Are you looking for an alternative to Croton Gorge Unique Area? Here are our top recommendations.
The Croton Gorge Unique Area, located in Cortlandt, NY, has traditionally offered opportunities for visitors to connect with the outdoors in a spot offering scenic views of the Croton River.
In the summer of 2020, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference established a presence of Trail Stewards at the Croton Gorge Unique Area during weekends and holidays to inform visitors about the current conditions and to provide them with appropriate alternative resources. In 2020, the Area was temporarily closed in response to COVID.
The Croton Gorge Unique Area will be closed again this year, 2023, as it was in 2022, since it has been ascertained that there is currently no safe way to access the riverside, with fallen trees and significant erosion on the very steep slopes leading to the riverside. Stewards will continue to engage with and educate visitors about the closure and will provide information about appropriate alternatives to those hoping to visit Unique Area so that they can enjoy the benefits of being in nature they are seeking. Visitors arriving at the entrance situated right on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail are also encouraged to hike along that beautiful trail that leads to the Croton Dam and to Westchester County’s Croton Gorge Park, where both picnicking and fishing are permitted.
New York State Parks Explorer Mobile App
The New York State Parks Explorer App is a free, user-friendly resource for visitors to plan outdoor adventures while staying connected to long-time favorite parks and sites. Users can learn more about top destinations and discover new must-see locations with rotating curated content, and will enjoy quick access to park information, including directions, hours, amenities, fees and rates, trail maps, helpful know-before-you-go details, and the ability to receive important updates and alerts.
We recommend downloading the Parks Explorer App to receive helpful know-before-you-go details. Click here to learn more and download the free app for both iOS and Android devices.
Croton Gorge Unique Area Alternatives by Activity
Best All-Around Alternatives: Picnicking, Swimming, and Great Views
- Bear Mountain State Park, Orange County, N.Y.
- Bear Mountain State Park is a destination for many families. Bear Mountain offers opportunities for hiking, picnicking, swimming, and much more! Amenities include the Bear Mountain Inn, the Trailside Museums and Zoo, a merry-go-round, boating on Hessian Lake, pedestrian walkways, an outdoor pool, open playing fields, a bike path, accessible nature trails, seasonal festivals, Perkins Tower, and nearby Fort Montgomery State Historic Site. There are several large parking areas, but they can quickly fill on weekends and days when special events are scheduled.
- Find directions to Bear Mountain State Park.
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 30 minutes
- Fees: $10 per vehicle. Pool admission is $5 per person (cash only).
- Download the Avenza Maps app map.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Westchester County, N.Y.
- With a wide variety of scenic and spacious spots to picnic, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) State Park is a great local alternative with much to offer. FDR State Park offers opportunities for fishing, playing basketball, disc golf, or volleyball, boating (rentals available), and more!
- 2023 Swimming Season (Pool): June 24 through September 4
- 7 days a week: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., last admission 5:30 p.m.
- Find directions to FDR State Park.
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 20 minutes
- Fees: $10 per vehicle. Pool admission is $3 per person.
- Download the Avenza Maps app map.
- View free PDF map.
Picnic and Scenic Alternatives
- Croton Gorge Park, Westchester County, N.Y.
- Croton Gorge Park by the Croton Dam is open seven days a week. 8 a.m. to dusk, year-round.
- Please be aware that the parking lot has limited capacity and may have to turn away additional visitors if it becomes full.
- Fees: $10 per vehicle. $5 with Park Pass. Daily through Labor Day.
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 7 minutes
- Scenic Hudson Park at Peekskill Landing, Westchester County, N.Y.
- The Scenic Hudson Park at Peekskill Landing is located on the beautiful Hudson River and is accessible by train. With opportunities to picnic, walk, bike, fish, kayak, and enjoy nature, this park is an excellent alternative to Croton Gorge. With downtown Peekskill nearby, you'll have endless options for restaurants, breweries, and shops to choose from before heading home.
- Find directions to Scenic Hudson Park at Peekskill Landing.
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area:15-20 minutes
- Fees: No fees.
- Kensico Dam Plaza, Westchester County, N.Y.
- As a part of the Bronx River Parkway Reservation, Kensico Dam Plaza is a picturesque place for picnicking, walking, and enjoying nature. Parking is available, but lots may intermittently close on high-volume days.
- Find directions to Kensico Dam Plaza.
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 20-30 minutes
- Fees: No fees.
- Swimming is prohibited at Kensico Dam Plaza.
- Lasdon Park, Arboretum, and Veterans Memorial County Park, Westchester County, N.Y.
- Of all the lovely parks in Westchester County, Lasdon Park may be the most beautiful. To decide for yourself, visit this well-manicured park in the spring when trees and ornamental plants are in bloom and the place is ablaze with color. Truly a perfect place for a picnic, the park contains special collections of trees, including an azalea garden, magnolia grove, and dwarf conifer collection, as well as memorials to the armed forces.
- Find directions to Lasdon Park.
- Park hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 25 minutes
- Fees: No fees.
- Picnicking is only allowed in designated areas.
Swimming Alternatives
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Lake Tiorati Beach, Harriman State Park, Orange County, N.Y.
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Located in Harriman State Park, Lake Tiorati Beach is a great option for scenic swimming. This lake is surrounded by meadows and rolling, wooded hills. Harriman State Park offers excellent swimming, fishing, boating, and picnicking.
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Find directions to Lake Tiorati Beach.
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Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 30 minutes
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Fees: $10 per vehicle applied on the following dates:
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June 20, 2023, through August 26, 2023:
- Weekdays 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- Weekends and holidays 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
- August 26, 2023, through September 4, 2023: 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. weekends and holidays only
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- Download the Avenza Maps app map.
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- Croton Point Park, Westchester County, N.Y.
- Swimming is open Wednesday through Sunday until Labor Day.
- Fees: $10 per vehicle, $5 with Park Pass; Beach admission fees: Adult $5, Child (ages 5-11) $3, under age 5 free
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 7 minutes
- Canopus Lake, Fahnestock State Park, Putnam County, N.Y.
- The Canopus Lake Recreation Area is open 7 days a week. Swimming hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Find directions to Canopus Lake.
- Travel distance from Croton Gorge Unique Area: 30-40 minutes
- Fees: $9 per vehicle