Bowman Lake State Park or “Camper’s Paradise,” is the nickname of this sylvan haven set in a very rural area south of Syracuse. When I say rural, I really mean rural. If I can recommend any park to camp at this is the one. It is one of the most serene places in New York State. But it is in a very isolated area and before you plan your trip, you must plan ahead. I highly recommend that you bring a really good NYS map.
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Be Prepared
We lost GPS about 30-40 minutes outside Bowman Lake State Park. We were basically flying blind. You will want to make sure that you have a full tank of gas and all of the camping gear/food that you will need. The nearest town is Oxford, which while it is a beautiful old town, doesn’t offer much in the way of shopping venues.
Camping at Bowman Lake State Park
Bowman Lake State Park truly is a camper’s paradise. We checked out all 161 campsites and 7 rustic (non-electric) cabins, and we couldn’t find a bad site in the entire park. Most of the sites are very secluded and are set back away from the road. The sites are all wooded and very few are in direct sunlight. We had very few problems with mosquitoes when we camped here.
Firewood
New York State has a very strict policy on transporting firewood 50 miles from its origin, due to the spread of several varieties of insects that are killing various species of trees in NYS. The good news is while purchasing firewood at most of the state parks can be expensive, Bowman Lake State Park is an exception to that rule.
Hiking Bowman Lake State Park
The hiking at Bowman Lake State Park is quite peaceful and beautiful. There is a trail that circumnavigates the lake and there are several other trails within the park including one that leads to several ponds with a large assortment of wildlife. We were excited to see a few beavers swimming in Kopac Pond during our visit. We didn’t see any other hikers on the trails and found it both lovely and secluded.
The Finger Lakes Trail also runs through Bowman Lake State Park and there is a lockbox by Kopac Pond that has a logbook. These are not the only trails in Bowman Lake State Park. There are also cross-country ski trails and snowmobile trails. I cannot emphasize enough just how beautiful and peaceful it is here. The woods look otherworldly and the ferns growing everywhere are reminiscent of a primordial forest.
Recreation at Bowman Lake State Park
Bowman Lake State Park has canoe, kayak, and paddleboat rentals available for 1/2 hour rentals. If you decide to bring your own canoe or kayak, there is a registration fee. There is a small dock available for fishing and the lake is stocked with all sorts of fish, including trout (brook and rainbow), largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, black crappie, and brown bullhead. Be aware that Bowman Lake State Park has a very strict and enforced policy of no wading in the lake when lifeguards are not on duty. My husband and son, along with several other people, were wading and fishing in the shallows of the lake (knee deep) and they were chased out of the water by park police (and not very nicely).
Amenities at Bowman Lake State Park
Bowman Lake State Park is a fantastic park and the camping is amazing. This was one of the nicest campgrounds in the New York State Park system. There is a small restaurant in the park but the food is not a bargain. It’s rather expensive for normal fast food. We also encountered a situation on one of our visits, that has prompted us to always carry emergency cash when we go camping. Due to severe storm activity in the area, the credit card processing machines were down (as well as no electricity throughout the park = no lights in the restroom). It’s not a bad idea, to always be prepared for these types of situations. Especially considering the remote location of this particular park.
Helpful Links: http://www.nysparks.com/
Address: 745 BLIVEN SHERMAN ROAD
OXFORD NY 13830