Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct
Voorheesville, New York · on Thompsons Lake · John Boyd Thacher State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $7
- SEASON
- May
About Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct
This entry's coordinates sit at the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, on the shore of Thompson's Lake within Thompson's Lake State Park Campground, which is administered alongside the adjacent John Boyd Thacher State Park in Voorheesville/East Berne, NY. The actual swimming is at Thompson's Lake Beach, a lifeguard-supervised sandy-beach swim area operated seasonally by New York State Parks. The nature center building itself is an educational facility, not a swim site, but it sits right at the lake's edge.
The lake sits within the Thompson's Lake State Park Campground, described by the operator as surrounded by mixed hardwood and conifer forest, limestone outcroppings, and open fields on the Helderberg Escarpment above Albany's Capital Region.
Swimming at Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct
A lifeguard-supervised, sandy-beach swim area on a small lake, suited to families and campers rather than a wilderness swimming hole; the beach closes to swimmers during inclement weather (confirmed active closure was in effect July 29, 2026, per the park's own alert).
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach and nature center are reached via Thompson's Lake State Park Campground off NY-157 near Voorheesville/East Berne, about 2 miles from the main Thacher State Park escarpment overlook, per the park's own site.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up beach inside Thompson's Lake State Park Campground, right next to the parking/day-use area and the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center; no hike is needed to reach the water. Separate nature-center trails ('lead from the nature center to the lake, through woodlands and fields') exist for hiking/skiing but are optional side trails, not access routes to the swim beach, and no distance/difficulty for those was found.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Lifeguard-supervised sandy beach on a small lake with a nearby playground, volleyball court, and horseshoe pits; no cliffs or currents documented. No source specifies wading depth/slope at the beach, so entry gradient is unconfirmed.
Parking
Paid, $7 per vehicle day-use fee (2026 season); NYS Empire Pass ($80/yr) accepted
Enter via Thompson's Lake State Park Campground off NY-157 near Voorheesville/East Berne; pay at the campground/day-use gate.
Restrooms
Yes
Showers listed as a beach/campground amenity at Thompson's Lake. Additional restrooms are at the Thacher State Park Visitor Center and the Warming Hut at Hop Field, both about 2 miles away in the main escarpment section of the park (open daily year-round).
Water clarity
Mostly clear
No first-hand visitor reports on clarity were found. NY DEC's lake data notes rooted aquatic vegetation is limited to the shoreline, which is generally an indicator of a clearer, less weed-choked small lake, but this is an indirect signal, not a direct clarity report.
Hours
Day-use area open year-round. Guarded swimming (2026 season): weekends only May 23-June 21, then daily June 22-Sept 7, 10:00am-6:00pm; beach can close early for weather at staff discretion.
On the water
Restrictions: 15 hp limit on motorboats (per NY DEC). Carry-in launch is at the swim beach for kayak/canoe/paddleboard; a separate DEC trailer boat launch (capacity ~5 cars/trailers, day-use fee) is on Thompsons Lake Road about 0.3 miles north of NY-157A and Beaver Dam Road.
The park itself rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards at the beach, only when the beach is open and lifeguards are on duty.
Rentals nearby
Kayak, tandem kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals
Prices: $20 minimum 2-hour rental, $10 per additional hour
At the swim beach, Thompson's Lake State Park Campground, Voorheesville/East Berne, NY · Only when the beach is open and lifeguards are present (call ahead; subject to closures)
Backstory
Emma Treadwell Thacher, widow of former Albany mayor John Boyd Thacher, donated the original parkland in 1914 to establish John Boyd Thacher State Park. The nature center at Thompson's Lake bearing her name opened in July 2001.
Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct: FAQ
Does Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct charge a fee?
$7 per-vehicle day-use entrance fee as of the 2026 season (Empire Pass annual pass accepted, $80).
Is Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct kid friendly?
Lifeguard-supervised sandy beach on a small lake with a nearby playground, volleyball court, and horseshoe pits; no cliffs or currents documented. No source specifies wading depth/slope at the beach, so entry gradient is unconfirmed.
Do I need to hike to reach Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct?
Enter via Thompson's Lake State Park Campground off NY-157 near Voorheesville/East Berne; pay at the campground/day-use gate.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct?
The park itself rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards at the beach, only when the beach is open and lifeguards are on duty.
When is the best time to visit Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct?
Late May through early September; guarded swimming hours run weekends-only May 23-June 21, then daily June 22-September 7, 10:00am-6:00pm.
What are the rules at Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct?
Pets are prohibited at the guarded beach area (service animals excepted); swim area operates only within posted seasonal hours and can be closed by park staff for weather.
What water body is Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct on?
Emma Treadwell Thacher Ntr Ct is on Thompsons Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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