Clark Reservation State Park

Clark Reservation State Park in Jamesville, New York, is a small NYS Parks property built around a glacial plunge-basin lake. Like Green Lake, its surface and bottom waters do not mix. NYS Parks describes rugged cliffs and rocky outcrops, woodland, meadow and a wetland, with five trails, including a cliff trail whose ledge overlooks the water from 175 feet up. The park is open sunrise to sunset year round, and its nature center is open from mid-May through Labor Day.

The Lake and the Cliffs

NYS Parks describes Clark Reservation's lake as "a glacial plunge basin lake in which the surface waters and bottom waters do not mix," the same unusual layering as the lakes at Green Lakes. The Natural Heritage Program explains that New York's meromictic lakes formed where glacial waterfalls scoured deep plunge pools into the bedrock. NYS Parks also calls it a glacial lake good for fishing and birdwatching. See why the water is green for how these lakes work.

Around the lake rise rugged cliffs and rocky outcrops. The best-known walk is the cliff trail, which NYS Parks says has a ledge overlooking 175 feet above the water.

Trails

NYS Parks says hikers can choose from five trails at Clark Reservation. The cliff trail has steep drop-offs; keep children close and dogs leashed, and stay back from the edge in wet or icy weather.

Nature Center

The Clark Reservation State Park Nature Center is open seasonally, mid-May through Labor Day. Weekend guided nature walks leave from the nature center building, which also has exhibits. The same NYS Parks Central Region education team runs programs at Clark Reservation and Green Lakes; groups of 10 or more can request a guided program by emailing CentralRegionEE@parks.ny.gov.

Hours, Fees and Pets

• Hours: sunrise to sunset, year round.
• Fees: NYS Parks says most state parks charge a vehicle use fee that varies by location and season; call the park at (315) 492-1756 to confirm. The $80 Empire Pass covers day-use vehicle entry at most state parks.
• Pets: up to two in day-use areas, supervised, on a leash of 6 feet or less or crated, and not in playgrounds or buildings.

Address

6105 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, NY 13078.

Clark Reservation vs Green Lakes

Clark Reservation is the smaller, quieter of the two, with cliffs and one lake. Green Lakes has two meromictic lakes, a beach, boat rentals, camping, cabins and a golf course. If you liked the lake colour at Green Lakes, Clark Reservation shows the same kind of glacial lake from high above. See also Chittenango Falls and the Old Erie Canal.