Green Lakes State Park's outstanding features are its two glacial lakes surrounded by upland forest. Both Round and Green Lakes are meromictic lakes, which means that there is no fall and spring mixing of surface and bottom waters. Such lakes have a high potential for evidence of ancient plant and animal life. Another special feature of the park is an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, where visitors can snowshoe in winter, and there are 10 miles of trails that cross-country skiers can use.

Geography:
Green Lakes State Park is located just east of the city of Syracuse, in upstate New York.

Recreation:
Considered a flagship facility, visitors can enjoy biking, boating, fishing, golf, hiking, picnicking, camping, and wintertime cross-country skiing.

Facilities:
The park's facilities include a beach, rowboat rentals, cabins and campsites, food concessions, a golf course, trails, picnic tables and pavilions, a playground, showers, and dumping stations.

Green Lakes State Park Campground

Great trails and lake . It had rained so the beach was empty the next day. Really nice. 

Love this place

This is an extremely popular campground, and fills up quickly in the summer, especially on holiday weekends.  Many local people I know in Syracuse will even camp here on a weekend, just to get away.  Recent renovations to one of the two campgrounds will allow more room and hookups for RVs, in addition to the available tent sites.  Cabins are also available, including one handicap accessible cabin.  At least one of the campgrounds has a playground and there is another playground by the beach.

 From the campgrounds there is access to the two miromictic lakes, one of which has a large beach area that is popular with many locals; the other is a National Natural Landmark and very scenic, but swimming is not allowed there.  The trails near the lakes get very crowded but there are a total of 18 miles of trails in the park and many of them are less crowded.  Trails from the campgrounds lead to a large tract of old-growth forest, a bird conservation area, and mountain biking trails.   The park also has a golf course, frisbee golf course, and boat rentals and fishing access (on Green Lake near the beach)

Popular campground with access to beach and trails

Site was very shaded, and probably the most secluded of anywhere else in the loop, since we were on the end. However, we were surrounded by nothing but poison ivy on 3 sides. It was crazy. I’m shocked we didn’t all get it; we were just very careful not to venture out of the cleared area. The playground was in clear view of our site, which was great for our 5-yr-old. As far as campgrounds go, this is probably my least favorite of everywhere I’ve stayed. I’m used to the more secluded, wooded sites in MD state parks, but this was essentially a ring of tightly-packed sites with virtually no separation, with a large field in the middle. Ours was one of the only sites with any kind of shade. It was PACKED, and very noisy. Bath house was centrally located, in the middle of the field. Relatively clean, but not nearly enough to accommodate all campers in the loop. Only two shower stalls, and there was always a line. Campground aside, the park itself was very nice. The lakes were _gorgeous_, and there were really nice, wide, paved walking trails around them. There was also a sandy beach area for swimming. We were there for a family reunion, so spent most of the time at the picnic shelter, with the exception of a brief walk around the lake. Wish we could have explored the park more. Overall, this is a pretty park, but I wouldn’t camp there again.

Beautiful park, so-so campground

This is a great example of what a state park should be. It not only preserves a place of unique biological diversity and geologic interest, it is also well set up and well maintained to maximize low impact outdoor recreation and environmental education. A new state of the art regional environmental education center is being built now that will open in spring, as well as new handicapped access kayaking docks that complement Accessible trails and campsites throughout the park. This is a great destination for families, handicapped campers, and natural history enthusiasts. There are several campgrounds, one is large and open and meant for large RVs, others are drive-in forested tent sites or trailer sites with hookups, and several walkin sites. There is also a colony of rustic camper cabins. The campgrounds have brand new restroom facilities and playgrounds, and the main lake has a new beach house. The lake is a fascinating meromictic lake with clear calcium-rich waters that are not only pristine and beautiful to look at, but also great for swimming and snorkeling as the waters are crystal clear and very deep. There are hiking trails, paved bike trails, a nature preserve for bird watching at Round Lake, a golf course, and great kayaking or canoeing. It is also located right next door to the Erie Canal State Park for those who want to hike or bike the historic Erie Canal. Though you might expect a park like this to be in a remote location, it is actually just a short distance east of the suburbs of the Syracuse metro area, so it is an easy park to get to, plus staying there also provides easy access to stores for supplies, or access to local cultural activities or restaurants for those who want that. One of my favorite state parks in New York!

Green Lakes is a model state park

This state park campground is one of the few that offer full hook ups.

The bathrooms have been remodeled and most are private with a toilet, shower and sink which makes this a wonderful family campground.

The hiking includes an easy 3.1 mile loop with much shade around two glacier formed turquoise lakes ( you need to see them in person to appreciate)

The beach area is wide and shallow in most areas. in close proximity to the store and snack shop (ICE CREAM)

Just past the swimming area is boat rentals ($7/hr for row boat rental)

Golfing is also available on site!

