Belleayre Lake
Pine Hill, New York · on Birch Creek · Belleayre Mountain Day Use Area
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Belleayre Lake
Belleayre Lake (also called Pine Hill Lake) is a small lifeguard-supervised lake beach at the base of Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills, in the hamlet of Pine Hill, NY. Operated as Belleayre Beach, a public recreation facility with swimming, boating, and fishing associated with the state-owned Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, it is less a backwoods swimming hole than a supervised Catskills lake to swim in.
The lake sits in a valley at the foot of Belleayre Mountain within the Catskill Park/Forest Preserve in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County, surrounded by wooded mountain terrain typical of the Catskills.
Swimming at Belleayre Lake
Swimming takes place at a sandy, lifeguard-supervised beach on a small, calm lake described as family-friendly; one visitor account called the beach area small but noted the lake itself is a good size for boating and swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach is located at 33 Friendship Manor Road, Pine Hill, NY 12465, at the base of Belleayre Mountain.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, lifeguard-supervised beach facility reachable directly by car to 33 Friendship Manor Road, Pine Hill, NY -- no hike is required to reach the swimming area. Official listings mention 'hiking' among the facility's activities, but this appears to refer to separate trails on the broader Belleayre Mountain/ski-center property rather than a trail leading to the swim spot itself; no source identifies a specific named trail connecting to the beach or its distance.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Ulster County Tourism describes the beach as 'accessible; child and group friendly'; it is a lifeguard-supervised sandy beach on a small, calm lake (Pine Hill Lake), which is typically shallow-entry swimming rather than open/rough water. No specific hazard warnings (current, drop-offs, cliffs) were found in any source.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are listed among on-site facilities at the beach (alongside picnic pavilions and a snack bar) per official tourism sources, but exact building type/location (permanent vs. vault toilet) is not specified anywhere found.
Hours
2025 season opening day was June 27 (per iloveny.com state tourism listing). No specific daily operating hours (e.g., 10am-6pm) were found in any source; belleayre.com's own beach page (which reportedly links a summer schedule) returned HTTP 403 on fetch. Facility phone contacts published: (845) 254-6195 and (845) 254-5202.
On the water
Ulster County Tourism states visitors can rent or bring their own canoe/kayak; iloveny.com confirms pedal boat, rowboat, and kayak rentals on-site. No source mentions motorboats, jet skis, or an electric-only/no-wake rule explicitly, though the facility's rental fleet is limited to human-powered craft, consistent with a small recreational lake.
Rentals nearby
Pedal boats, rowboats, and kayaks/canoes
On-site at the beach, 33 Friendship Manor Road, Pine Hill, NY 12465
Backstory
The beach and surrounding land are part of the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center property, a state-owned recreation facility on Forest Preserve lands in the Catskill Park, with the NYS DEC holding underlying land management authority for the Belleayre Mountain area.
Belleayre Lake: FAQ
Does Belleayre Lake charge a fee?
General swimming/beach admission fee could not be confirmed; boat rentals (pedal boats, rowboats, kayaks, paddleboards) are available for an additional fee.
Is Belleayre Lake kid friendly?
Ulster County Tourism describes the beach as 'accessible; child and group friendly'; it is a lifeguard-supervised sandy beach on a small, calm lake (Pine Hill Lake), which is typically shallow-entry swimming rather than open/rough water. No specific hazard warnings (current, drop-offs, cliffs) were found in any source.
Do I need to hike to reach Belleayre Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Belleayre Lake?
No source found specifies a parking lot, its capacity, location relative to the beach, or any parking fee. The facility's only confirmed address is 33 Friendship Manor Road, Pine Hill, NY 12465. Direct fetch of belleayre.com (the operator's own site, most likely to list this) returned HTTP 403 in this pass, so this remains unconfirmed rather than guessed.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Belleayre Lake?
Ulster County Tourism states visitors can rent or bring their own canoe/kayak; iloveny.com confirms pedal boat, rowboat, and kayak rentals on-site. No source mentions motorboats, jet skis, or an electric-only/no-wake rule explicitly, though the facility's rental fleet is limited to human-powered craft, consistent with a small recreational lake.
When is the best time to visit Belleayre Lake?
Summer season; 2025 season opening day was June 27 per official tourism listing.
What are the rules at Belleayre Lake?
Swimming area is supervised by lifeguards during the operating season; group visits of 20 or more require advance booking.
What water body is Belleayre Lake on?
Belleayre Lake is on Birch Creek, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
