Best state parks... (New York, Niagara Falls, Catskill: camping, zoning, things to do)

[ckhthankgod]

After looking at this list which Letchworth State Park made, 10 U.S. State Parks that are Worth a Visit: https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/1...376263&ST=RF_A

What are some of the best state parks that you think could have made the list or are worth a visit?

[P Larsen]

Um, the Adirondack Park should be at or near the head of that list. It is the jewel in the Empire State's crown. (Most people are unaware that it has a junior sister in the Catskill Park.)

[lifetimeliguy]

Lake Minnewaska State Park. Especially in October.

[ashowofhands]

Originally Posted by P Larsen

Um, the Adirondack Park should be at or near the head of that list. It is the jewel in the Empire State's crown. (Most people are unaware that it has a junior sister in the Catskill Park.)

I think this is a clerical/classification thing. Adirondack Park is not technically part of the NY State Park system and it is not run by NY State Parks and Recreation - instead it is managed by the DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency. So despite being a park run by a state agency, depending on how you look at it, you could make the case that it is not in fact a "state park".

[ckhthankgod]

9 things to do at Letchworth State Park this summer: https://www.democratandchronicle.com...ster-nletter65

[ckhthankgod]

List of America’s best state parks for hiking includes Upstate NY’s ‘Grand Canyon of the East’: https://www.newyorkupstate.com/weste...-the-east.html

[LINative]

New York has one of the greatest park systems in the United States. I think only California comes close in size.

Alot of sites do not list the Adirondack and Catskill Parks as state parks. Technically, they are Forest Preserves, which are similar to British National Parks, where some of the land is public and some of the land is private land but with strong zoning controls. But there is more than 3 million acres of public lands just in the Adirondacks and Catskills alone, which dwarfs many other state park systems.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4960.html

And then there is the state parks outside of the Adirondacks and Catskills, which is pretty extensive also. Just off the top of my head, how many states can claim something like Niagara Falls as a state park?

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/46/

[ckhthankgod]

Here are some photos of Letchworth State Park: https://www.thedailynewsonline.com/n...ntent=headline