Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hours of Operation

• Open year round, sunrise to sunset
  
  
  Big Bend Preserve: Gates open at 7:00am and close at sunset.
• State Park operates year-round. Park hours and facility operations (including swimming) are subject to change. Patrons are encouraged to contact the park directly to confirm operating hours before traveling.
  Vehicle access in the winter months is limited, weather permitting.
• Moreau Lake State Park Nature Center: September 2, 2024-May 26, 2025 10:00am-3:00pm, Friday – Sunday (subject to change). The nature center is also open for school vacations and at patron requests.

• 2024 Swimming Season

  May 25th through September 2nd

  10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., daily

• Concession Stand: September 2- October 14, Saturdays and Sundays 10:00am-6:00pm
• Boat/Kayak Rental: Closed for the season

• Picnic Shelter: 5/1 - 10/10. Advance reservations available.

• Pavilion & 20x30 Canvas Tent Rental: (reservations through Reserve America)

  Fernwood & Palmertown Pavilion: April 26th – October 14th

  20x30 Canvas Tent Rental: May 20th – September 2nd

• 2024 Camping Season:(reservations through Reserve America)
  Loop A: May 3rd – November 23rd (Dump Station closed after October 14th, please plan accordingly)
  Loops B, C, D, E: May 3rd – October 13th
  Loops F, G: May 24th – September 1st
  Group Campsite: May 24th – September 1st
  
  

• Sunset Cabin: May 3rd - October 17th
  Weekly Rental (Friday - Friday)
  Check In: 3:00 p.m. Check Out: 11:00 a.m.
  Pets not permitted / RV Campers & Tents not permitted

• Campground Cottage/Lakeshore Cottage: May 5th - October 12th
  Weekly Rental (Friday - Friday)
  Check In: 3:00 p.m. Check Out: 11:00 a.m.
  Pets not permitted / RV Campers & Tent not permitted
• White Birch Cabin Colony:
  Weekly Rental May 2th - October 16th (Thursday - Thursday)
  Weekend Rental from October 17th - November 23rd (Thursday - Sunday)
  Check In: 3:00 p.m. Check Out: 11:00 a.m.
  
  
• RV Campers & Tents not permitted
  Pets not permitted in Deer, Pine Tree, Fisherman, Bear cabin.
  Pets permitted in Moose, Eagle cabin ONLY (requires proof of rabies vaccination).
  
  
  There is a 1.5 mile hike to the cabins along untreated surfaces of varying conditions starting October 12th. Please contact park office for more information.
• Winter Hours of Operation
  Hours are weather permitting and subject to change
  Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset
  Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (snowshoe rentals available during Office Hours)
  Snowshoe Rental: in season $5/half day $10/whole day. Ice skates free to use.
  Snowshoes available for rent at the office
  Lake Access Gates open 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (weather permitting and subject to change)
  Nature Center open Saturday – Monday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  Cross Country Skiing: Groomed trails during winter season, weather conditions permitting.
• Generator Hours: 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

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 easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and 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. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.

• Vehicle Entrance Fee

• 5/4 - 5/24 (collected weekends & holidays) - $6.00/car
  5/25 - 9/2 (collected daily) - $8.00/car
  9/3 - 10/14 (collected weekends & holidays) - $6.00/car

• Camping

• $18.00 per night weekday rate (Sun-Thurs)
  $22.00 per night weekend rate (Fri-Sat)
  $1.25 Walk-in Charge
  $7.25 Reservation Fee charged by Reserve America

  Additional $5.00/night for non-NYS residents  
  Each site allows a maximum of 2 Tents (or 1 Camper/RV, +1 Tent), 2 Vehicles, 6 People, and up to 2 household pets. Must bring proof of rabies vaccination for all pets (NOT TAGS)
  

• Reservations

• For Reservations Contact: Reserve America 1-800-456-CAMP(2267)
  www.reserveamerica.com 

