Chenango Valley State Park~Chenango Forks, NY

Chenango Valley State Park is a gorgeous getaway that, unfortunately, is not held in similar status with parks such as Letchworth and Watkins Glen. I was so excited to find and share this hidden gem. This 1185-acre park is situated around two gorgeous glacially formed ponds (Lily and Chenango Lake). There are hiking trails that go around each pond.

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Campsites and Cabins

This park has 184 campsites and 24 cabins. The camping here is second to none. There are 3 camping areas, Chipmunk Bluff, Pine Bluff, and Sunrise. There were hardly any sites that weren’t just amazing. Sunrise was by far my favorite because it was densely wooded and the sites are more private. All of the camping areas were good and they are far superior to some of the other larger state park campsites. This is a very underrated park and doesn’t get the same attention that the other parks get. It might have something to do with how far off the beaten track it is.

Choosing a Campsite

I found a website, New York State Campsite Photos, that has a number of the New York State Campgrounds listed with pictures of every site available. This is a great tool when you have to make reservations online. It has helped me pick some really great sites.

Animal Life at Chenango Valley State Park

One of the more incredible aspects of this park is the very small population of mosquitoes. This was especially amazing during a wet, rainy summer when you can barely venture out my door without being eaten alive. This is mostly due to the large population of bats that call the park home.

I know the word “bat” makes most people squirm in discomfort and revulsion. However, bats have received a bad rap. People assume bats are major carriers for rabies and this is simply not true. Bats are mammals and can, therefore, develop rabies, but they are far less likely to have rabies than creatures like raccoons.

Not to get on my ecology soapbox but bats are very misunderstood creatures, who are an important part of our ecosystem and ecosystems around the world. Unfortunately, many species of bats are now endangered. It is important that we take the time to learn about them and their contribution to our environment, such as eating insects, pollinating plants, and scattering seeds.

The park is, in fact, teeming with animal life. The park is home to deer, rabbits, black bears, flying and gray squirrels, woodchucks, eastern chipmunks, raccoons, red fox, coyotes, skunks, and beaver. We could hear the coyotes “talking” and it was spooky and amazing all at the same time. I think that is what I enjoy most about camping, seeing and hearing the animals. The park is also home to a large and varied population of birds such as woodpeckers, warblers, tanagers, orioles, thrushes, herons, ducks, and kingfishers.

Things To Do at Chenango Valley State Park

The ponds are crystal clear and the fishing is amazing. The ponds are full of rainbow and brown trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and brown bullhead. Visitors can rent kayaks or rowboats or bring their own boats. Visitors who bring their own boats must pay a $5 weekly vessel fee. The pond is long and a fantastic place to canoe or kayak, whether you are an expert or a novice.

I think one of the neatest features of this lake is the swimming area (I hesitate to call this area a beach (as the park does) or a pool). This is really one of the nicest swimming spots I have seen in all of New York State. The end of the pond comes into a circular area which is cut into quarters so that visitors can enjoy 4 different swimming areas of varying depth. The swimming area is only about a foot deep in one area, perfect for the little ones, and gets progressively deeper.

There is also an additional swimming area with diving boards. This pond is clean and the bottom has a layer of sand on it to make walking comfortable. The swimming area is heavily lifeguarded, and I felt like the lifeguards were really on their game, watching the swimmers carefully and politely reprimanding any rule breakers.

Another feature of Chenango Valley State Park that I really loved was the bog on the far side of Chenango Lake. I found the bog to be peaceful and very beautiful. I had this feeling like a dinosaur could come walking past at any moment. There is a narrow path that wanders a short way into the bog. The best part, no mosquitoes.

Chenango Valley State Park is slightly off the beaten path. While the GPS worked all the way there, there weren’t a lot of stores around for supplies. We had to go down Interstate 88 a few exits to get a few supplies, such as batteries, which unfortunately ran out during our stay. There are, however, a ton of places to buy firewood very reasonably outside the park in all directions. We were able to buy 2 huge bundles for $5/each.

Chenango Valley State Park Golf Course is also located inside the park. I wish I could give you a proper review and description, but the closest we get to golfing is mini-golf. But from what little information I have, it appears to be a world-class course that is laid out well with lots of features to offer avid golfers.

If you get the opportunity to visit this park, please do so. It is an opportunity to get away from it all in a gorgeous and idyllic location, that has something for everyone. This park is quiet and peaceful. We visited at the height of summer and found that there were still campsites available, without a reservation, and no crowds to speak of.