Golden Hill State Park may just be one of the most fantastic state parks on Lake Ontario. In fact, this park was named one of Reserve America’s Top Outdoor locations in 2005, and it has definitely earned this distinction. It is known for its incredible camping, but there is even more to this unbelievable park. If the incredible view of the Lake doesn’t blow your socks off, the rest of the park surely will.
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Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse
The lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park is called Thirty Mile Point because the lighthouse is positioned 30 miles east of the Niagara River. Built in 1875 and decommissioned in 1958. This lighthouse was built with hand-carved stone. The lighthouse is open to the public for tours.
The lighthouse is not only listed on the National Registry of Historic Places but Historic American Buildings Survey. This lighthouse is the only Lake Ontario lighthouse in the 1995 Stamp Collection, “Lighthouses of the Great Lakes.” This is a beautiful spot to enjoy a picnic and a fantastic view of Lake Ontario.
Ever wanted to stay in a Lighthouse? You can make a reservation to stay at this historic lighthouse. This vacation rental offers a private entrance, kitchen with refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, coffee maker, cooking utensils, silverware and dishes, living room with electric fireplace, couch, two chairs, and a writing desk, full bath with an old fashioned bathtub, three bedrooms with queen size beds and pillows and a view of Lake Ontario that is nothing short of spectacular. Renters are provided with a private picnic area with a barbecue grill and picnic table.
Camping at Golden Hill State Park
This is really some of the best camping that can be had on Lake Ontario. While wide-open and lacking in privacy, many of the campsites are right on the lake, giving campers incredible views. If you aren’t much of a camper but still want in on the fun, there are yurts that can be rented. Yurts are great for people who aren’t keen on tent camping and don’t own an RV. These yurts also happen to have excellent views of the lake as well.
Don’t have a tent? You can rent one from this park.
As I previously mentioned, the sites at Golden Hill offer almost no privacy whatsoever, but one thing this camp does have that I haven’t noticed at any other of the State-run campgrounds, and that is small shelters with picnic tables.
Explore the Lake
Take a walk along the shores of Lake Ontario. This was by far my favorite part of the entire park. The beach here is incredible, and there are several spots where you can climb down and walk along the water, explore the rocks, and look for whatever treasures might have washed up onshore. The varying colors of the striated slate rock in the side of the cliffs make the beach that much more beautiful.
There is no official beach at this park, but that doesn’t stop people from wading in the water on a hot day. This is also a terrific place to fish, especially in the stream that flows into the park from the Lake.
Winter at Golden Hill
We had the great opportunity to visit during the wintertime, and it is really amazing. The water and the wind create the most incredible ice formations around the rocks, trees, and almost anything that stands still. It is something that must be seen to be believed.
Fall at Golden Hill
The Lakeshore of Golden Hill is gorgeous at any time of year, even in late fall when the trees have lost their leaves and the skies are a little gray.
Hiking Golden Hill State Park
There are several different trails throughout this extensive park. These trails are for both hiking and cross-country skiing. In addition to the beach, there are several interesting areas that visitors will want to check out, such as the oak grove and wetlands. Looking for a nice place to picnic? There are several scenic picnic areas throughout the park.
When hiking through the woods here, be sure to check for ticks afterward. There are high grasses and brush that ticks hide in. Also, it is always a good idea to wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts when hiking. Lyme Disease is a concern in New York State, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.
We discovered on our last visit that in the wintertime (and logic would suggest early spring), some parts of the grounds can be wet and muddy. There are places along the trails where there were pools of standing water right smack in the middle of the trail. You will definitely want to wear waterproof boots.
Drake House Ruins
Another fascinating point of interest at Golden Hill is the ruins of the remains of a large 1920s luxury estate that was recently unearthed. While the actual home is no longer standing, you can walk around the property and see many of the remains of the brick and stone foundation, walls, pillars, and other building structures.
Drake House belonged to Robert Newell, who was the owner of a shirt factory in Medina. The property was rented out after the great depression and then purchased by the Bethesda Full Gospel Church of Tonawanda in the 1940s. New York State bought the property in 1962. However, no one, including State Park employees, knew that the ruins of Drake House were hidden in the overgrown woods until 2017.
We were absolutely fascinated by the ruins, especially the stone wall with symbols and colorful tiles embedded in the mortar that have survived over a century. This is an amazing and unique place to explore.
The ruins are at the very end of County Line Rd. There is a parking area and trail located on the left-hand side of the road.
Out and About with Nova
Nova had a wonderful time exploring the park with us. It was wintertime, so we hardly saw anyone, which was great. The only drawback was since there were puddles in the middle of some of the trails, Nova had to skirt around them, by walking in the brush along the trail. She ended up with lots of sticks and burdocks in her fur (which we had a fun time removing later.)
With all the trails and wood to explore here, you might be tempted to let your dog run off-leash. Please remember that this is a state park, and your dog is required to be on a leash. (This is for everyone’s safety, including your dogs. They may be the sweetest dog on the planet, but not every dog enjoys having other dogs running up to them.)
Please remember to pick up after your dog and dispose of it in the trash receptacle (not along the trail in a baggy…honestly, what’s the point.) You may be required to present your dogs rabies certificate when you visit here (the tag doesn’t count.)
Boat Launch
There is a large boat launch at this park that you must reach from a separate entrance. There is a large cement ramp that can accommodate 2 boats at a time. This is a nice off-the-beaten path to put into Lake Ontario.
Getting to Golden Hill State Park
Address: 9691 Lower Lake Road, Barker, NY 14012
Google Map Link
Have you visited or camped at Golden Hill? What did you think of this park? Do you think it deserves the distinction of being one of America’s best destinations? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.