Sandy Island Beach State Park is a small beach park on Lake Ontario and a great place to cool off on a hot day. In addition to the beautiful beach, this park is part of a fragile system of sand dunes. We have visited this pretty park several times, both in the summer and in the winter, and it was a lovely place to explore and enjoy the beauty of the Lake.
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This park has changed ownership a number of times since it was opened as a private beach club in the 1950s. It was the place to be in the 50s and 60s. Over the next few decades, the park would fall into disrepair and was eventually purchased by Oswego County and the Nature Conservancy. In 2005, ownership of the park was transferred to the New York State Parks Department.
Summer Fun & A Sandy Beach
This park is a great place to hit the beach in the summertime; there is a roped-off swimming area, watched over by lifeguards. Although the beach isn’t huge, we visited on a hot day, and there wasn’t a huge crowd there.
The park is quite small, so it doesn’t offer many of the amenities that some larger parks do. However, in addition to a soft, sandy beach, there is a bathhouse, picnic area, and a car-top boat launch for kayaking and canoeing.
Sandy Island Beach State Park is home to a fragile system of sand dunes. This is a protected area; guests can view the dune from platforms and boardwalks. The dunes are held together by plant life, such as beach grass. The sand dunes are a beautiful natural area unique to this stretch of Lake Ontario.
Bird watchers will love this park because it is also a stopover for migratory black tern and piping plover.
Winter Beauty
Winter is just as magical at Sandy Island Beach State Park. We like to visit on calm days in the middle of Winter when the lake has frozen along the shoreline. Many of our favorite winter phenomena, such as snowballs, ice volcanoes, and ice pancakes, can be seen along the lakeshore.
Warning: Lakeshores can be exceptionally beautiful and exceptionally dangerous. When exploring the lakeshore, beware of your surrounding and never walk out onto the ice shelf. Explore at your own risk.
When exploring near the ice, always be cautious and don’t take any unnecessary risks. If you plan on doing a lot of winter hiking, I recommend purchasing microspikes or yaktrax.
Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for Hiking and Walking
Don’t let the ice and snow stop you from enjoying the breathtaking beauty of winter. These traction grips help outdoor adventurers explore icy terrain safely.
Out and About with Nova-Dog Beach
Nova loves nothing more than frolicking in the water, so Sandy Island Beach was a hit with her. This beach has an area further down the beach, away from the general public, where dogs are welcome to enjoy playing in the cool waters of Lake Ontario.
Of course, the standard dog park rules apply:
- All dogs MUST be leashed.
- Please clean up after your pet. (This doesn’t mean bag it up and leave it on the ground.) Dispose of the poop bag properly in the garbage receptacles.
- This is a New York State Park; therefore, you might be required to show proof of a current Rabies vaccine.
Getting to Sandy Island Beach State Park
Address: 3387 County Rte 15, Pulaski, NY