Rockland Lake State Park

Rockland Lake State Park

299 Rockland Lake Road

Valley Cottage, NY  10989

(845) 268-3020

http://nysparks.com/parks/81

www.facebook.com/pages/Rockland-Lake-State-Park

What’s there?  Three mile easily accessible walking/cycling trail circumnavigating the lake; historic ruins of Knickerbocker Ice Company buildings with interpretive plaques; Nature Center and trail (seasonal), tennis courts, picnic and play areas. For additional fees: swimming pools, bath houses, golf courses,  boating and fishing.

Who is it for?  Everyone! The paved lakeside trail makes it easily accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, as well as walkers, joggers, scooters and rollerbladers.

Where is it?  Located along a stretch of Route 9W in Rockland County, starting just north of Upper Nyack, and ending in Congers.  There are two entrances, North and South, along 9W. 

When is it open?  The park is open 365 days a year from sunrise to dusk.  The Nature Center and trail is open generally from June through August, but its days and hours vary depending on volunteer availability, so it’s best to call ahead if you’re planning on visiting.  The pool, golf courses and tennis courts are open seasonally; see the website or call for more information.  Boating and fishing permits are also available seasonally.  As of now, no reservations required or time limit set for use of the tennis courts, but check back periodically to see if that changes.

Upended swan

How much will it cost you?  Walk-in, bicycle and other non-motorized entry to the park is free, as is access to the trails, Nature Center, tennis courts and picnic and play areas.  Starting on weekends in mid-April, and then daily from June through the Fall, there is a vehicle use fee of $8.00.  If you invest in an Empire Passport (see below), the fee is waived.  Pool fees are $1.00 for kids and $2.00 for adults, which is as close to free as you can get while still having to pay something. Kids 5 and under are always free.  Golf course  fees are more; call for exact prices.  Boating and fishing both require permits which include a one-time seasonal fee.  Boating permits can be obtained at the park office.

While you are there, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also hike along the Long Path to the top of Hook Mountain or you can access the Nyack Beach State Park trail and the Haverstraw Beach bike path nearby along the Hudson River.  Please note: Stick to the trails only.  Climbing the cliffs of Hook Mountain is strictly forbidden as the instability of the rock face makes climbing extremely dangerous. 

Why go?

Exercise equipment along the path

The Hudson River Valley is filled with State parks, and each one has something unique to recommend it.  What I love about Rockland Lake State Park is how easily accessible it is for people of all ages, which makes it especially family friendly.  If you want to introduce your kids to the pleasures of hiking and the great outdoors, this is an excellent place to start.  The lakeside path is level and paved, which makes it easy even for toddlers to navigate (and you can bring along the stroller, as well). As you walk at your own pace, the views of lake, hills and forest remain remarkably pure and natural despite the relative development of the area.  Children especially will love seeing geese, swans, ducks and other wildlife on and around the water.  There are also conveniently located benches, picnic tables and workout equipment along the way.     

In addition to the natural sights around the lake, the remains of the Knickerbocker Ice Company buildings still stand on the northeastern shore. It’s really something to see the enormous stone walls stretching on for what seems like forever and realize that this was once the site of a thriving industry. 

A portion of the ice house wall

There are several interpretive plaques placed near the ruins that explain the history of the ice company and the nearby hamlet of Rockland Lake.  A more detailed history of the area, which might enhance your visit here, can be found at the Knickerbocker Ice Festival website at www.knickerbockericefestival.com.   The Ice Festival usually takes place sometime during the winter, and includes such events as an ice sculpting competition, igloo building, arts displays and, of course, food and tchochkas.

Rockland Lake also has a Nature Center and trail, which sadly has fallen on hard times.  A lack of funds has limited the rehabilitation of some of the storm-damaged trail, as well as the permanent staffing of the Center.  That is why it is only open seasonally, staffed by volunteers as administered through the Bear Mountain Trailside Museum office (www.trailsidezoo.org). It still is a really cool place to explore, so definitely call ahead if you’re planning a visit to see if it’s open that day. Better yet, find out about volunteering there, and take the concept of  free and fun to a whole new level. The recently completed draft Master Plan for the improvement of the Rockland Lake State Park Complex does call for a major renovation and expansion of this feature, but that will be some time down the road.  If you’re interested, however, you can obtain a copy of the plan and submit your thoughts and comments in support of the Center and other features. Call or visit the park office for more information.

Tree formation

One of the best features of this park is its sheer size. Spread out over 1943 acres of land the Rockland Lake Complex, which includes Nyack Beach, Hook Mountain and Haverstraw Beach, has plenty of room for running around, ball playing and picnicking in a beautiful setting.  And there are very few places left where you can get free unlimited access to tennis courts!  The park does get crowded in the high summer, however, so keep that in mind when making plans.  And don’t forget--$1.00 and $2.00 to go swimming!  While technically not free, it doesn’t get any cheaper than that.  Again, it gets crowded in the summer, so plan accordingly.

A note about the Empire Passport:  This is essentially a pre-paid parking permit good not only for Rockland Lake State Park, but for all New York State parks and historic sites that charge a parking or vehicle use fee.  It’s an initial outlay of $65.00 (ouch) but is absolutely worth it if you plan to use your state parks to the max.  At $8.00 a pop to park at a state facility, you need only visit 8 times the entire season in order for this to pay for itself.  I highly recommend doing so if you can afford it, as our state parks are one of our most rich and versatile low or no cost resources available.