Harriman State Park
🏆 Official Guide: Harriman State Park — New York’s second-largest state park, with 31 lakes and reservoirs, 200 miles of hiking trails, two swimming beaches (Lake Welch and Lake Tiorati), tent camping at Beaver Pond and cabins on Lake Sebago. Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Fees, hours and camping details verified with New York State Parks as of August 2026.
Drive Seven Lakes Drive on a June morning and the park reveals itself one lake at a time: Lake Sebago flat and steel-grey under the ridgelines, Lake Kanawauke with mist still pooled in the coves, Lake Tiorati with its long sand beach catching the first sun. Harriman State Park sits in the Ramapo Mountains of Rockland and Orange counties, north of New York City, and is the park most New Yorkers mean when they say “going hiking upstate.” The scale is unusual for the East: 31 lakes and reservoirs, miles of streams, a network of historic group camps dating to 1913, and 200 miles of marked trails that connect to neighboring Bear Mountain State Park and Sterling Forest State Park.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Rockland and Orange counties — office at 3200 Seven Lakes Drive, Southfields, NY 10975 |
| Hours | Open seven days a week, year-round, dawn to dusk |
| Entrance | No general entrance fee — vehicle use fees apply at the lake areas in season (see below) |
| Vehicle fees (Memorial Day–Labor Day) | Lake Tiorati $10/day · Lake Welch $10/day · Lake Kanawauke $6 (weekends/holidays only) · Silvermine $6 (weekends/holidays only) |
| Entrances | Long Mountain Parkway (Route 6), Kanawauke Road (Route 17), Arden Valley Road (Route 17) |
| Phone | (845) 947-2444 · Park Police (bear encounters): (845) 786-2781 |
| Official site | parks.ny.gov — Harriman State Park |
Lakes and Beaches
Two lakes have lifeguarded swimming beaches. Lake Welch has a half-mile-long sand beach in the wooded hills and is the largest beach in the park; in 2026 the beach area is open June 22–September 7 (weekdays 8am–8pm, weekends and holidays 7am–8pm), with swimming weekdays 10am–5:45pm and weekends 9am–6:45pm, for a $10 vehicle use fee (cash and credit accepted). Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, pets are not allowed anywhere at Lake Welch. Lake Tiorati is the second beach, also at $10 per vehicle in season.
Lake Sebago is the cabin-camp lake: registered campers can rent rowboats there in summer. Note two current advisories from the park: Lake Sebago is under a hydrilla (invasive aquatic plant) treatment plan running through 2028, and two Victory Trail connections near Lake Sebago are closed through mid-2027 for beach rehabilitation.
Hiking
The 200-mile trail network is the main reason to come. Trails are blazed and maintained in partnership with the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference, and they link directly into Bear Mountain to the east, so you can start a hike at Lake Tiorati or Silvermine and finish at the Hudson. Bear warnings and several trail closures are active in 2026 — check the park’s alerts page before you go, and carry the official trail map rather than relying on cell coverage, which is patchy in the interior valleys.
Camping and Cabins
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Beaver Pond Campground | Tent sites (some with raised platforms) for up to two tents and six people; select sites fit a trailer or RV up to 30 ft. Picnic table and fire ring with flip-top grill at each site; shared full-service bathrooms. Adjacent to Lake Welch beach. 700 Kanawauke Road, Stony Point, NY 10980 · (845) 947-2792 |
| Rates | $17–$24/night plus a $5/night surcharge for non-residents (2025 season); reservations at ReserveAmerica or 1-800-456-2267 |
| Season | Walk-ins only 4/18–5/1, reservations and walk-ins 5/2–10/12 (2025 season dates published by the park) |
| Sebago Cabin Camp | Rustic cabins and full-service cottages on Lake Sebago with a beach, rowboat rentals for campers, recreation hall and tennis courts. Cabins (845) 429-2039. 2025 season 5/2–10/12; some cabins open later or close earlier |
| Group camps | A network of group camps operated by the Palisades Camping Association, in use since 1913 |
Hunting
Deer hunting is permitted by lottery only, weekdays, in designated northern areas of the park. Permit applications for the 2026 season were accepted August 7–September 18. If you hike in fall, wear blaze orange in those zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an entrance fee for Harriman State Park?
No general entrance fee. Vehicle use fees are charged at the lake areas between Memorial Day and Labor Day: $10 per day at Lake Tiorati and Lake Welch, and $6 on weekends and holidays at Lake Kanawauke and Silvermine (as of August 2026).
Can I camp at Harriman State Park?
Yes. Beaver Pond Campground offers tent sites (select sites take RVs up to 30 ft) next to Lake Welch, $17–$24 per night plus $5 for non-residents. Sebago Cabin Camp rents rustic cabins and cottages on Lake Sebago. Both are reserved through ReserveAmerica.
Are dogs allowed?
Pets are not allowed in any area at Lake Welch between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. For trails and other areas, follow the rules posted at the park and on parks.ny.gov.
More parks nearby: Bear Mountain State Park adjoins Harriman to the east on the Hudson, and Sterling Forest State Park borders it to the west. Within the park, see the separate Lake Welch Beach page.
Editorial note: Fees, hours and season dates above come from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (parks.ny.gov), checked August 2026. Season dates shown for camping are the most recent ones published by the park. Always confirm current alerts and fees on the official page before you travel.
⛺ Camping at Harriman State Park: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | Beaver Pond Campground: tent sites (some with raised platforms) for up to two tents and six people per site; select sites take a trailer or RV up to 30 ft |
|---|---|
| Cabins & Lodging | Sebago Cabin Camp on Lake Sebago: rustic cabins and full-service cottages, season 5/2–10/12 (2025 season, some cabins open later/close earlier); (845) 429-2039 |
| Reservations | ReserveAmerica (newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com) or 1-800-456-2267; campground office (845) 947-2792 |
| Special sites | Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with flip-top grill; shared full-service bathrooms; campground is adjacent to Lake Welch beach |
| Season notes | 2025 season: walk-ins only 4/18–5/1, reservations and walk-ins 5/2–10/12; $17–$24/night plus $5/night non-resident surcharge |
Camping questions about Harriman State Park
Can you camp at Harriman State Park?
Beaver Pond Campground: tent sites (some with raised platforms) for up to two tents and six people per site; select sites take a trailer or RV up to 30 ft.
How do you reserve a campsite at Harriman State Park?
ReserveAmerica (newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com) or 1-800-456-2267; campground office (845) 947-2792.
Are there cabins at Harriman State Park?
Sebago Cabin Camp on Lake Sebago: rustic cabins and full-service cottages, season 5/2–10/12 (2025 season, some cabins open later/close earlier); (845) 429-2039.
Source: parks.ny.gov (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Harriman State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are permitted in most state parks and campgrounds (maximum two pets per site where allowed), but policies vary by park and some parks prohibit pets entirely.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash no longer than 6 ft required, pet under control at all times
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are not permitted on guarded beaches, boardwalks, pools or spray-grounds
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- No uniform statewide rule — pets are prohibited in buildings and most cabins, but some parks designate pet-friendly cabin areas (e.g. Letchworth Cabin Area C); check with the individual park
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Proof of rabies vaccination required upon request; maximum two pets per campsite; some parks (e.g. Wildwood State Park) do not allow pets at all
Are dogs allowed at Harriman State Park?
Pets are permitted in most state parks and campgrounds (maximum two pets per site where allowed), but policies vary by park and some parks prohibit pets entirely. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via parks.ny.gov. More: New York state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Harriman State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
