Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hours of Operation

• Seasons/Hours: The park is open year round.
• Camping open from mid-April - December
• Picnicking/Hiking/Fishing/Biking: Year round.
  Biking: Limited.
  Pavilion Rental: May - Oct. (Electric and water hook-up available.
  Tent Rental: May - Oct. (Electric hook-up available.)
  Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing: During winter season.
  Ice Skating: During winter season
• Comfort Station and Contact Station open year round.

Fees & Rates

Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.

The Empire Pass -- whether a card for $80 or a vehicle-affixed decal for $65 -- is your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Apply online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.

• Vehicle Entrance Fee
• Mid-April to mid-October: Cars $6 on weekends and holidays
• Rentals

• Pavilion $125: Water Electric 100+ people

  Riverview Pavilion $25 15+ people

  Event Tent (30 x 30) $75 Electric- 50+ people

  Event Tent (20 x 30) $60- 55+ people
  
  Event Tent (20 x 20) $50- 40 people

  
  Trash removal option: $6 per bag-Checks made out to "Schodack Island NHT"

• Campsites
• $15-27/per night
  
  *$5 nightly fee for non-NYS residents
• Dry Slip Boat Permit

• $175 for the season from - May 1st to Columbus Day

  Or $ 75 per month if available.
  

  Winter Dry Slip: $225 for season mid-October-mid-April

Maps

New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.

• Schodack Island State Park Trail Map

• Trail Map (pdf)
• Schodack Island Camping Map (pdf)
• Google Earth file (kmz)
• Bird Conservation Area Map (pdf)
• Schodack Island State Park Map (pdf)

Connect Kids to Parks

Schodack Island State Park has an Environmental Educator on staff several months out of the year, who is trained in Project WILD, Growing Up WILD, Flying WILD, WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands, and Project Learning Tree. Environmental Education programming can be tailored to meet your New York State curriculum needs, from pre-school through high school, even offering college internships. Park staff are eager to work with scouts, school groups, homeschoolers, and others on environmental education programming. Contact the Park Office for more information

Summer 2017 Educator Internship

How to Bird Watch

Schodack Birding Checklist

Key BCA Criteria:

- Wading bird concentration site

- Species at risk site

The Schodack Island BCA is a peninsula in the tidal portion of the Hudson River, within Schodack Island State Park. The BCA's trails, old roadways, abandoned farms, rights of way, forest openings, and varying topography have created an interspersion of habitats, which in turn has led to a widespread distribution and abundance of birds. Cerulean Warbler and Bald Eagle are key species here, and a Great Blue Heron rookery on the island contains about 50 nests. The western side of the Island, along the Hudson River shoreline, is predominately floodplain forest, and is of particular importance in regard to its use by eagles. The habitats along the Schodack Creek and Muitzes Kill are particularly diverse. The BCA is within a Department of State (DOS) Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat and a DOS Significant Scenic Area. The BCA boundaries are coincident with the designated Hudson River Estuarine Sanctuary boundaries.

The site supports a breeding population of Cerulean Warbler (special concern) with 13 singing males counted in 1997. The area has been used by the species since at least 1965. Bald Eagle (threatened) regularly use the area for roosting and foraging, especially in winter. Osprey (special concern) also roost and forage in the area. There is a Great Blue Heron breeding colony that supports about 50 nests each year.

Download a copy of the BCA map.

I Bird NY guides are available in the park. For more information about the I Bird NY program , please visit the DEC webpage.

All persons hunting within the boundaries of Schodack Island State Park must have a valid NYS hunting license, archery license, muzzle loading license and/or turkey permit as required by Environmental Conservation Law. A special permit, issued by Schodack Island State Park, is also required. Permits can be obtained at the park office at no charge.

Rifles of any caliber or handgun of any type is strictly prohibited. Muzzle loader or shotgun only. Bow hunting in designated areas. DMU permit areas are 4K north of the overhead bridges and 4T south of the overhead bridges. Hunting within 500 feet of any building or road is strictly prohibited. No structures of any kind. Tree stands must be climber style or lock on. All tree stands must be removed daily.

Hunters must display colored parking pass on dashboard when parked. Hunters must display laminated hunting permit card to any park employee or officer. A sign in/sign out sheet will be in place outside of the park office. Hunters are required to sign in and out each day and record any game taken.

Gates will open one hour prior to sunrise for hunters and one hour after sunset for big game only. For small game hunting the park will return to our normal winter hours of 7 am to 4:30 pm.

All hunting ends February 28th. Park hours are displayed throughout the park.

Hunting Permit and Map

*Please note: Hunting is not permitted within 500 feet of any building, road, playground, or parking lot, and all trails are considered safety zones where hunting is not allowed.