Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin, New York · on Lake Ontario · Hamlin Beach State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $9 per vehicle
- SEASON
- June
About Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park is a 1,287-acre New York State park on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Hamlin, Monroe County. Its official, lifeguard-supervised swimming beach is more managed lakefront than rustic swimming hole, offering a supervised lake to swim in, and the park also has camping, trails, and boat launches. It is one of 67 state-run swimming beaches that New York tests weekly for bacteria.
The park sits directly on Lake Ontario's southern shoreline along the Lake Ontario State Parkway, with sandy beach frontage, dune/marsh areas (including the mile-long Yanty Creek Marsh trail at the park's east end), and about 6 miles of hiking/biking trails. It was originally assembled as Northwest Beach Park by Monroe County in 1929, transferred to the state in 1938, and improved by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s-40s; the site also held a German POW camp during World War II, now marked by an interpretive trail.
Swimming at Hamlin Beach State Park
Swimming is in Lake Ontario itself, on a large sandy beach with three designated swimming areas, open to the public only when lifeguards are on duty (tentatively June 20 through Labor Day, 11am-6:45pm, weather permitting). This is open-lake swimming rather than a secluded natural hole -- a developed, guarded state park beach that draws large crowds.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: Three parking lots at the park accommodate roughly 2,500 vehicles combined.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swim beach -- it sits directly adjacent to the three main parking lots. Separately, the park has ~6 miles of optional hiking/biking trails not required for swimming, including the roughly 1-mile Yanty Creek Marsh nature trail (stone/mulch surface, interpretive markers, own small ~10-car lot) at the east end, a paved east-west Shoreline Trail passing the beaches, and the Devil's Nose trail (reopened 2019 with mulch path and safety fencing due to an 80-foot drop) -- none of these lead to or are needed for the swimming area.
Walk from the adjacent parking lots to the sand is only a couple minutes.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Lifeguard-supervised swimming is only permitted when guards are on duty (tentatively June 20-Labor Day, 11am-6:45pm), across three designated swim zones on a large sandy Lake Ontario beach. No reports found of steep drop-offs or strong swim-area currents, though open-lake wave/wind conditions can vary day to day; NY State also tests the water weekly and has closed sections for E. coli exceedances, so checking the daily conditions map before a visit is worthwhile.
Parking
Paid, $9 per vehicle day-use fee (2026 season); $35 for buses; Empire Pass ($80) covers unlimited annual entry
Three main parking lots hold roughly 2,500 vehicles combined; a separate small lot (~10 spaces) serves the Yanty Creek trailhead at the park's east end. Fee collected 9am-5pm: weekends/holidays mid-May through June 18, daily June 18-Labor Day, weekends/holidays Labor Day-Columbus Day.
Restrooms
Yes
1939 CCC-built stone bathhouse near the beach (heavily renovated, with showers); additional newer restrooms installed in campground loops A and B after a 2016 renovation.
Water clarity
Clear
NY State Parks' own description of the beach calls it 'clear water, sandy beaches.' Separately, the water is tested weekly for E. coli and has had periodic swim-area closures (one 2025 sample over 2,400 colonies/100mL) from stormwater runoff, a bacteria/safety issue distinct from optical clarity. No first-hand visitor clarity reports were captured in this pass.
Hours
Park grounds open dawn to dusk year-round; guarded swimming beach open only ~June 20 through Labor Day, 11am-6:45pm daily weather permitting; day-use fee collection runs 9am-5pm during the season windows above.
On the water
Restrictions: Car-top/hand-launch only -- no trailer boat launch found. Wikipedia describes a designated hand launch north of the Area 1 parking lot and a car-top launch at the beach's east end near the Yanty Creek parking area.
No specific no-wake, electric-only, or paddlecraft restrictions were found in official sources; motorboats/jet skis are not mentioned as accommodated given the car-top-only launch setup.
Backstory
Began as Monroe County's Northwest Beach Park in 1929 (597 acres acquired), renamed Hamlin Beach Park in 1930, and transferred to New York State in 1938. The CCC built out facilities from 1935-1941. From 1944-1946 the grounds housed a German prisoner-of-war camp; an interpretive trail about this history opened in 2014. The state invested $2.25 million in bathhouse and restroom renovations announced in 2016.
Hamlin Beach State Park: FAQ
Does Hamlin Beach State Park charge a fee?
$9 per vehicle day-use fee (as of the 2026 season); $35 for buses; Empire Pass ($80) provides unlimited annual day-use entry; pavilion rentals run $50-$100.
Is Hamlin Beach State Park kid friendly?
Lifeguard-supervised swimming is only permitted when guards are on duty (tentatively June 20-Labor Day, 11am-6:45pm), across three designated swim zones on a large sandy Lake Ontario beach. No reports found of steep drop-offs or strong swim-area currents, though open-lake wave/wind conditions can vary day to day; NY State also tests the water weekly and has closed sections for E. coli exceedances, so checking the daily conditions map before a visit is worthwhile.
Do I need to hike to reach Hamlin Beach State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Hamlin Beach State Park?
Three main parking lots hold roughly 2,500 vehicles combined; a separate small lot (~10 spaces) serves the Yanty Creek trailhead at the park's east end. Fee collected 9am-5pm: weekends/holidays mid-May through June 18, daily June 18-Labor Day, weekends/holidays Labor Day-Columbus Day.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Hamlin Beach State Park?
No specific no-wake, electric-only, or paddlecraft restrictions were found in official sources; motorboats/jet skis are not mentioned as accommodated given the car-top-only launch setup.
When is the best time to visit Hamlin Beach State Park?
Mid-June through Labor Day for guarded swimming; camping runs mid-May through mid-October.
What are the rules at Hamlin Beach State Park?
Swimming is permitted only when lifeguards are on duty at the guarded beach area; the state posts a daily swimming-conditions map. New York State tests the beach water at least weekly for E. coli, and sections have been temporarily closed to swimming when bacteria levels exceeded state safety standards (over 235 colonies/100mL trigger; one 2025 sample exceeded 2,400 colonies/100mL).
What water body is Hamlin Beach State Park on?
Hamlin Beach State Park is on Lake Ontario, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
