Lake Erie State Park

Visited April 6, 2021 (and December 31, 2020); Revisited May 29, 2022

5838 Route 5, Brocton, NY 14716

When I visit the park, I use the main parking lot.

55 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny, light breeze

A toilet facility is within view of parking but it is closed during the off season. It was locked in December and April during my recent visits.

Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails. Please bring baggies and carry out your trash and any dog poo. There is a dog poo trash bin near the exit of the parking lot.

No gnats or mosquitos at this time of year.

No cost to access these trails during the off season. Around $5 or $6 dollars per car when the admission gate is open.

Parking for 50+ vehicles. The parking area is paved. When we arrived before noon, there were 2 cars. When we left before 2:00PM, there were 10 vehicles. In December, there were 3 vehicles there between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

I would budget at least two hours minimum if you want to walk along the water’s edge and visit most of the trails.

Once you get through the debris, there is a clear space to enjoy walking along the water. Wesley loves splashing in the small waves as they roll in.

The trails are easy to navigate. Any time you have a doubt about where you are, your ears will tell you if you are closer to the lake or closer to the road; and you can adjust your travels accordingly. The trails are grass and are mown during summer months. The trails were mostly dry today but there were some muddy sections. One trail in the middle section to the right of the entrance (on the NON-camper side of the park) was VERY muddy with standing water. I would recommend waterproof boots any time of year you plan to visit. We have enjoyed a number of Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) hikes here with varied snow and mud conditions. The lakeview area of the park is a favorite of locals for senior photo shoots and before-prom photos.

When the plants start growing be aware of the poison ivy that grows in the park, especially on the trails on the camping-area side of the park.

Be aware of the risk of lyme disease. Wear long hiking pants and follow tick prevention suggestions. Wesley takes flea and tick medicine every month and has had the lyme disease vaccine.

Today I saw robins, blue jays, and woodpeckers. We saw a running woodchuck and saw many deer hoof prints on the trails. There are pines, maples, and other varieties of trees in addition to grape vine that is growing along the trail at the cliff edge.

For naval history buffs, there is a sign near the beach area about the shipwrecks in Lake Erie resulting from the War of 1812 and various storms.

This park has cabins, hookups for motorhomes, picnic pavilions, and picnic tables with grills nearby. The high schools use the park for cross-country meets. The park has more than one playground area and a volleyball court. We enjoyed many happy visits to the playground near the main lodge years ago. There is also a disc golf course that my friend's husband and brother-in-law enjoyed when we visited the park in December.

There is a nature trail to the right of the entrance but since I usually come with my four-legged friend, I have only been on it once or twice. Dogs are not allowed on this trail, but I remember it as being pleasant during warmer months.

A map of the park's trails is on this website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/lakeerie/maps.aspx.

Nearby Point of Interest:

Down Route 5 is the Dunkirk Pier. There are signs there about more of the Lake Erie shipwrecks. There a few cute little shops next to pier, as well.

https://www.tourchautauqua.com/destinations/city-pier-park-dunkirk-harbor

Dunkirk Light House

https://www.dunkirklighthouse.com/