Donnelly Beach

Olmstedville, New York · on Minerva Lake

Verified · 2 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: Best in summer

About Donnelly Beach

Donnelly Beach is the Town of Minerva's municipal swimming beach on Minerva Lake, a small impoundment created by damming Jones Brook in the early 1930s, near Olmstedville in New York's Adirondack region. The town operates it as a staffed, seasonal swim beach with lifeguards, picnic areas, and family recreation facilities.

Minerva Lake is an artificial lake in the Adirondacks formed when the Town of Minerva dammed Jones Brook (town history says 1931; Wikipedia says circa 1932), creating a small impounded lake with three small islands near the hamlets of Minerva and Olmstedville.

Swimming at Donnelly Beach

Swimming takes place at a designated, lifeguarded municipal lake beach rather than a wild swimming hole; it is set up for family use with a swim area, adjacent picnic grounds, and water access for canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and fishing.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up municipal beach at the end of Beach Road in Minerva, NY; See/Swim's location data lists hiking time as 0 minutes, confirming roadside/parking-lot access directly to the swim area. The Town of Minerva site separately mentions 'easy hiking trails' as an on-site amenity for walking around the property/islands, not as an access route required to reach the water.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Staffed municipal beach with a lifeguard on duty 10am-6pm during the season, shallow lake swim area, two playgrounds (toddler and older-kid equipment), and three small islands to explore. See/Swim rates it a 'medium to large sized swim area, with two diving platforms' -- the diving platforms mean supervision is warranted for younger kids near deeper water, but overall setup is family-oriented (verdict: yes, per Town of Minerva and Adirondack Hub facility descriptions).

Parking

Paid

No source states a specific parking lot size or cost for parking itself. See/Swim's location page notes an 'entrance fee required' for the beach (amount not published). Access is described as drive-up/roadside with a 'hiking time' of 0 minutes, i.e. no walk-in required from a remote lot.

Restrooms

Yes

Restroom facilities and a bathhouse on site, per Adirondack Hub's beach listing; See/Swim also confirms restrooms are available at the beach.

Hours

Beach staffed with a lifeguard 10:00am-6:00pm during the operating season, roughly June 20 through Labor Day (per Town of Minerva site, 2026 season listed as June 20-September 6).

On the water

KayaksCanoesSailboats

Restrictions: Town of Minerva site lists sailing among allowed uses in addition to canoeing/kayaking; a public boat launch on site (per Adirondack Hub) accommodates non-motorized vessels. No explicit no-wake/motor-ban language was found in the sources reviewed, but all descriptions reference only non-motorized craft (canoe, kayak, sailboat) plus fishing -- no mention of motorboats or jet skis being used or permitted.

Adirondack Hub's beach page also states 'boat rental services are available on-site' at Donnelly Beach itself, though no operator name, price, or contact for that on-site rental was found.

Rentals nearby

Discover Kayak Rentals LLC

Single kayaks including kid sizes, plus fishing gear; each rental includes a life vest and paddle

198 13th Lake Rd, North River, NY 12856 (a neighboring hamlet a short drive from Minerva) · Day rentals, Memorial Day through Labor Day

Beaver Brook Outfitters

Canoe, kayak, and tube rentals (boat, paddle, PFD, and straps included); also delivers rental boats to nearby 13th Lake

3921 NY-28, North Creek, NY 12853 (nearby hamlet along Route 28)

What regulars say

Visitors weighing lakes for swimming without the crowds name Donnelly Beach in Minerva as a public beach that is 'unlikely to be very busy on weekdays,' suggesting it's a lower-key option compared to more heavily trafficked Adirondack swim spots.

Backstory

The beach and lake were created when the Town of Minerva dammed Jones Brook (town site: 1931; Wikipedia: circa 1932). The beach is named for Francis Donnelly, who served as Town of Minerva Supervisor from 1932 until his death in 1980.

Donnelly Beach: FAQ

Is Donnelly Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Donnelly Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Donnelly Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Donnelly Beach?

Adirondack Hub's beach page also states 'boat rental services are available on-site' at Donnelly Beach itself, though no operator name, price, or contact for that on-site rental was found.

When is the best time to visit Donnelly Beach?

Summer, during the town's staffed lifeguard season (roughly late June through Labor Day)

What are the rules at Donnelly Beach?

Beach is staffed with a lifeguard 10:00am-6:00pm during the operating season (per the town site, listed as opening June 20, 2026 and closing Labor Day, September 6, 2026). Dogs are not permitted on the beach itself; they may use other recreational areas outside the guardrails but must be leashed or contained, supervised at all times, and cleaned up after; disruptive or aggressive dogs are subject to removal.

What water body is Donnelly Beach on?

Donnelly Beach is on Minerva Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.