Long Pond Beach

Cropseyville, New York · on Long Pond · Grafton Lakes State Park

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: pond
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $6
SEASON: Best in summer

About Long Pond Beach

Long Pond Beach is the designated swimming area on Long Pond inside Grafton Lakes State Park, a 2,545-acre New York State park in the Town of Grafton, Rensselaer County, near Troy. The park operates the beach as an official swim area with a large sandy shoreline, seasonal hours, and a day-use vehicle fee, a dependable swimming hole for anyone near Troy looking for a lake to swim in.

Long Pond sits within Grafton Lakes State Park on a forested plateau between the Taconic Mountains and the Hudson Valley, one of six ponds/lakes managed within the park alongside Second Pond, Shaver Pond, Mill Pond, and the Martin-Durham Reservoir.

Swimming at Long Pond Beach

Swimming takes place at a large, sandy, state-park-managed beach on Long Pond, open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (swimming closes at 5:45 pm). Pet regulations reference the area as a 'guarded beach,' indicating lifeguard supervision during the swim season.

How to get to this swimming hole

The beach is inside Grafton Lakes State Park at 254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton, NY 12082, off NY Route 2 northeast of Albany/Troy. The park is closest to Grafton and East Grafton, NY.

Parking: On-site park parking with a day-use vehicle fee of $6-$8 depending on season.

The hike in

The park has roughly 25 miles of separate hiking/biking/horseback trails (mapped in official 'Trail Map North' and 'Trail Map South' PDFs), but these are distinct from beach access - the swim beach sits right off its own parking lot with an adjacent playground, so no trail walk is needed to reach the water.

Could not find a documented walk time/distance from the Long Pond Beach lot to the sand itself (likely a short walk of a couple hundred feet based on lot-adjacent layout), so that specific figure is left null rather than guessed.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Large sandy, state-park-managed beach on a 122-acre pond; pet regulations describe it as a 'guarded beach,' meaning lifeguards are on duty during posted swim hours (Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day, 10am-6pm). Beach is directly off the main parking lot, no scrambling or unsupervised trail walk needed to reach the water.

Parking

Paid, $6-$8 per vehicle (varies by season)

On-site state park lot adjacent to the beach and a playground; day-use vehicle fee collected at the park gate.

Restrooms

Yes

Main park restrooms near the beach/parking area open daily May through Columbus Day; Welcome Center restrooms also available year-round during office hours (Wed-Mon, 9am-4pm).

Hours

Park grounds open daily 8am until sunset year-round; Long Pond Beach swimming is only open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, daily 10:00am-6:00pm (swimming closes at 5:45pm).

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboardsRowboatsElectric boat

Restrictions: Electric motors only - no gas-powered motorboats permitted on Long Pond. Hand-launch access points are at N. Long Pond Road and the main Parkway Road near the beach; a launch-area lot accommodates about 25 cars and trailers.

Long Pond is 122 acres with 2.4 miles of shoreline, max depth 33 ft, mean depth 14 ft (NYSDEC).

Rentals nearby

Grafton Lakes State Park Boat Rentals (park concession at Long Pond Beach)

Sit-on-top kayaks, tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and rowboats

Prices: $30 for 1 hour up to $75 for 4 hours; $30 late fee for returns more than 15 minutes overdue

Rental stand at Long Pond Beach, inside Grafton Lakes State Park · Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day: Friday 1-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am-5pm

Backstory

Grafton Lakes State Park opened in 1971 and is operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The park's Shaver Pond Nature Center hosts a NYSDEC Air and Acid Rain Deposition Monitoring Site, and the park has hosted orienteering events since 1980, including the 1981 US Intercollegiate Championships.

Long Pond Beach: FAQ

Does Long Pond Beach charge a fee?

$6-$8 per vehicle for day use, varying by season.

Is Long Pond Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Long Pond Beach?

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

Where do I park for Long Pond Beach?

On-site state park lot adjacent to the beach and a playground; day-use vehicle fee collected at the park gate.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Long Pond Beach?

Long Pond is 122 acres with 2.4 miles of shoreline, max depth 33 ft, mean depth 14 ft (NYSDEC).

When is the best time to visit Long Pond Beach?

Summer, during the official swim season from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

What are the rules at Long Pond Beach?

Pets are allowed in day-use areas of the park on leashes (max 6 feet) or crated, but are prohibited in guarded beach areas, playgrounds, buildings, and pools (service animals excepted). Swimming is only permitted during posted hours in season.

What water body is Long Pond Beach on?

Long Pond Beach is on Long Pond, a natural pond verified in USGS hydrography data.