Long Point State Park

Visited April 12, 2022

Long Point State Park, 4459 New York 430, Bemus Point, NY 14712

64 degrees Fahrenheit, light breeze, 3:05 PM - 4:55 PM

Restroom facilities are in the parking lot by the boat launch.

Dogs on lead welcome. There is a trash can for dog poo near the small parking lot by the paved trail. "Pet Policy: A maximum of two pets are allowed in 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)."

I walked a leisurely 1.8 miles on gravel path to the point and paved path to the beach with two friends, two dogs, and Wesley. This day was one of the warmest days we have had this spring and I chose this park and trails to enjoy because I was looking for something that did not have too much mud. The gravel path provides views of Lake Chautauqua and when I pass the foundation of the house that used to sit on this property, I try to imagine what it would be it would have been like to have this point as my front lawn with that view every day. Wesley loved the mini beaches along the point where he could wade in a bit. For a spaniel, any walk with water is the best walk! During my last two visits, I have not experienced the strong cold winds I remember from my Black Friday walks in past years.

The trail to the point is gravel and mostly level. The trail to the beach is paved. There were a number of benches and picnic tables on the trails.

There were many boat trailers here today and I passed around twenty others while we were walking. A wide range of ages was represented. Many of them had a dog with them.

There was some trash, mostly drink containers.

It was warm enough that a few mosquitos were waking up already.

Parking: A large paved lot by the marina. A small lot by the paved trail to the beach. A large gravel lot above the beach; this lot is near the more wooded trails. I did not use those today.

I saw robins, a purple martin, a gray squirrel, a chipmunk, and a woodchuck. There were spring beauties, rhododendron, daffodils, snowdrops, mosses and a variety of tree species including hemlock and oak. Look at trees very carefully before you hug them; there are some very healthy examples of poison ivy in the park.

I saw this note after my visit. I will have to look for it particularly on my next visit: "The tallest Cucumber Magnolia in New York State is located at Long Point State Park standing at 115.5 feet. "

No entrance fee this time of year.

Website for the New York State Park: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/109/details.aspx

Trail map: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/109/details.aspx

Update 12/31/22:

Nearby:

Lake Life Cafe, Main Street, Bemus Point, NY

Lovely salads, soups, baked items, teas, and coffees in a restful environment.

Spring beauties on the gravel trail to the point

Very healthy poison ivy near the lake

Picnic table within view of parking lot. Lovely place to enjoy the view of Chautauqua Lake.

Foundation of the house that used to be here.

Wesley smelling the snowdrops.

Snowdrops

Rhododendrons buds waiting to open

Trail to the point

Wesley enjoying one of the mini beaches at the point.

The beach accessed by the paved trail

Another place to picnic

The paved trail

The dog poo trash bin

I took the trail to the point clockwise so this is where I ended. If I had gone counterclockwise, this is where I would have started.

Groundhog out enjoying the sunshine.

View of the large paved parking lot by the boat launch as Wesley and I returned to our vehicle.

First time I have seen these unwrapped. Purple martin bird houses.

Visited March 13, 2021

Long Point State Park, 4459 New York 430, Bemus Point, NY 14712

35 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny

Heated bathrooms open to the public at the marina parking lot. The women's bathroom was clean; and there were four stalls with at least one accommodating wheelchairs.

Dogs on leash are welcome. Ticks are common in western New York so make sure your dogs are treated.

Hours of enjoyable trail hiking with a variety of conditions. (I was there from 1:00 to 3:30 PM and was able to visit most of the trails.) Dry woodchips, dry gravel, dry paved, muddy, snowy and icy, there was something for everyone. The paved trail starts by parking that is designated for handicapped users and leads to the beach area. Some of the trails were marked as you can see in the photo with the red diamond marker on the tree. One of the trails had log "steps" piled so we could step over the fallen log. I thought that was an interesting variation over cutting a chunk out of the way of the trail. The trails were wide enough for two people to walk side by side for most of the trail, but some areas were single-file paths.

The state park website posts a map of the trails. My favorite is the one that goes to the point of land out into the lake. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/longpointchautauqua/details.aspx.

No cost to access this park during the winter months.

Plentiful parking. There is a boat launch area from the marina parking lot.

Beautiful views of Chautauqua Lake. History and nature to enjoy.

Heated bathrooms open to the public at the marina parking lot.

Visited November 5, 2022

Address: Long Point State Park, 4459 New York 430, Bemus Point, NY 14712

Parking: More than one lot available but I use the large paved lot by the boat launch. The building has public restrooms.

68 degrees, mild breeze, 8:00 - 9:10 AM

Bathrooms available inside the building at the paved lot by the boat launch.

The state park has a gate where entry fees are collected at some times. I did not have to pay this morning.

Leashed dogs are welcome. I have Wesley vaccinated for Lyme disease and treated monthly for fleas and ticks since he gets into the weeds at the edges of the trails.

The trails I went on were well marked in that they have been used enough that it is easy to see where there are trails but the trail names that appear on the current trail map were not something that I noticed while I was at the park.

I walked 2.8 miles with Wesley and my friend, Lori. The trails are wide enough to walk side by side. I started with the Point Trail returning with Minturn Trail, following Squirrel Trail (paved) and returning via The Drop.

The trails have a natural surface with one short section that is paved. I prefer long pants but many runners had shorts. There is poison ivy climbing trees at the trail edge.

I believe this trail would be stroller friendly if the stroller has all-terrain wheels.

We passed a few people on the trails. Most were pairs of people who were running. One pair of people were in a small boat near the point. There were more than four vehicles in the parking lot; most were trucks with boat trailers.

I did not see any trash.

The mosquitos respected the cooler temperatures and were not a problem.

Parking: Paved lot with room for 40+ vehicles.

I saw a gray squirrel. There were mosses, ferns, rhododendron, poison ivy, and a variety of tree species including oaks and maples.

The state park website posts a map of the trails. My favorite is the one that goes to the point of land out into the lake. https://parks.ny.gov/parks/longpointchautauqua/details.aspx.