Verona Beach State Park

We've visited Verona Beach State Park several times, as it is only a few miles from my Dad's former house in Sylvan Beach on Lake Oneida. The park has two distinct personalities. One section of it is a sandy beach on Oneida Lake, one of New York's Finger Lakes. This area is a popular spot for families, who like to picnic, camp, and swim. The other side of the park, across route 13, is much different and lesser known. Sixteen miles of trails run through a wooded swamp area, covered with lush greenery (and teeming with mosquitos).

My Dad accompanied us on our hike. We walked for 4 miles along a dirt road. Part of the hike circled an unnamed, man-made pond.

We stopped to rest in one section that had a small sandy beach. Sadie, of course, tested the water! We stayed there for a while, hoping to spot some interesting birds, but all we found were snakes (and lots of them!)

We spotted several different kinds of mushrooms, in all colors, growing alongside the trail.

While in town, we also checked out Lock 22 on the Erie Canal. Lock 21 is only 1 1/2 miles further east.  We were fortunate to see the locks in operation for 2 boats coming through.

Directions:

Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse: Thruway (I-90) east to exit 34 (Canastota); Rt.13 north to park entrance.
New York, Albany, Utica: Thruway (I-90) west to exit 34 (Canastota); Rt.13 north to park entrance.

Photos by Jennifer and Karl Weir, 7/98.

Our guidebook for this hike was Fifty Hikes in Central New York, by William P. Ehling.