Hiking at Green Lakes

Green Lakes State Park has 22 named trails and connectors on its official NYS Parks map, adding up to about 24 miles. The easiest and most popular hike is the flat, 1.9-mile Green Lake Trail around the lake; add Round Lake and the loop is about three miles. For something longer, the 2.9-mile Old Growth Trail climbs into some of the oldest forest in Central New York. Bikes are allowed on park trails but not around the lake trail. Trails are open dawn to dusk year round.

Best Hikes by Length

Under 2 Miles

• Green Lake Trail, 1.9 mi. The classic. Flat, beside the turquoise water the whole way, foot only.
• Round Lake Trail, 0.9 mi. Around the National Natural Landmark lake, through old growth. Reach it by the 0.4-mile Tween Lakes Trail.
• Indian Ovens Trail and Loop, 0.79 + 0.12 mi. In the park's south end, a short out-and-back to the spot the map labels the Indian Ovens. Reach it from the Brookside or Powerline trails.

2 to 4 Miles

• Both lakes, about 3 mi. Green Lake Trail plus Tween Lakes and Round Lake. The State Parks blog says benches line the way.
• Old Growth Trail, 2.9 mi. Orange. From the Green Lake area past Round Lake into the upland forest and south toward the golf course.
• Spruce Ridge Trail, 2.8 mi. Purple. In the separate eastern section past Pierson Road, with the Yellow Trail (1.0 mi) and Meadowview (0.3 mi) branching off.
• Deer Run Trail, 2.5 mi. Purple. The long loop through the western woods.

Longer Days

Link the western woods: Deer Run, the Overlook Trail (red, 1.4 mi), Vista (green, 1.6 mi) and Farmers Hill (blue, 1.4 mi). The map marks a stone Foundation on the Overlook Trail. The State Parks blog says the park's trail system reaches cliff-edge overlooks, wetlands and grassland bird habitat as well as the old growth.

Biking at Green Lakes

NYS Parks lists biking trails among the park's amenities, with one firm exception: biking is not allowed around the lake trail. The map marks the Green Lake, Round Lake, Tween Lakes, Round Lake Overlook and Old Erie Canal Connector trails foot only. For a flat ride, the Old Erie Canal towpath runs right past the main entrance; see Old Erie Canal.

Hiking With Dogs

Dogs are welcome on the trails. NYS Parks allows a maximum of two pets, on a leash no longer than 6 feet or crated, and keeps them out of playgrounds, buildings, the golf course and guarded beaches. Carry proof of rabies vaccination; staff may ask.

Where to Start

• Lakes, Old Growth: main entrance off Route 290, lots by the beach.
• Spruce Ridge and the east: the Pierson Road lot.
• Western woods: the lot at the west end of the park near Route 257.

See parking and directions and the full trail map.

Seasons

Fall color peaks in October, and the lake trail is busiest on summer weekends, when the $10 vehicle fee applies from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. In winter there is no vehicle fee; NYS Parks says about 15 miles of trail are open to cross-country skiers, and snowshoeing is allowed. See winter at Green Lakes.

Good For

• Families: the Green Lake Trail.
• Birders: the State Parks blog notes the park's grassland bird habitat, an important stop for migratory species.
• Trail runners: the hilly western loops.

Maybe Skip If

• You want a summit view. The overlooks here are wooded slopes above the lakes. For a big waterfall, head to nearby Chittenango Falls in Cazenovia.