Are you planning a visit to Southwick Beach State Park in New York? In this guide, learn everything you need to know about the park to enjoy your time there.
You’ll find plenty of photographs in this post of some of the different areas of the park, which I hope will help you decide when and how to visit.
We first visited Southwick Beach State Park for a special family picnic, since it is rare that my oldest son is able to join us for hikes at the park. So, we set aside an entire day to explore the park.
The park far exceeded our expectations. There is so much to do, and there really is something for everyone to enjoy at Southwick, just one of the many places to experience in New York’s famous Thousand Islands region.
Where is Southwick Beach State Park NY?
Southwick Beach State Park is located on New York Route 3 in Henderson, NY, a small town southwest of Watertown. It is one of two state parks located in the town of Henderson.
This beautiful park is a short drive from Fort Drum, Watertown, Pulaski, and Oswego New York. It is also a convenient drive for a three-day weekend trip from New York City and surrounding areas, especially for those who enjoy an escape to nature every once in a while.
Directions to Henderson, NY and Southwick Beach State Park
Southwick Beach State Park is easily accessed off of Exit 39 on Interstate 81 north of Syracuse. The park is about an 18 minute drive once you exit the interstate, but the drive is mostly rural, so you should not encounter much traffic.
You can click on the link below to open coordinates to the park in Google Maps to get directions from your exact location:
What lake is Southwick Beach on?
Southwick Beach State Park and the swimming area is located on Lake Ontario. The park property is adjacent to Lakeview Wildlife Management Area where there are small ponds and creeks, and some of the trails from the park can take you to these areas.
The beach is on the main Lake Ontario, and so the waves are quite high. Wescott Beach State Park, a fifteen minute drive north on Route 3, is located on Henderson Bay, yet is still part of Lake Ontario.
How much does it cost to get into Southwick Beach State Park?
It costs $7 per car for day-use access to the park, including the beach, during the non-peak season. During the peak season dates, the fee increases to $8.
The day use fee does not include fees for camping. Camping fees are discussed in more detail before.
Are dogs allowed at Southwick Beach State Park?
Yes, dogs are allowed at Southwick Beach State Park. However, there are a few important restrictions to keep in mind:
- Only two pets are allowed
- You must have proof of rabies vaccination available if a park employee requests it
- Pets are not allowed on boardwalks
This park is a very popular place for people to bring their dogs to walk, even in the winter. There are plenty of short and long hikes to take to get some exercise with your pup.
What is there to do at Southwick Beach State Park in NY?
There are many activities available to visitors at Southwick Beach. Hiking, boating, camping, fishing, hunting, swimming, picnics, baseball fields, basketball courts, and biking.
People also love to visit Southwick to walk their dogs, for bird-watching, and to enjoy the natural landscapes. During the summer, it is a beautiful place to find many species of plants and animals.
Camping at Southwick Beach State Park
There are four separate camping loops at the park where you can find 131 campsites to choose from. Some campsites are located directly adjacent to the beach with lake views, and others are in wooded locations.
It is important to note that not every campsite has electricity, so if you need to have electricity, be sure to check the description of the location you are interested in before you make your reservation. The sites on the Beach Loop do not have electric hookups.
How much does it cost to camp at Southwick Beach State Park?
You can reserve a campsite at Southwick Beach for between $18-30 dollars each night. There is a small nightly surcharge for those who are not residents of New York State.
The campground facilities are well-maintained, making this a very affordable camping spot in Northern New York.
All New York State Parks use the Reserve America website/system to manage reservation for camping and other rentals. It is an easy-to-use system that I have used personally to camp in New York (and even other states!).
You can access the Reserve America Southwick Beach State Park page by using the following link:
Are there cabins at Southwick Beach State Park?
No, there are no cabins at this state park. The closest state parks with cabins are Wescott Beach State Park and Robert G. Wehle State Park, though cabins and cottages at these parks are definitely on the pricey side and have limited availability.
There are also numerous private vacation rentals available in the towns of Henderson and Sacketts Harbor. One such privately owned campground is called The Willows, and they do advertise cabins available for rent.
Is there hiking at Southwick Beach State Park?
Hiking is one of the most popular activities at Southwick Beach. There are a variety of well-maintained, interesting and beautiful hiking trails to enjoy at this park.
The main three trails are:
- Big Beach Trail (called the “BB” trail on the trail map) 0 .7 miles
- Big Dead Maple Trail (called the “BM” trail on the trail map) 0.2 miles
- Yellow Trail (called “YT” on the trail map) 0.6 miles
All of these trails are less than one mile, as you may have noticed.
As I mentioned earlier, the property where this park is located is right next to the stunning Lakeview Wildlife Management Area that has miles of trails and places to explore. Some parts can be accessed from trails right from Southwick.
This means that if you are looking for a longer hike, you have options.