Wonderful hiking, beach, boat rentals,golf, ICE CREAM!! 

This is a really nice campground. Friendly staff, small shop with some last minute items and firewood, beautiful spots with nice flat tent beds, bathrooms are exceptionally nice. We will stay here again and again!

Beautiful and Clean

Good-sized sites in hemlock forests, nice bathrooms, and the ability to hike through hilly woods and glens down to the two Green Lakes, which really are a bright teal color! Swimming, picnicking, paddling, and playground on site. A hidden gem.

Beautiful swimming and hiking!

This is a very nice campground. There are many sites with electric available at every site. There are some sites with full hook-up available and also specific areas that allow pets. Swimming is available at the large beach. You can rent a kayak and enjoy the beautiful lake. There are miles of trails to explore. There is a camp store, laundry room, recreation room, playgrounds and much more.

"Green" Lakes

We had a great stay at this park. We enjoyed biking and exploring the lovely blue-green lakes. The swimming area was awesome. We were on the edge of a the large RV section in Pinewoods with premium sites. However, they are all in the bright sun - no shade. It was great having the camp store so close!

Good experience - lovely swimming area and lakes!

Have been camping here off &amp; on since I was 12 (1975). Great place for trails, fishing, swimming &amp; plain camping. There are electric &amp; non-electric sites as well as a Cabin Colony. Pet friendly

Mosquito free campground

As a long-time resident of Syracuse, this state park has always been one of my favorites to go to. The lake is the biggest draw, it's crystal blue and impeccably  well maintained. You can take a walk around the lake and then stop at the beach to cool off. Connected to the beach is a food pavilion, grilling up burgers and serving frosty treats.  The campsites are spacious, the bathrooms are clean and well-kept, and the playgrounds are newer models. As a group of four, two adults and two kids under ten, all had a great time.

  

Our campsite, was directly in front of a small playground so it made it easy to sit in our lawn chair and watch the kids play. The bathroom was only a little farther than the playground and had a sink to wash your dishes in. 

The camp office is located just when you drive in, and everyone was very friendly. A campstore is also a short walk from the campground and has the necessities one may need.

  

I couldn't complain about anything other than wishing the sun stayed out longer on the trip.

Crystal blue lake!

My family has stayed here twice. Excellent experience both times. The park is clean and well maintained. The bathroom/showers are busy but always clean. The beach area is one of the nicest I’ve been to and the water is amazing. There’s walking paths around the lakes that are even handicap accessible. This state park is very busy because it’s just that nice. A must do if you’re in the area. 

Great place to campout or as a day trip

Camped here twice now. Love it beach is great. You cannot bring your own kayaks you have to rent. Fun hiking area the water is gorgeous. Great playgrounds. Bathrooms and showers were very clean

Love it 

Was nice to have a full hookup campsite.  Very well maintained.  And love having separate showers with your own toilet and sinks. 

Green Lakes State Park campground 

This campground was lovely. The park has lots to do and had a trail to the lake from the campground. There are two loops of camps. I found the tent loop to be nicer and more secluded. They have showers and full bathrooms. 10/10 recommend. 

This place is beautiful! 

I absolutely love this park. Beach for swimming with food stand(not open because of COVID). 2 lakes to walk around. Beautiful scenery! We have been here many times and will continue to return. We have a popup camper and sites are fairly big. 

Always a great time! 

Loved our spot this time. Site 121. On a hill and nice breeze on these hot days. 

Great park to camp at

I’ve stayed here in the pine woods loop 3 times with my family. Some sites are a bit small and some are spacious so look them up on the website. They offer electric only in that loop but have full hookups in an open area. The bathrooms are nice, new and clean. You might find a wait because they don’t have a lot of them. The lakes and beach are beautiful and there’s a nice wide trail that would be good for handicapped people as well. Great opportunities for photo ops. I highly recommend.

Great place to stay

We loved this park. Nice that there are lots of options in town for food as we were traveling. We stayed in June and July. Our first site (81) was fantastic the second (118) was smaller and very muddy due to recent rain. 

Two quick stays 

Had a nice time the campsites were a little close together and there were a lot of people at the campground however it was beautiful. The lake is an awesome color and there is a lot of information about the area and the lake itself around the park￼. Even though the sites were close together they were very spacious and extremely reasonably priced ￼

Kind of crowded but beautiful lake

We really loved this place and would love to come back.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Beautiful clear blue lakes 

Nice, long trails around both lakes 

Swimming area 

Kayak rentals 

Nature educational building 

Decent sized sites

  

CONS: 

There are signs all over that you can’t swim in the lake. Only in the designated area. 

Hard to get a kayak to rent at times

  

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Golf course Mini golf

Little bit of paradise 

Such a large park with lots of space. Sites with various hookups. The water is breathtaking!! And the beach and property is clean and wonderfully maintained! 