Sandy Island Beach State Park
Pulaski, New York · on South Pond · Sandy Island Beach State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $7 per vehicle
- SEASON
- June
About Sandy Island Beach State Park
Sandy Island Beach State Park is a New York State Parks facility in the Town of Richland (Pulaski), Oswego County, on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. One of the best places to swim in Oswego County, this swimming hole centers on a 1,500-foot lifeguarded natural sand beach set within a rare 17-mile freshwater dune and wetland system, with swimming, hiking, and wildlife viewing as primary activities.
The park sits amid the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland System, one of the largest freshwater dune complexes in the northeastern U.S., with dunes rising up to 50 feet above lake level and historically supporting hardwood forest. Wooden boardwalks and viewing platforms protect the fragile dune vegetation from foot traffic. The broader 229-acre park (expanded from an original 13 acres in 2011) also encompasses conservation land near South Sandy Pond, a separate 313-acre coastal pond behind the dunes.
Swimming at Sandy Island Beach State Park
Swimming takes place at a guarded, sandy Lake Ontario beach with a designated swim area during the summer season; visitors describe the water as clear freshwater. Parts of the shoreline are rocky, and multiple visitor reviews recommend water shoes for wading and swimming comfort. The setting suits families and casual swimmers given lifeguard coverage, though it is open Great Lakes water rather than a sheltered cove.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 3387 County Route 15, Pulaski, NY 13142, roughly 4.4 miles from Pulaski by road; the beach and dunes are reached directly from the park's day-use parking area.
Parking: Standard vehicle parking is available at the main park entrance; a $7 vehicle entrance fee applies.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swim beach - it's accessed by a short walk from the day-use parking area across boardwalks/walkovers built to protect the dune vegetation. Separate dune trails exist within the park for hiking and birding but are not required for swimming access.
Official sources and visitor accounts describe boardwalks leading from the lot to the beach but don't give an exact walk distance or time; it reads as a short, flat walk rather than a hike.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Lifeguarded swim zone during the June 13-Sept 7 season makes this a safe, supervised beach for families, but rocky sections of shoreline are noted in 53+ visitor reviews (per explorenny.com) and multiple sources recommend water shoes for kids wading in; it's also open Lake Ontario water so waves/current can pick up outside the immediate guarded zone.
Parking
Paid, $7 per vehicle (day-use)
Standard vehicle lot at the main day-use entrance off County Route 15; an Empire Pass covers entry. No details found on lot capacity or overflow parking.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms and changing rooms are on-site near the beach, plus a seasonal concession stand, per Wikipedia's summary of park facilities.
Water clarity
Clear
One recent visitor describes swimming in 'Lake Ontario's clear freshwater stretching for miles.' As open Great Lakes water, clarity can vary with wave action and weather, though no account described it as murky.
Hours
Park grounds open year-round sunrise to sunset; guarded swimming season runs June 13-Sept 7 (2026 dates), daily 11am-7pm, with the park office open 8am-7pm in season. One aggregator (explorenny.com) separately lists park gate hours as 6am-6pm.
On the water
Restrictions: No boat launch is documented on-site (per Wikipedia's facilities description), so kayaking/canoeing here appears to be carry-in from the beach rather than trailer-launched. No mention found of motorboats, personal watercraft, or paddleboards being used or restricted here.
Both explorenny.com and secretnyc.co list kayaking as a park activity, but neither the official NYS Parks page nor Wikipedia details specific watercraft rules or a designated launch point.
What regulars say
One recent visitor reports the park is 'often uncrowded even during peak summer months' and advises bringing water shoes for the rocky sections and dune hiking. Separately, the rocky shoreline comes up across 53 aggregated visitor reviews, reinforcing that water shoes are a common recommendation.
Backstory
Opened as a private resort by LeGrande and Eva Smith in the 1950s; declined after Smith's death in 1966 until reopened by Ed Wyroba and Dyke Riggs in 1981 (operated until 1991). The Nature Conservancy acquired the site in 1999 and transferred 13 acres to Oswego County; New York State assumed park management in 2005 and expanded the park to 229 acres in 2011 by incorporating adjacent conservation land.
Sandy Island Beach State Park: FAQ
Does Sandy Island Beach State Park charge a fee?
$7 per vehicle for day use (per NYS Parks); an Empire Pass covers unlimited day-use entry at NYS parks generally.
Is Sandy Island Beach State Park kid friendly?
Lifeguarded swim zone during the June 13-Sept 7 season makes this a safe, supervised beach for families, but rocky sections of shoreline are noted in 53+ visitor reviews (per explorenny.com) and multiple sources recommend water shoes for kids wading in; it's also open Lake Ontario water so waves/current can pick up outside the immediate guarded zone.
Do I need to hike to reach Sandy Island Beach State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Sandy Island Beach State Park?
Standard vehicle lot at the main day-use entrance off County Route 15; an Empire Pass covers entry. No details found on lot capacity or overflow parking.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sandy Island Beach State Park?
Both explorenny.com and secretnyc.co list kayaking as a park activity, but neither the official NYS Parks page nor Wikipedia details specific watercraft rules or a designated launch point.
When is the best time to visit Sandy Island Beach State Park?
Official guarded swimming season runs June 13 to September 7 (2026 dates), daily 11am-7pm; the park itself is open year-round sunrise to sunset outside the swim season.
What are the rules at Sandy Island Beach State Park?
Maximum two pets allowed in day-use areas; pets are prohibited on the guarded beach and must be leashed (max 6 ft) or crated elsewhere. Visitors are directed to use designated boardwalks/walkovers rather than trampling dune vegetation, which is fragile and subject to restoration efforts.
What water body is Sandy Island Beach State Park on?
Sandy Island Beach State Park is on South Pond, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
