Moreau Lake Beach

Wilton, New York · on Moreau Lake · Moreau Lake State Park

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $6/vehicle
SEASON: Best in summer

About Moreau Lake Beach

Moreau Lake Beach is the designated swimming beach on Moreau Lake within Moreau Lake State Park in Saratoga County, New York, operated by the NY State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. For anyone looking for a lake to swim in near Saratoga, this is the park's official swimming hole: a fee-based swim area with a sandy beach adjoining the Nature Center, open seasonally in summer.

The beach sits on Moreau Lake within a 6,250-acre state park amid hardwood forest, pine stands, and rocky ridges near the Hudson River in the town of Moreau, close to Interstate 87 and not far from Saratoga Springs and Lake George.

Swimming at Moreau Lake Beach

Swimming takes place off a sandy beach on Moreau Lake, accessed directly from the park's Nature Center; a nature trail circles the lake past the swim area. The park's own advisory materials flag swimmer's itch (a rash-causing parasite common in some lake environments) as a hazard, indicating natural lake conditions rather than a chlorinated pool.

How to get to this swimming hole

Parking: Official parking areas are provided at the main park entrance and at the separate Big Bend Preserve section; a per-vehicle admission fee applies during the swim season.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up beach: visitors park in the main-entrance or Big Bend lots and walk a short distance to the beach, which is entered directly through the park's Nature Center. A separate lakeside nature trail circles Moreau Lake for those who want to hike, but no hike is required to reach the swim area.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Official sandy swimming beach at a state park, which generally makes for easy shallow-water access, but available sources do not confirm whether the beach is lifeguarded, and NY State Parks has issued a specific swimmer's itch (parasite rash) advisory for Moreau Lake, so parents should rinse/dry kids off after swimming and supervise closely.

Parking

Paid, $6-$8 per vehicle depending on date (2026 season: $6 weekends/holidays May 2-22, $8 daily May 23-Sept 7, $6 weekends/holidays Sept 8-Oct 12)

Official paved parking areas at the main park entrance and at the separate Big Bend section (Big Bend gate open 7:00am-sunset, weather permitting).

Restrooms

Yes

Restrooms/showers are listed among official park facilities (showers noted at the campground); the exact location of restrooms relative to the beach itself was not specified in the official park pages checked.

Hours

Swimming beach open daily 10:00am-6:00pm, May 23-September 7, 2026 season, weather permitting.

On the water

Kayaks

Official park pages confirm an on-site kayak rental/program ($15/rental, no fee for your own boat, renters must be 18+) and list 'boat launches' and seasonal boat storage permits ($95, April 15-Nov 1) among park amenities, implying other trailerable boats are also used on the lake. However, specific rules on motorboats, horsepower limits, or no-wake/electric-only zones could not be confirmed from the sources checked, so they are left unspecified rather than guessed.

Rentals nearby

Moreau Lake State Park Kayak Program

On-site kayak rentals as part of the park's own ranger/program-run kayak offering on Moreau Lake

Prices: $15.00 per rental; no fee if you bring your own boat; renters must be 18 or older

On-site at Moreau Lake State Park, near the beach/Nature Center

Moreau Lake Beach: FAQ

Does Moreau Lake Beach charge a fee?

2026 season: $6/vehicle May 2-22 (weekends/holidays only), $8/vehicle daily May 23-September 7, $6/vehicle weekends/holidays September 8-October 12.

Is Moreau Lake Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Moreau Lake Beach?

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

Where do I park for Moreau Lake Beach?

Official paved parking areas at the main park entrance and at the separate Big Bend section (Big Bend gate open 7:00am-sunset, weather permitting).

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Moreau Lake Beach?

When is the best time to visit Moreau Lake Beach?

Summer (official swim season runs late May through early September).

What are the rules at Moreau Lake Beach?

Swimming beach open daily 10:00am-6:00pm, May 23-September 7, 2026, weather permitting; campers, motorhomes, trailers, and horse trailers are prohibited at the beach on weekends/holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day; pets are not allowed on guarded beaches.

What water body is Moreau Lake Beach on?

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