Hike, swim, and more at Fahnestock State Park

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park [1498 Route 301 Carmel, NY 10512] is a beautifully scenic park in the Taconic region which offers a whole lot of fun in the recreation department. In the summer time the lake is refreshing to cool off in and there is a wide beach to lie out on.

I bet it’s a great place to fish because the little ones were nibbling at my toes in the shallow water.

There are boat rentals here to access more of the lake, and campsites to extend your stay. There are miles of hiking trails in the park, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail. We met a few people with large packs who were heading south on the trail, but taking a break to use the parks shower and bathroom facilities. To check out the Appalachian Trail follow the blue blazes to the right of the lake. It’s a beautiful natural landscape with wildflowers, woodpeckers, and when we visited tons of tiny frogs bouncing away at every step!

This hilly trail is a great work out on a hot day. In winter there is ice fishing, snow shoeing, sledding, and cross country skiing, enjoy this park in all seasons.