Highland Lakes State Park - Middletown, NY
Highland Lakes State Park, located in Middletown, NY, is a beautiful and underutilized dog park offering pet-friendly trails and dog-friendly hiking experiences. This scenic park features a variety of terrains including rugged rocky trails, green meadows, and wooded deer paths, making it an ideal destination for dog owners seeking adventure and connection with nature. The park is also kid-friendly, providing good hiking opportunities for families with children.
Visitors to this dog park in Middletown, NY, can enjoy miles of hiking trails with stunning views and a peaceful, secluded wilderness atmosphere just minutes from local shopping centers. While the trails are challenging and unmarked, they are maintained, so bringing a map is recommended. Parking is limited and unpaved, accommodating about 10-15 cars. Highland Lakes State Park is a perfect spot for dog owners looking for a free, scenic, and diverse outdoor experience close to the city.
FAQ for Highland Lakes State Park in Middletown New York:
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? The information confirms that dogs are allowed in the park, but it does not specify if they are allowed off-leash.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, Highland Lakes State Park has many miles of hiking trails of various types including rocky trails, green meadows, and wooded paths.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? No, the park is free to enter.
- Where is the best place to park? Parking is available but it is not paved and can accommodate about 10-15 cars.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, the park is kid-friendly and good for kids.
- How busy does the park get on weekends? It seems fairly popular but not crowded; the reviewer mostly visited on Tuesdays and was unsure about weekends.
- Are ticks or other pests common in the area? Mosquitoes can be prevalent especially in summer after heavy rains, so protection is recommended.
Reviews
Highland Lakes State Park is a true diamond in the rough. It’s beautiful, rough, rugged, and happily for me, underutilized. You can easily spend the day here and cover miles and miles of trails without encountering another person.The trails are challenging but seemingly not clearly marked (truly my only gripe with the park). The park offers stunning views and connection with different types of experiences of nature, from rough rocky trails to green meadows, to wooded deer paths-it really does have so much to offer and it’s close to everything.
Secluded wilderness less than 10 minutes from the shopping center. And even better… it’s free! Seems fairly popular (I only go Tuesdays, so I don’t know what it’s like on weekends) yet not crowded. Truly scenic views if you’re willing to hike.
Gently rolling hills with well spaced deciduous woods separated by wet lowlands and multiple lakes nestling at different elevations make Highland Lakes one of my favorite places for an afternoon ramble. The fieldstone walls, forest roads and water channeling structure ruins let me imagine the kind of balance between people and landscape that may have existed in the area between the Gunks and the Hudson before our means of production overwhelmed nature. Unfortunately now much of the lovely open forest floor is rapidly being choked by invasive Japanese Barberry shrubs.
State Park in Middletown NY just about 10 minutes off the Rt 17 exit. The trails are unmarked but seems to be maintained so make sure to bring a map. Parking is not paved and might fit about 10-15 cars.
Having walked this trail many times in all seasons (my favorite is the fall) This summer with the heavy rains and sun the mosquitoes are prevalent- I would recommend spray/protection against them The trail around the lake is undercover through much of the walk