COVID 19 Updates: Get Outside Safely, Responsibly, and Locally
New York State's PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL campaign encourages residents to engage in responsible recreation during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation recommendations for getting outside safely incorporate guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health for reducing the spread of infectious diseases. PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL encourages New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice physical distancing, show respect for all outdoor adventurers, and use common sense to protect themselves and others.
Use the DECinfo Locator to find a DEC-managed
resource near you and visit the State Parks website for information about parks and park closures and 511NY for closure alerts.
You can also get the New York State Parks Explorer App, a free, user-friendly resource to get alerts and plan outdoor adventures. State Parks Explorer mobile app is available at no cost for download for iOS and Android devices.
To download, visit:
Take the Pledge to PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL: Enjoy the Outdoors Safely and Responsibly
Getting outdoors to walk, jog, hike, swim, ride a bicycle, fish, hunt, go horseback riding, go boating, or visit a park or state lands is a healthy way to stay active, spend time with immediate household and family members, and reduce stress and anxiety when practicing social distancing. While indoor spaces and restrooms at State Parks and DEC public facilities may be closed out of an abundance of caution to prevent community spread of COVID-19, many parks, grounds, forests, and trails are open seven days a week. However, on a case-by-case basis, DEC and State Parks may close certain trails and areas to recreation if density pressures do not allow for appropriate social distancing.
Below are some specifics for State Park visitors:
Parking: To encourage physical social distancing at popular parks, trailheads, and scenic areas, State Parks will reduce the number of available parking spaces on high visitation days. Have a plan ready to visit a different park or another park area. Visit https://parks.ny.gov/parks/ for a list of parks. Park maps are available on each park page.
Face Coverings: For the safety of all visitors, please wear a face covering when you cannot maintain social distance.
Restrooms: Public restrooms may be limited. Visitors should plan accordingly and call the park office for more information.
2020 Camping: New York State Park campsites, cabins and cottages are currently open. Reservations can be made in advance by calling toll free 1-800-456-CAMP or http://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com. No walk-in stays will be accepted at this time.
Cabins, Cottages and Yurts: : State Parks has implemented an enhanced COVID-19 cleaning and sanitizing protocol at the conclusion of each reservation requiring a two-day reduction in weekly reservations at
many locations to allow staff adequate time to perform these tasks for the health and safety of our visitors. We will continue to evaluate our protocols as the COVID-19 status evolves.
New York State Park Camping Guidelines
2021 Camping: New York State Parks has lifted the 9-month reservation window restriction for camping and will allow for transfers of existing camping reservations into the 2021 season. In addition, you may also make new reservations for the 2021 season at this time. Please note that there is no guarantee that you will get the same camping site or dates for 2021 whether you transfer or make a new reservation. We encourage online reservations as the Call Center is experiencing longer than average wait times.
Golf:Operating schedules will differ across the state. Call the course directly for current information.
Boat Launches and Marinas: Marinas and boat launch sites are open where conditions allow. Call the park or regional office directly for current status.
Travel Advisory: Please note New York State, New Jersey, and Connecticut have implemented a tri-state travel advisory that requires any individuals traveling from states with significant community spread of COVID-19 to
quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory for more information on the advisory, including the
daily updated list of affected states.
While enjoying outdoor spaces, please continue to follow the CDC/NYSDOH's guidelines for preventing the spread of colds, flu, and COVID-19:
DEC and State Parks also encourage visitors to state parks and state lands, and other parks to:
Be patient. Accept that this season you may have to adjust how you enjoy the outdoors to help keep yourself and others healthy and safe, even if it means changing your plans to visit a public space.