Stony Brook State Park is one of the most scenic and lovely places in New York State. There are 3 trails that cover the length of the park, the Gorge Trail, West Rim Trail, and East Rim Trail in this 568-acre state park. The gorge trail is 3/4 of a mile long. It travels alongside the creek and passes several really gorgeous spots, including quite a few waterfalls.
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Tips for Visiting
- Arrive Early – If you want to have the park to yourself, get there early. The crowds grow as the day goes on, so you can enjoy the park without a big crowd if you arrive as soon as it opens. We visited early on a Sunday morning and only saw two people the entire time we were there.
- Visit during bad weather -It might not sound appealing, but it is another way to enjoy the park at low capacity. And not for nothing, the rain makes already beautiful waterfalls even more impressive.
- This park is big, and you will probably do a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Also, the mist from the waterfalls can make areas slippery, which is another reason proper footwear is a must.
- If you want to camp at Stony Brook, I highly recommend making your reservation far in advance. This is a popular state park to camp at, and reservations fill up quickly.
Fun Facts & Tips:
Try to wear bright colors when you visit the park. The Grey Petaltail Dragonfly will often land on people who wear bright colors.
Stony Brook was once a privately owned Summer Resort; it was purchased by the state in 1928 as the resort was failing.
Hiking The Gorge
The brook runs along the gorge trail and is very accessible. The gorge which was created by a retreating ice age glacier is deep and narrow with many waterfalls that are also accessible from the trail. While this trail is gorgeous year-round (although it is closed in the winter), it is an especially popular destination during the summer and warmer weather months due to the swimming pool located at the Lower Park Entrance.
If I could recommend the perfect time to visit the park, it would be in the autumn when the leaves are changing. The burst of bright colors in the gorge is breathtaking.
There are a lot of steps on the gorge trail, so it may be difficult for people with bad knees or limited mobility.
The Waterfalls
The are several large waterfalls in the gorge. These are really beautiful falls and are full even when the volume of water in the brook is low. Although there are pools underneath the falls and throughout the brook in places along the gorge trail, and they look like they would be a great place to cool off on a hot day, entering the creekbed is prohibited. I don’t know how much this is enforced, because up until my recent visit, I used to see families wading and cooling off in the brook all the time.
Hiking The Rim Trails
The Rim Trails are more difficult trails. The terrain is constantly up and down and there are major changes in elevation accompanied by many flights of stairs. This trail would be harder for small children. However, other than the many flights of rough stairs, this trail is reasonably safe. There is a large fence that runs along the edge of the cliff to prevent falls, which from this height would be unquestionably deadly.
Other Park Amenities
At the north end of Stony Brook State Park, there is a fantastic playground and a beautiful picnic area with at least a hundred picnic tables and grills. There is also a pool in the main area of the park, made by damming up the creek. Swimming in this area is only permitted when the lifeguards are on duty. Also located at the north end of the park are tennis courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, and baseball fields.
Camping At Stony Brook State Park
Located at the south end of the park is the campground that has 88 sites and 8 rustic cabins. This is a very popular campground, especially the campsite alongside the creek. It is especially hard to get a site alongside the creek without reservations made well in advance during the summertime. However, if you go in the early spring or in the fall, finding a site should be no problem, including one alongside the creek.
My children love camping here, especially along the creek. We play in the water and hike the creek up to the end. The campsites are really beautiful and for the most part fairly spacious and private.
Getting to Stony Brook
Address: 10820 State Route 36, Dansville, NY 14437
Google Map Link
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