Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Lake Taghkanic State Park is a 1,568-acre park offering a large beach for swimming, paddling and fishing on 156-acre Lake Taghkanic in Ancram, New York. Boat rentals are available as are campsites, cabins and cottages for visitors who wish to stay longer. The cottages are fully-equipped with bathroom, shower, kitchen, refrigerator, stove, eating and cooking utensils and hot and cold running water.

The park has two large playgrounds, a baseball field, a volleyball net on the beach and open grassy areas. Picnic tables and fixed-position charcoal grills are found throughout the entire park and a large, covered pavilion is also available for rent. Each of the picnic areas has a restroom building.

The main park building houses offices, restrooms, recreation hall and concessions. A separate, nearby building offers rentals of kayaks, paddle boats and rowboats. Guests can bring their own flotation devices and depart from designated launch sites. Gas-powered motors are not permitted and all boats must have the necessary permit.

Ten trails totaling over 8 miles are available for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Ice skating and ice fishing are also allowed once appropriate conditions are met for ice thickness. Please call the park office at 518.851.3631 for information.

There are two entrances to the park; one from the Taconic State Parkway and the other from state Route 82. If you are planning a visit with an RV or towing a camper with a truck bearing commercial plates, keep in mind that commercial vehicles are not permitted on the Taconic State Parkway and must use the Route 82 entrance.

Historically, the lake was once called Lake Charlotte. The name was changed when the land owner gave the land to New York State to be made into a park on the condition the lake be renamed Lake Taghkanic.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

State Park Fee

Pros

Large beach. Large parking lot. Amenities. Water activities.

Cons

None.

Features

ADA accessible
Campgrounds + Campsites
Showers
Flushing toilets
Bicycling
Potable water
Picnic tables
Covered picnic areas
Baseball
Volleyball
Fishing
Playground
Bird watching
Wildlife

Site type

Full hookups
Cabins

Location

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