For example, a hike that I have taken is by accessing the Big Dead Maple (BM) trail from the Big Beach Trail (it’s is an offshoot of the BB trail that is marked with red markers). This hike leads you to connect with the Lake Ontario Dune trail that leads you through some beautiful woods, over creeks and dunes, and onto the beach a bit south of Southwick Beach State Park.
If you decide that you want to go on a longer hike, you can connect with a popular trail on the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area property, which eventually leads you back onto the beach of Lake Ontario and a short, sandy walk back to Southwick Beach. Below is a photograph of a boardwalk that takes you over the sensitive coastal sand dunes that are protected.
Can you swim in Lake Ontario at Southwick Beach?
Yes, swimming is allowed in Lake Ontario in the designated swimming area and when a lifeguard is on duty, and it is important to follow this regulation because the Great Lakes can be dangerous for swimmers. A lifeguard is on duty during the peak swimming season at the park, typically during the summer.
If you visit the park during the off season, the beach is still a lovely place to walk and view the beautiful Lake Ontario, one of the famous Great Lakes of North America.
Is there a pool at Southwick Beach State Park?
No, there is no pool at Southwick Beach State Park. The only swimming allowed is in Lake Ontario during swimming season, and when a lifeguard is on duty.
There are some New York State parks with pools. For example, Keewaydin State Park in Alexandria Bay has an outside pool near its campgrounds.
Fishing at Southwick Beach State Park
There is a wide variety of fish that can be caught in Lake Ontario, as the well as the rivers and streams that are its tributaries. Some of the species that you can find are bass, trout, sunfish, and even salmon.
Southwick Beach State Park Boat Launch
There is a car top public boat launch at Southwick Beach suitable for small craft that can carried. This area is accessible via the parking lot near the boardwalk to the beach swimming area at the park.
If you are trying to put a bigger boat into Lake Ontario, such as one that is carried on a trailer, you might have luck at Wescott Beach State Park, which is located several miles north on Route 3, also in the town of Henderson.
Things to do near Southwick Beach State Park
There is a lot to do directly on the Southwick Beach property, but if you do decide that you would like to explore nearby areas, you won’t be disappointed.
If you want to do something involving the outdoors, you might enjoy visiting these places located just minutes from the park. They are all free to visit, and there are no parking or entrance fees.
- observation tower on Montario Point Road (open coordinates to tower in Google Maps)
- The trail that runs along South Sandy Creek in Lakeview Wildlife Management Area (open coordinates to parking lot in Google Maps)
- If you brought a canoe or kayak, check out Lakeview Pond (open coordinates to parking area in Google Maps)
- Black Pond Wildlife Management Area is a 9 minute drive from the park, and offers hiking and wildlife viewing
If you love to fish, you might enjoy fishing in South Sandy Creek (the second link in the list above). It is a popular place to fish for salmon in the fall, and there are other species to catch during the spring and summer.
Can you visit Southwick Beach State Park in the winter?
Yes, you can visit Southwick Beach State Park for winter recreation activities such as cross-country skiing, winter hikes, and snowshoeing. While it does snow quite a bit each winter at Southwick Beach, access to the park by car is relatively easy, especially if it has been a few days since the last big snow.
Is ice fishing allowed at Southwick Beach State Park?
Ice fishing is not permitted here, and every time I have visited this park in the winter, the lake is not frozen. There are many nearby rivers, lakes, and parks where ice fishing is allowed, however.
If you wanted to give ice fishing a try, definitely look for one of the small local lakes. The small lakes are usually frozen in northern New York by late January, but not always.
So, it is important to know how, when and where to ice fish safely before you get started – so consult an expert.
History of Southwick Beach State Park in New York
Southwick Beach State Park is located in an area of New York that has been inhabited by humans for likely thousands of years. Indigenous Native American peoples, such as the Onandaga People, continue to call this region home.
How Southwick Beach State Park got its name
According to a 1960 news article published by the Oswego-Palladian Times, Southwick Beach State Park’s name is derived from a previous owner, Byron Southwick. His widow, a Mrs. Clayton Hamilton, sold the property to a company partially owned by Lee Simon, who planned to develop a recreation area on the shore of Lake Ontario.
The company did build a recreational center on the land formerly owned by the Southwick family, which it held on to for only five years. New York State purchased the Southwick property for about $150,000 in 1965, and one year later, the park that we know today opened to the public.
There were many attempts at making a profit from the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario at Southwick Beach. According to Wikpedia, Ralph Ellis leased the property from the Southwicks and operated several business there, including an amusement park and dance hall, none of which survived the economic pressures of the Great Depression.
Conclusion
I hope that this post has answered all of your questions about Southwick Beach State Park. It’s a beautiful place that really “checks all of the boxes”, so to speak.
You’ve got the beach, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, a Great Lake – literally everything that you could want in a state park.
If I missed something, and you have a question I didn’t answer here, please leave a comment below and I’ll see if I know the answer.
Thanks for reading today!