Fair Haven Beach
Sterling, New York · on Lake Ontario · Fair Haven Beach State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $9 per vehicle
- SEASON
- May
About Fair Haven Beach
Fair Haven Beach State Park is a 1,141-acre New York State Park on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Sterling, Cayuga County. The swimming hole here is 1,500 feet of sand beach with a 600-foot guarded swim area, which makes Lake Ontario an approachable lake to swim in at this spot. The park also encompasses Little Sodus Bay frontage, Sterling Pond, and Sterling Creek amid shoreline bluffs and wooded terrain.
The park sits where Lake Ontario meets the eastern shore of Little Sodus Bay, characterized by shoreline bluffs, sandy beaches, and adjoining hilly woodlands, with Sterling Pond and Sterling Creek running inland through the property.
Swimming at Fair Haven Beach
Swimming takes place at a guarded, sandy Lake Ontario beach (600 feet of the park's 1,500-foot shoreline) during a seasonal lifeguard schedule; this is a developed, family-oriented state park swim beach rather than a backcountry or informal spot.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: Not itemized separately in official sources beyond the standard state park vehicle entrance fee; on-site parking is implied by the developed day-use/beach facilities.
The hike in
The guarded Lake Ontario swim beach is a drive-up/parking-adjacent facility, no hike is needed to reach the water. The 1,141-acre park separately has a hiking-trail network (a downloadable trail map and an Avenza Maps digital map are offered by NY State Parks), but official sources do not name individual trails or give lengths/difficulty, and none of those trails are required to access swimming.
Walk time from the parking area to the sand was not stated in official sources; given the developed day-use layout it is expected to be a short (a few minutes) walk, but that specific figure is left null rather than guessed.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Official NY State Parks sources confirm a 600-foot guarded (lifeguarded) sand-beach swim area plus an on-site playground, ball field, and picnic areas, all supporting a family-friendly day at the beach. Caveat: this is open Lake Ontario shoreline (not a sheltered pond/cove), so wave action and lake current are possible outside the guarded zone; no source gave an explicit shallow-entry or bottom-condition description, so that detail is left unconfirmed rather than assumed.
Parking
Paid, $9 per vehicle (2026 day-use rate, collected daily April 1-October 31); $35 per bus
Fee is a standard state-park vehicle gate charge, not a separate beach parking fee. Official sources did not specify lot count, capacity, or distance from lot to sand.
Restrooms
Yes
Official park pages describe centralized restroom/shower buildings serving the three campgrounds and the 30-unit cabin colony; a day-use bathhouse specifically at the guarded swim beach is implied by the developed facilities but its exact location was not itemized in official sources.
Hours
2026 guarded-swim season: May 23-June 14 weekends/holidays 11am-7pm; June 20-Aug 2 weekdays 11am-7pm, weekends/holidays 10am-8pm; Aug 3-Sept 7 daily 11am-7pm. Vehicle gate fee is collected daily April 1-October 31. Boat/canoe/kayak/paddleboard rentals run 9am-5pm, May 15-October 12.
On the water
Restrictions: Park-owned rental canoes/kayaks/paddleboards are restricted to the inland Sterling Pond waterway only. The park's boat launch (open year-round) and marina/dockage serve Little Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario, and Wikipedia confirms boating and fishing occur on both those waters; no official source specified whether visitor-owned watercraft are excluded from the guarded swim-beach zone itself.
Three distinct water areas exist on-site: the guarded Lake Ontario swim beach, Little Sodus Bay (marina/boat launch/dockage), and inland Sterling Pond (rental-only paddling water).
Rentals nearby
Canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals for use on Sterling Pond only, plus seasonal watercraft storage
Prices: $10/hour, $40/day, $160/week; seasonal storage rental $100 (March 1-November 30)
At the park marina/Sterling Pond area within Fair Haven Beach State Park, Sterling, NY · 9am-5pm, May 15-October 12
Backstory
The park's camp facilities were originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s and later used as a prisoner-of-war camp housing German POWs.
Fair Haven Beach: FAQ
Does Fair Haven Beach charge a fee?
2026 season: $9 per vehicle day-use entrance ($35 for buses); camping $20-$31/night (plus $5/night for out-of-state visitors); cabins $322-$644/week; cottages $500-$800/week; boat/kayak/canoe rentals $10/hour or $40/day; shelter/pavilion rental $50-$200.
Is Fair Haven Beach kid friendly?
Official NY State Parks sources confirm a 600-foot guarded (lifeguarded) sand-beach swim area plus an on-site playground, ball field, and picnic areas, all supporting a family-friendly day at the beach. Caveat: this is open Lake Ontario shoreline (not a sheltered pond/cove), so wave action and lake current are possible outside the guarded zone; no source gave an explicit shallow-entry or bottom-condition description, so that detail is left unconfirmed rather than assumed.
Do I need to hike to reach Fair Haven Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Fair Haven Beach?
Fee is a standard state-park vehicle gate charge, not a separate beach parking fee. Official sources did not specify lot count, capacity, or distance from lot to sand.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Fair Haven Beach?
Three distinct water areas exist on-site: the guarded Lake Ontario swim beach, Little Sodus Bay (marina/boat launch/dockage), and inland Sterling Pond (rental-only paddling water).
When is the best time to visit Fair Haven Beach?
Late May through early September, matching the posted guarded swim season; peak conditions likely July-August per the extended weekend hours.
What are the rules at Fair Haven Beach?
Swimming is only permitted/guarded during posted seasonal hours (2026: May 23-June 14 weekends/holidays 11am-7pm; June 20-Aug 2 weekdays 11am-7pm, weekends/holidays 10am-8pm; Aug 3-Sept 7 daily 11am-7pm). Pets are limited to two per campsite/day-use area, must be leashed (max 6 ft), and are prohibited from guarded beaches, playgrounds, and buildings.
What water body is Fair Haven Beach on?
Fair Haven Beach is on Lake Ontario, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
