Green Lake Trail

The Green Lake Trail is a 1.9-mile loop around Green Lake, the larger of the two lakes at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, New York. It is the park's most popular walk: mostly flat, beside the water the whole way, and open to foot traffic only. Bikes are not allowed on it. Join it to the Tween Lakes and Round Lake trails and the loop of both lakes comes to about three miles, which the State Parks blog says has benches along the way for resting.

How Long Is the Green Lake Trail?

The NYS Parks trail map (December 2025) lists the Green Lake Trail at 1.9 miles. Some NYS Parks event notices round it to two miles. For both lakes, add the Tween Lakes Trail (0.4 mile) and the Round Lake Trail (0.9 mile); the State Parks blog calls the full loop approximately three miles.

Where to Start

Most people start at the north end of Green Lake, where the beach, playground and boat rentals are. From the main entrance off Route 290, follow the park road to the lots near the beach and bathhouses. The trail runs south along both shores from there. Campers can join it from the Pine Woods Camping Area on the west side. See parking.

What You Pass

Walking counter-clockwise from the beach, along the west shore, the map shows:

1. The Environmental Education Center, in a 1940s boathouse on the west shore. See nature center.
2. The Reserve Shelter and the stairs up toward the Pine Woods Camping Area.
3. Point / Reef, a marked point on the west shore of the lake.
4. The south end of the lake, where the Tween Lakes Trail branches west to Round Lake past the Pump House.
5. The east shore, quieter and wooded, back north to Lakeview and Tulip Hill, picnic areas above the east side of the beach.

Walking Both Lakes

At the south end of Green Lake, take the Tween Lakes Trail (0.4 mile) to Round Lake, walk the Round Lake Trail (0.9 mile) around it, then return the same way to finish the Green Lake loop. Round Lake is a National Natural Landmark with old-growth forest on its banks. See Round Lake.

Rules on the Lake Trail

• Foot traffic only. NYS Parks says biking is not allowed around the lake trail, and the map marks the Green Lake, Tween Lakes and Round Lake trails "Foot Only."
• Dogs on a leash. Leash 6 feet or less, a maximum of two pets, and no pets on the guarded beach or the playground.
• Stay on the trail. The lakes are sensitive, and NYS Parks bans private boats for that reason. Steep banks along parts of the shore drop straight into deep water.
• Dawn to dusk. The trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.

Good For

• Families and strollers on the flatter stretches. It stays at lake level with benches along the way.
• A first visit. It shows you the water colour and both shores in under an hour at an easy pace.
• Dog walks. NYS Parks has used it for a self-guided Halloween dog walk.

Maybe Skip If

• You want a workout or solitude on a summer weekend. Try the Old Growth Trail (2.9 miles) or the hillier trails on the trail map.
• You want to ride. Bikes belong on the other park trails, not the lake trail. See hiking and biking.

In Winter

The park is open year round, dawn to dusk, and there is no vehicle fee outside the summer season. NYS Parks lists snowshoeing and says 15 miles of trails are open to cross-country skiers. See winter at Green Lakes.