   
  *Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays*

• Cottages

• Cottages: Rented on a weekly basis only - Friday to Friday
  
  Lakeshore Cottage: Sleeps 6 people, 2 cars, no pets/ no smoking/no tents or campers allowed
  5/03 - 5/23: $400 per week
  5/24 - 6/06: $575 per week
  6/07 - 7/11: $800 per week
  7/12 - 9/05: $1,000 per week
  9/06 - 10/17: $400 per week
  
  Campground Cottage: Sleeps 4 people, 2 cars, no pets/no smoking/no tents or campers allowed
  5/03 - 5/23: $400 per week
  5/24 - 7/11: $525 per week
  7/12 - 9/05: $650 per week
  9/06 - 10/17: $400 per week

• Cabins

• Sunset Cabin: Sleeps 4
  5/03 - 5/23 - $300 per week
  5/24 - 7/11: $425 per week
  7/12 - 9/05: $550 per week
  9/06 - 10/17: $300 per week

  No Pets/No Smoking/No Tents allowed
  
  Fishermen Cabin/Moose Cabin*/Pine Tree Cabin (Sleeps 4)

  5/02 - 5/22: $328 per week
  5/23 - 7/10: $453 per week
  7/11 - 9/04: $578 per week
  9/05 - 10/16: $328 per week

  *Moose Cabin is pet friendly.

  Bear Cabin/Eagle Cabin*/Deer Cabin (Sleeps 6)

  5/04 - 5/24: $403 per week
  5/25 - 7/12: $478 per week
  7/13 - 9/06: $603 per week
  9/07 - 10/11: $403 per week

  *Eagle Cabin is pet friendly.

• Boat and Kayak Rental
• To be determined
• Environmental Education Program Fees
• All Ages: Free for 2025
  Special Programs & School Groups: $3.00/person
  Guided Kayak Program: $15.00/person
  
  Friends Group Members: Free
  If you paid the Vehicle Entrance Fee: Programs are free (excluding cost for kayak rentals)
  Campers are charged for programs.
• Equestrian Permits
• Please see the following Application and Rules for an equestrian permit.
  $20.00 Seasonal permit (4/1/2024 - 3/31/2025)
  $10.00 daily permit
• Seasonal Boat Storage Permits
• $95.00 seasonal permit, April 1 - November 1
  Storage has been filled for this season. Please contact the Park Office for further information 518-793-0511
• Group Campsite
• (reserve through Reserve America)
  $75.00 per night (Sunday - Thursday)
  $95.00 per night (Friday - Saturday)
  Group Camping allows a maximum of 6 cars, 8 tents (No RV/Campers allowed), 35 people, pets allowed. Must bring proof of rabies vaccination for all pets (NOT TAGS).
• Snowshoe Rental
• $5.00 up to 4-hour rental
  $10.00 up to 8-hour rental
  Hours of operation 8:00am – 4:00pm
• Cabins
• No Pets (unless otherwise noted)/No Smoking/No Tents allowed
  Additional $25/week on all cabin & cottage rentals for non-NYS residents

Maps

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

• Moreau Lake State Park Trail Map

Firewood source maps show a 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. For more information see firewood restrictions.

• Firewood Source Map (pdf)

• Google Earth file (kmz)
• Camping Loop Map (pdf)
• Day Use Map (pdf)
• Moreau Lake Hunting Map 2024-25 (pdf)
• Big Bend Preserve Trail Map (pdf)
• Trail Map (pdf)

Moreau Lake State Park's Nature Center features live animals, seasonal exhibits, wildlife mounts and hands-on activities. The environmental educators offer year-round education programs for the public, school groups, youth organizations, and clubs here at the nature center or we can come to you!

Listed below are the topics we typically offer to field trip groups year-round*. Additional programs can be designed to meet your group's specific interests.

Nature Center

Students will sit in our nature center where they will get to observe taxidermy animals native to Moreau Lake State Park. A park educator will go over some general facts about New York State's native wildlife.

