Beautiful green-blue waters, with a beach area, picnic/grilling area, walking paths surrounding Round & Green Lake, additional hiking paths through the woods, and camping sites.
Location: 7900 Green Lakes Rd, Fayetteville, NY
Vehicle Entrance Fee: $8
Trail Distance: ~3 mile loop around Green Lake and Round Lake
Trail Difficulty Level: Easy
Terrain: Flat dirt path
Swimming: Yes, in Green Lake beach area
Kayaking or Paddle Boarding: No outside kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards are allowed, only from rental center (closed during Summer 2020).
Map of Park: Map of park and surrounding hiking trails https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/GreenLakesGreenLakesStateParkMap.pdf
Amenities: Biking, fishing, golfing, playgrounds, hiking, camping, boat rentals
Green Lake Beach
The beach area is the only place where swimming is allowed at the lake. Green Lake Beach is located by the parking areas around the northern tip of the lake. It is a sanded area, surrounded with picnic tables, grills, playgrounds, and bathrooms. There are grassy areas where visitors can set up volleyball nets and there are boat rentals as well (temporarily closed during the Summer of 2020).
The sanded area isn't as expansive so it is recommended to arrive early during summer weekends.
Meromictic Lakes
Green Lakes State Park is home to 2 of the meromictic lakes in New York state. Green Lake and South Lake have bottom and surface waters that don't mix. In addition to this there are other factors that contribute to the unique colors of the lakes. As you walk around them you can capture the different tones being reflected, from aquamarine, to greenish blue, and turquoise.
Kayaking and Canoeing
In order to preserve the sensitive water of the lakes, no outside kayaks, canoes, or boats are allowed. The park offers rentals for kayaks and row boats but it is recommended to check the park website or call to confirm if the rentals are open for business (closed in Summer 2020).
Photo Locations and Tips
There are many spots around the lake that offer perfect locations for a photo. If it appears that the camera you are using isn't capturing the color of the lake, it may be due to the reflection of the light on the water. As you make you way around both lakes you will certainly come across a view in which the colors appear to be very exalted. When you photograph the landscape try to focus the shot near the sky to prevent it from being overexposed and you will also end up with a shot of the lake with less white reflection from the sky.
The key to getting a good photo here is to play around with the exposure. If you are using an iPhone you can experiment by tapping on the screen to focus on a particular spot that seems to offer the best lighting exposure for your shot. You can also swipe up and down (after you tap the screen) to adjust the level of exposure even further for the particular spot you are focusing on. Test different exposure settings within the same location to have options that can be slightly adjusted afterwards using your iPhone photo editor or Adobe Lightroom.
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