I am a native New Yorker and after spending 40+ years dealing with our annual snowfall, winter is something that you just learn to accept and try to make it through. Once my childhood was behind me and winter driving was part of my life, I almost dreaded what felt like the longest season of the year.
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That was until I started this website and began exploring it in the wintertime. Once we got out and started exploring in the wintertime, I was astonished to discover that I actually love winter in New York. There is so much beauty that I had failed to notice and getting out into nature to see the unique colors and landscapes that winter brings.
Obviously, this list is far from complete. As we travel throughout the state we will add more destinations. We have lots of ground to cover. So, please check back often.
Click on the names of the destination for more information about each of these places. Have fun and stay warm!
Please make sure that when enjoying these beautiful winter destinations you dress warmly, wear proper footwear, and be conscious of your surroundings. When exploring near the ice, always be cautious and don’t take any unnecessary risks. If you plan on doing a lot of winter hiking, I recommend purchasing microspikes or yaktrax.
Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for Hiking and Walking
Don’t let the ice and snow stop you from enjoying the breathtaking beauty of winter. These traction grips help outdoor adventurers explore icy terrain safely.
Frozen Lakeshores
Nowhere is the beauty and sheer might of winter demonstrated like the Lakeshores of New York State. These frozen lakeshores are some of our favorite wintertime destinations. The ice and snow combine to make elaborate ice formations along the shore and the lake power of the waves creates massive ice volcanoes.
Warning: These lakeshores can be exceptionally beautiful and exceptionally dangerous. When exploring the shore of these lakes, beware of your surrounding and never walk out onto the ice shelf. Explore at your own risk.
Along Lake Ontario
- Golden Hill State Park
- Wilson Tuscarora State Park
- Hamlin Beach State Park
- Lakeside Beach State Park
- Lake Ontario Parkway
- Point Breeze
- Krull Park in Olcott
- Durand Eastman Park Beach
- Seabreeze Pier
- Webster Pier
- B Foreman Park
- Sodus Point Beach Park
- Chimney Bluffs State Park
- Sterling Nature Center
- Fair Haven Beach State Park
- Fort Ontario
- Flat Rocks
- Mexico Point State Park
- Selkirk Shore State Park
- Sandy Island Beach State Park
- Southwick Beach State Park
- Robert G. Wehle State Park
Along Lake Erie
- Westlake Public Beach
- Lake Erie State Park
- Point Gratiot Park
- Evangola State Park
- Woodlawn Beach State Park
The Finger Lakes Region
- Canandaigua Lake
- Honeoye Lake
- Canadice Lake
- Hemlock Lake
- Cayuga Lake
- Skaneateles Lake
- Owasco Lake
- Otisco Lake
- Conesus Lake
- Keuka Lake
- Seneca Lake
Central Region
Winter Hiking & Snowshoeing
Just because the temperatures have dropped and there is snow on the ground doesn’t mean that getting out and enjoying nature is out of the question. In fact, winter adds a new face to familiar landscapes, painting well-known scenery with a new look and fresh appearance. These parks are great for not only hiking but snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Allegany Region
Buffalo/Niagara Region
- Golden Hill State Park
- Walton Woods
- Letchworth State Park
- Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve
- Royalton Ravine
- Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
- Devil’s Hole State Park
- Lockport Nature Trail
- Tift Nature Preserve
- Red Jacket Riverside Park
- Wilson-Tuscarora State Park
Central Region
- Beaver Lake Nature Center
- Green Lake State Park
- Labrador Hollow Unique Area
- Baltimore Woods Nature Center
- Clark Reservation State Park
Finger Lakes Region
- Beechwood State Park
- Bergen Swamp
- Bicentennial Trail
- Blue Cut Nature Center
- Cornwall Preserve
- Channing H. Philbrick
- Four Mile Creek Preserve
- Gosnell Big Woods and Big Field Trails
- Indian Fort Nature Preserve
- Webster Park
- Finger Lakes National Forest
- Whiting Road Nature Preserve
- Sterling Nature Center
- Mendon Ponds
- Harriet Hollister Spencer Park
- Tinker Nature Park
Thousand Islands Region
- Mexico Point State Park
- Minna Anthony Common Nature Center
- Robert G. Wehle State Park
- El Dorado Beach Preserve
Winter Waterfall
Waterfalls in winter are absolutely gorgeous. The way the ice and snow freeze them creates monumental cascading formations. This is probably my favorite part of winter, seeing these incredibly exquisite works of natural art. New York State is full of waterfalls that each winter will freeze, at least partially, and with cold enough temperatures, freeze completely.
Buffalo/Niagara Region
- Akron Falls
- Letchworth State Park
- Barcelona Falls
- Cave of the Winds
- Medina Falls
- Clarendon Falls
- Holley Canal Falls
- Royalton Ravine
- Glen Falls Park
- Mill Pond Falls
- Niagara Falls
- Buttermilk Falls at Hobuck Flats
- Eighteen Mile Creek Conservation Park
- Warsaw Falls
Central Region
Finger Lake Region
- Aunt Sarah’s Falls
- Carpenter Falls
- Barnes Creek Falls
- Hector Falls
- Chequaga Falls
- Papermill Falls
- Salmon Creek Falls at Ludlowville Park
- Taughannock Falls State Park
- Templar Falls
- Wolcott Falls
- Keuka Lake Outlet Trail
- Ithaca Falls
- Bucktail Falls
- Guppy Falls
- Buttermilk Falls
- Corbett’s Glen
Thousand Island Region
What is your favorite winter destination? Do prefer hiking to snowshoeing? Or are you a winter waterfall chaser? We want to hear about your winter adventures. Leave us a comment below.