Beaver Walk

Students will go on a walk to our very own beaver lodge where we will check out signs of beaver activity. At the lodge, a park educator will talk about the beaver's lifestyles and behaviors.

Turtles and Snakes

A park educator will teach about our very own live turtles and snakes that live in our nature center. Most of which are native to NY state and Moreau Lake. We will discuss the various kinds of turtles and snakes we have and their behaviors and lifestyles.

Tree I.D.

Students will go on a short walk on our Nature Trail near the nature center. On our walk, a park educator will point out some common trees we have at Moreau Lake and how to identify them.

Native vs. Invasive

What does native and invasive mean? Which plants are native to Moreau and which ones are invasive? Learn all this and more from a park educator while you get to observe some native plants we are growing in our flowerbeds.

 Maple Syrup (February-April)*

A park educator will teach the basics of making maple syrup. How to identify maple trees, how to tap a tree, and the entire process of turning sap into a delicious maple syrup.

General Nature Walk

Students will go on a nature hike led by a park educator. On the way we may see some different critters and animal signs that the educator will point out.

 Leave No Trace

We will discuss the 7 Leave No Trace Principles on how to reduce our carbon footprint and be respectful to mother nature when we are camping and hiking.

 Recycling/Zero Waste/Composting

An educator will discuss the basics of recycling: what it is, why we do it, and what we can and can't recycle. We will also be discussing zero waste: what it is, why to practice it, and how to start.

We can also teach students about the basics of composting: what composting is, why it is important and what you can and can't compost.

10 Essentials of Hiking/ Hiking Safety

We will discuss the 10 essentials to pack when you are going hiking. We will also discuss the importance of ethical and safe hiking.

 Fishing and Ice Fishing

A park educator will provide a tutorial on fishing and discuss our lake's fish species. All equipment will be supplied.

To schedule a field trip or outreach program in your classroom you can fill out this "Field Trip Inquiry" form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Please email mlsp.education@parks.ny.gov or call 518-793-0511 with any questions.

Clsses last between 30-45 minutes depending on what the teacher wants to focus on. We can and usually do multiple classes in one field trip.

Classes cost $3 per child, chaperones pay entry fee to the park, and teachers do not have to pay. Bus fee is $35.

The Connect Kids to Parks Grant Program is designed to connect New York school age children (pre-K through grade 12) with nature, outdoor recreation, and history by reimbursing *eligible costs for field trips to eligible locations.

Key BCA Criteria:

- Migratory concentration site

- Diverse species concentration site

- Species at risk site

The Moreau Lake BCA is within Moreau Lake State Park. Moreau Lake BCA is a stopover site for Neotropical migratory songbirds especially forest dwelling migrants during both spring and fall migrations. The site supports a diversity of birds associated with upland forest. It is also a significant wintering site for the state and federally threatened Bald Eagle and regularly supports state threatened Pied-billed Grebe (possible breeder) and Northern Harrier (spring and fall migration); and state species of special concern Cooper's Hawk (possible breeder) and Red-shouldered Hawk (probable breeder).

Download a copy of the BCA map.

Attention Hunters: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (i.e., "bird flu") has recently been detected in New York State in a variety of waterfowl species. Although the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) has stated that avian influenza rarely spreads to humans, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is encouraging hunters to take extra precautions while processing harvested waterfowl. For more information on best practices for hunters to minimize risk of exposure, please read NYSDEC Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - What Hunters Need to Know (leaves State Parks website).

For general information on Avian Influenza, please see: Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine - Avian Influenza Fact Sheet (leaves State Parks website).

For additional updates on Avian Influenza, including current updates, see NYSDEC - Animal Diseases (leaves State Parks website) and NYSDOH - Questions and Answers about Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) (leaves State Parks website).

Deer hunting is permitted in a limited area in season. Moreau Lake State Park follows the dates of the New York State hunting seasons.

• Application for Moreau Lake's Hunting Season Parking Pass (top part of application needs to be returned to park office)
• Moreau Lake Hunting Map

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.