Sampson State Park -Romulus, NY

Our visit to Sampson State Park was a big surprise for me. My family used to camp here when I was a kid, and I remember it being nothing spectacular. So, imagine my surprise when we return to find what is probably hands down one of the most luxurious campgrounds in all of New York State. This is probably because the park has had something of a magical transformation.

New York State Park has joined in a partnership with SamSen LLC at Sampson State Park. While the entire park is still a New York State Park, there is a portion of the park that has been leased to Seneca Lake Resort. There is a brand new marina at Sampson, that is probably one of the nicest marinas in the entire state.

However, what I really love about this park is the roads of the old base have been reclaimed and made into hiking trails. There is so much more to this park than meets the eye.

History of Sampson State Park

From 1942 to 1946, Sampson was the second-largest Naval training base in the United States. Named for Palmyra native and Spanish-American War hero William T. Sampson, this facility trained 411,429 recruits. After WWII, Sampson State College was established as a way to educate returning servicemen from 1946-1949. Sampson became an Air Force basic training base between 1950 and 1956. New York State Parks Department acquired park ownership in 1960. Sampson State Park opened in 1963.

Hiking at Sampson State Park

When the Base was acquired by the State of New York, a large portion of the park was left to grow wild. The roads that filled the park were no exception. This is a beautiful place to hike or bike (since the roads are paved, although it is cracking and broken in some places.) It is also an excellent place for people looking for flat trails because 90% of them are. They are also handicap accessible.

You can easily follow the roads here by using your phone and Google Maps as you walk. There are some trails that aren’t on the map, such as the one we took down to the Lake, and a few that cut between the roads. Those trails are not even, and the trail that goes to the lake goes downhill for about a 1/4 mile. It is nothing drastic, but I feel I need to mention it because all the other trails are so flat.

We visited in the middle of October, and the colorful leaves made the trails here even more beautiful. However, what was completely astonishing was the amount of wildflowers growing here. What blew my mind is that we found lilacs blooming in the middle of October. How crazy is that?

This place was also full of wildlife. We saw a coyote, tons of deer, and an eagle as we wandered around. This place was so peaceful and beautiful; It was hard to leave at the end of our hike. We didn’t run into a single other person while hiking, and the fall colors and different landscapes were just breathtaking. This place is genuinely unique and definitely worth a visit.

Scenic Seneca Lake

There are many places around the park to see and enjoy Seneca Lake. There are numerous picnic areas, as well as a fishing pier and a beach. There are also a few trails that lead hikers down to a secluded beach on the Lake.

Out and About with Nova

This is a dog-friendly park, and Nova had a great time exploring Sampson State Park. However, she did come home with a bunch of burdocks in her coat.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when visiting your dog.

• All Dogs must be leashed within the park. Considering the amount of wildlife we saw in the park, this is important for the safety of both the wildlife and your dog.
• As always, please clean up after your pets.
• As it is a New York State Park, you might be asked to provide proof of rabies vaccination.
• The trails that are former roads are paved with blacktop, so if it’s a hot summer day, you might not want to walk your dog here, as the pavement could burn their paws.
• As I mentioned, Nova came home with a ton of burdocks in her fur. She picked these up on the trails that ran between the roads.

Camping at the State Park

Guests can still camp in the State Park section and reserve their site through the New York State Parks Department on Reserve America. There are 238 campsites spread throughout five camping loops and ten lakeside cottages.

The campsites here, for the most part, lack privacy. They are out in the open. Although large trees are all over the property, they provide shade and ambiance. If you are looking for a lakeside campsite, there are several where you are looking out over the Lake. A couple of the sites even have trails down to the water.

Initially, I thought the cabins in the Seneca Lake Resort section were the luxurious ones until I saw the ones on the State Park side. These are the swankest cottages I’ve ever seen in the State Park system. Closed-in porches with firepits that overlook the Lake. This has the makings of a great vacation written all over it.

Cabin and RV Rental Through the Seneca Lake Resort

A section of the park has been leased to the Seneca Lake Resort, and guests can rent cabins and seasonal RVs. Some of the cabins overlook the Lake. These rentals are pet-friendly.

Boat Launch & Marina

The marina and boat launch at Sampson State Park is absolutely mind-blowing. This is the most state-of-the-art marina I have ever come across, and it is beautiful. This marina has 90 boat slips for seasonal or overnight rental. There is also a kayak launching site, jet ski docking, fully ADA-compliant infrastructure, a fueling station, and hookups for electricity, water, and pump-out stations. As well as a ship’s store.

Sampson Memorial Museum

Another thing that sets this state park apart is the museum that captures the unique military history at Sampson State Park. We arrived after the museum closed, but we were still able to walk the grounds and see the military equipment placed all around.

Getting to Sampson State Park

Address: 6040-6144 NY-96A, Romulus

Google Map Link

Other Places to Visit

Have you camped or boated at Sampson State Park? What did you think? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.

More Photos From Sampson State Park