You don’t need to wait for an
invitation to dip into your neighbor’s pool when there are at least 15 pools
around the city that are open to the public. Many community and recreation
centers around Rochester use their indoor or outdoor pools to offer free-swim
times and lessons to the community. Genesee
Valley Park Complex costs a mere 50 cents for kids and 2 dollars for
adults. This outdoor pool is Olympic-sized so there’s plenty of room for
everyone. Call 428-7889 for schedules.
In addition to its many pools, our
region has rivers, lakes, ponds, and waterfalls for those who prefer a more
natural swimming experience. Below are a few spots to visit. These listings are
mostly state parks, which typically charge $5-$6 per car to enter the park
grounds.
Keuka Lake is one of the most pristine
and beautiful Finger Lakes. Hammondsport,
on the southern tip of Keuka Lake, is a charming town with two great swimming
holes. Champlin Beach (607-569-3700) is a delightful sandy beach and there is
also a neat swimming area near the village square. While you’re in the area,
Hammondsport is definitely worth checking out. This quaint town has wineries,
antique and gift shops, and restaurants.
Keuka Lake
State Park has a gorgeous swimming beach on Keuka Lake. The park, a picturesque spot in
the heart of wine country, is at 3370 Pepper Road in Bluff Point
(315-536-3666). Red Jacket Park, on
the east side of Keuka Lake, is another place to swim (315-536-3015). One of
the best public beaches in the Finger Lakes, this Penn Yan pebbly beach is
extremely clean and the water tends to be very calm. Red Jacket Park also has a
place to set up volleyball games, as well as a children’s playground, picnic
tables, and grills.
There are a lot of excellent options if
you want to swim in Lake Ontario. Hamlin
Beach State Park (964-2462) is huge, with 264 camp and trailer campsites,
plenty of picnic sites and playgrounds, clear water, and sandy beaches. Find it
on the Lake Ontario State Parkway.
Ontario Beach
Park (256-4950)
attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. You can boat, stroll along
the pier, or ride the 1905 Dentzel menagerie carousel. Free outdoor concerts
are held there in the summer. Seven open-air shelters, in addition to the Roger
Robach Community Center, are available for rental.
Fair Haven
State Park (Route 104A, southwest of Oswego, 315-947-5205) is a fantastic place to visit.
It is one of upstate New York’s nicest public lakefronts. High bluffs overlook
sandy beaches and beautiful woodlands. Sterling Pond lies inside the park. You
can swim, row, canoe, and rent paddleboats.
If you’re seeking less-populated
swimming spots, Kershaw Park (396-5080)
is a nice little beach in Canandaigua and North
Ponds Park (Route 104 East, Webster, 872-4150) is a great swimming area for
families.
Waterfalls, gorge trails, and nature
walks are also within driving distance. Around the southern part of Seneca Lake
you’ll find Watkins Glen State Park (607-535-4511).
The park offers foot trails that go over and under 19 waterfalls. Watkins Glen
also has an Olympic-sized pool.
The Genesee River runs through the Letchworth State Park (493-3600) and
over three waterfalls in its borders. There are many well-maintained trails
along the gorge that offer spectacular views. The park also has two outdoor
Olympic-sized pools at the North and South picnic areas. There is a small fee
for swimming as well as an entrance fee.
Stony Brook
State Park (335-8111)
is a summer favorite. Located on Route 36 in Dansville, Stony Brook has a gorge
trail, which goes along cliffs and overlooks stunning rock formations and three
waterfalls. Two stream-fed swimming pools are dammed in the summer to make an
ideal swimming area.
This article appears in Jun 15-21, 2005.
