Looking to explore some of the best lakes in New York, including lakes in the Catskills and elsewhere? Well, you’re not only looking in the right place (the state has over 7,600), but you’ve also come to the right place to learn about them. Dust off your bathing suit, beach towels, fishing gear, or hiking shoes and head to one (or more!) of these magical lakes in New York.

1. Lake George, Warren County
Lake George, NY 12845, USA
reivax/Flickr
With over 30 miles of lake to love and hundreds of islands within it, there's so much to see and do on Lake George, one of the best lakes in NY! A favorite place to visit, people from all over make this trip to enjoy the stunning waters of the Queen of American Lakes. Learn more about visiting Lake George.
2. Blue Mountain Lake, Indian Lake
Blue Mountain Lake, Indian Lake, NY, USA
Jess Buttery/Flickr
Right in Hamilton County, this NY lake offers plenty of adventurous activities to keep residents busy. If you're not interested in spending a day fishing on the lake, you could also hike Blue Mountain and get an amazing view of the water from above! Get the details on hiking Blue Mountain.
3. Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh
Lake Champlain, Lake Champlain
Julie Raccuglia/Flickr
One of the many gorgeous bodies of water we share with others, Lake Champlain is not only a NY lake, but also a Vermont lake, and it even flows into Canada. The amazing views you get when you visit this North American wonder are unforgettable and will leave you coming back for more. Here are some additional facts about Lake Champlain.
4. Fulton Chain of Lakes, Adirondack Park
Fulton Chain Lakes, New York, USA
Steve Freitag/Flickr
With amazingly remote areas like these, it's hard not to want to spend all of your time up in Adirondack Park! A series of eight lakes, the Fulton Chain is a great recreational area. From fishing to unbelievable camping spots and so much more, you won't regret checking out these NY lakes! Find out more about Fulton Chain of Lakes to help plan out your adventure.
5. North-South Lake, Greene County
North–South Lake, Hunter, NY 12463, USA
Eden, Janine and Jim/Flickr
A wonderful Catskills lake for adventurers to explore, over the years, North-South Lake has become quite the favored spot for camping. With over 200 camping sites, visitors love to come to the area and camp out for the weekend while exploring the beautiful surrounding areas. Get the most up-to-date info from about North-South Lake from the NYS DEC.

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6. Lake Tiorati, Harriman State Park
Lake Tiorati, New York 10975, USA
Rob Gross/Flickr
Mark this spot down on your list for places to go and cool off in the summer. Lake Tiorati Beach is the perfect place to relish in the warm weather. This man-made NY lake is also a great place to go fishing or enjoy a day out on the boat. Learn more about what Lake Tiorati has to offer.
7. Cranberry Lake, Saint Lawrence County
Cranberry Lake, NY 12927, USA
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
Adirondack Park's third largest lake and one of the best lakes in NY, this area is a favorite during the summer months because of its fantastic camping sites. Check out this writeup about Cranberry Lake and camping.
8. Raquette Lake, Hamilton County
Raquette Lake, NY 13360, USA
shannon_h82/Flickr
The Adirondack's largest natural lake, Raquette Lake has nearly 100 miles of shoreline to explore. Wow! Learn more about what you can do at Raquette Lake.
9. Green Lakes State Park, Manlius
Green Lakes State Park, 7900 Green Lakes Rd, Fayetteville, NY 13066, USA
rachaelvoorhees/Flickr
Another great area to check out if you're looking to go camping, Green Lakes State Park features both Green and Round Lakes. The eye-catching colors of the lakes will win you over, along with the many miles of trails to explore around them. Get more details about visiting Green Lakes State Park.
10. Cooper Lake, Woodstock
Cooper Lake, Woodstock, NY 12409, USA
Jaine/Flickr
One of several lakes in the Catskills, and the largest natural lake in the mountain range, this scenic area is a great place to spend the day outside soaking up the sun and enjoying a picnic. Don't be turned off by the fact that swimming and fishing aren't allowed here; you'll be too preoccupied with staring at all the beautiful surrounding mountains to do much of anything else! Learn more about Cooper Lake.

What are your favorite NY lakes? Share with us in the comments! If you’re looking for more on the water adventure in the Empire State, be sure to check out some of the other gorgeous lakes in New York.

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Rachel Raimondi | May 18, 2022

 What are the best waterparks in New York?

If you are looking for some waterslides, lazy rivers, and wave pools, you have some great choices in New York. If lakes in the Catskills aren’t your thing, head to Monticello’s  Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark. At 80,000 square feet, it’s the largest in the state and has 11 different attractions. There is also Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark in Queensbury, Splish Splash Water Park on Long Island, Enchanted Forest Water Safari in the Adirondacks, SplashDown Beach in Fishkill, Zoom Flume Water Park in the Catskills, Roseland Wake Park in the Finger Lakes region, and several more.

How many state parks are in New York?

New York is a great place for outdoor recreation, and you can do it in one of its 180 state parks located across the state. In fact, at six million acres, Adirondack Park is the largest park of all in America, not counting Hawaii and Alaska. It’s actually just as big as the entire state of Vermont and contains some of the very best lakes in New York.

Can I hike to historical sites in New York?

There are a ton of historic sites in New York that have hiking available, such the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site or Martin Van Buren’s former home at Lindenwald. But if you want to hike from one historic site to another (plus over a Hudson River bridge!), check out Olana State Historic Site, former home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. You can tour the home and grounds as well as do the Hudson River Skywalk, a six-mile out and back walk to the Thomas Cole National State Historic Site, the former home of Hudson River School founder, Thomas Cole. Learn more about this awesome walk.

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