teams two of the last 3 years. Go Orange!

[WannabeALjr]

Originally Posted by sureño

Some people talk about the Syracuse area as if it were blighted or something, but I think it has a lot of neat stuff going on.

Originally Posted by procook131

It gets knocked all the time, everywhere I go. There is so much going on all around central NY, Syracuse especially. You realize just how awesome it is once you leave, and miss it just that much more!

Syracuse is a really great mid-sized city. Lots of city parks (Higher Onondaga, Elmwood, Sunnycrest, Thornden), lots of state & county parks an easy drive (Green Lakes, Pratts Falls, Onondaga Lake Park, etc), festivals every weekend in the summer, great diversity, places to eat, and pretty easy to navigate. Also, an easy drive to Canada, the ADKs, and NYC.

I went to college there and never left, and lived right in the heart of the city for fifteen years and still work there. I have such a soft spot for the place.

It is nice to see someone come and appreciate what it has to offer. Thanks!