Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Lake Erie State Park

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Lake Erie State Park

Due to utility upgrades at the park and erosion concerns along the bluff, the standard 9-month reservation window for Lake Erie State Park will be delayed as we undergo changes to the campground layout and map within the reservation system. This alert will be updated once we know when reservations will go live for the 2025 season. If you have any questions, please call the park office directly at 716-792-9214.

Address
5838 Route 5
Brocton, NY 14716
Latitude 42.420944
Longitude -79.428612

High bluffs overlooking Lake Erie provide a breathtaking view for the visitor to Lake Erie State Park. Lake Erie features a shoreline covering over three quarters of a mile bordering the shallowest of the Great Lakes. Whether camping in one of the 102 campsites or one of the 10 cabins offered at this park, the magnificent scenery will capture your attention. Day users can enjoy the picnic areas with shelters, playgrounds and hiking trails that are available to the cross-country skiers during the winter months. Lake Erie State Park is recognized as an excellent place for locating rare migratory birds following the lakes edge. 

Pet Policy: A maximum of two pets are allowed in campsites and day use areas unless prohibited by sign or directive. Pets are to be supervised at all times and either be crated or on a leash not more than 6-feet in length. Proof of rabies inoculation shall be produced if requested by staff. Pets are not permitted in playgrounds, buildings, golf courses, boardwalks, pools and spray-grounds or guarded beaches (this does not apply to service animals).

Hours of Operation

  • Open daily year-round for day use.
  • 2024 Camping & Cabins: Available 5/17 - 10/13
    Cabin Weekly Rentals Only (Sat to Sat); 6/23 to 8/24

    Please Note:
    You must have a reservation to camp. No walk-up camping stays will be accepted. 
    Check-in time is 3:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM. 

    Reservations can be made at www.reserveamerica.com
  • Picnic Pavilion, Gazebo rentals:  5/18-10/13/24

Fees & Rates

Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.

The easy-to-use Empire Pass card is $80- and your key to all-season enjoyment with unlimited day-use entry at most facilities operated by State Parks and the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation including forests, beaches, trails and more. Purchase online or contact your favorite park for more information. Learn more about our Admission Programs including the Empire Pass.

Maps

Digital Maps

New! Download this park's digital map to your iOS Apple and Android device.

Firewood source maps show a 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. For more information see firewood restrictions.

Highlights of Lake Erie State Park: 

  • Located along the Lake Erie shoreline, the park offers spectacular views of the sunset from the high bluffs around the lake. Lake Erie sunsets are some of the best in the world.
  • The waters offshore of Lake Erie State Park are an important warm water fish habitat. Fish that may be found here include walleyes, yellow perch, white bass, small-and largemouth bass, and other sunfish.
  • Birds migrating through the region concentrate close to the lake shore and often use human-planted areas, such as the grassy lawns along the shoreline of Lake Erie State Park. Birders will be especially interested in raptors and other diurnal migrants.
  • In the north end of the park, vernal pools and shaded wetlands are home to various amphibians. Best visited in the spring, this area can be accessed by a looped trail. Watch and listen for frogs calling and salamanders migrating.
  • Bald eagles are often spotted soaring through the air in Lake Erie State. Once on the brink of extinction, our national bird's recovery in this region is due in great part to the efforts of NYS Parks and DEC in habitat restoration and protection.
  • On the Lake Erie beach there are many oddly-shaped rocks called septarian concretions. Shaped and patterned similar to a tortoiseshell, naturalists in the past speculated that these oddities were dinosaur eggs and carvings by ancient humans. However, scientists have discovered that septarian concretions are mineral deposits that form around a nucleus (such as a leaf or shell). Because these mineral deposits are harder than the sediments around them, septarian concretions are left behind when other kinds of rocks erode away.

What will you discover? Plan your visit today!

Look and listen for these birds at our Park:

Everyone is a Steward: Be a Lake Erie State Park Hero!

  • Know the rules and concerns for the area you'll be visiting.
  • Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
  • Respect other visitors and their experience. Avoid excessive noise.
  • Respect wildlife and observe from a distance.
  • Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
  • Use extra caution when using headphones. You may not be able to hear warnings.
  • Don't litter.
  • Do not move firewood between parks or transport it over large distances.

For more information, please read our Trail Tips!

When you enter or leave Lake Erie:

  • Clean and remove all visible plants, animals, fish and mud from your boat, trailer and other equipment and dispose of it in a suitable trash container or on dry land.
  • Drain water from bilge, live wells, ballast tanks and any other locations with water before leaving the launch. Disinfect when possible.
  • Dry your boat, trailer and all equipment completely. At least 5 days of drying time is recommended. Drying times vary depending on weather and material.

Ask a Naturalist!

Q: Why do walleyes' eyes shine?

A: Walleye's eyes reflect light, making them easy to spot at night. This "eye shine" is the result of a layer in the eyes called the tapetum lucidum, which allows the fish to see well in low-light conditions. Some mammals, like housecats, also have a tapetum lucidum.

Q: How deep is Lake Erie?

A: Lake Erie has a maximum depth of 210 feet, which occurs on the eastern side of the lake. Lake Erie is actually the shallowest of the Great Lakes.

 

More Interesting Facts about Lake Erie State Park:

Geography:

  • Lake Erie was one of the first Great Lakes to be uncovered during the last retreat of glacial ice. The Great Lakes were gouged out by glacial ice thousands of years ago.
  • Lake Erie is the 12th largest lake in the world.
  • The water from Lake Erie flows into the Niagara River and is the same water that goes over Niagara Falls.

Hydrology:

  • Each year, about 34-36 inches of water evaporate from the surface of Lake Erie. However, the average rainfall is about 35 inches per year, so the amount of water in the lake does not change much.
  • Water quality along the beach in Lake Erie State Park is studied by NYS Parks under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant. The study aims to identify pollution sources that affect the State Park swimming beaches in the Great Lakes watershed.

Amenities Information

  • Amenities
  • Biking
  • Campsites, Cabins & Lodging (Accessible)
  • Canoeing/Kayaking
  • Disc Golf
  • Fishing
  • Gift Shop
  • Grills
  • Hiking
  • Pavilions and Shelter Rentals (Accessible)
  • Playgrounds
  • Showers (Accessible)
  • Snowmobiling
  • Snowshoeing/X-Country Skiing