Hamlin Beach State Park has seven miles of beautiful biking and walking trails, including a mile-long self-guided tour of a WWII-era CCC/POW camp. Hamlin Beach has plenty of shaded picnic areas perfect for reading a book with your toes in the sand. There are lifeguards on duty during in designated swimming areas. Each area of the park has it’s own amenities.
Yanty Creek Environmental Nature Trail and Boat Launch
Yanty Marsh is a lake shore wetland that provides habitat for various marsh-nesting birds, amphibians and turtles. The observation platform is a great place for wildlife watching. For a closer look, paddle into the marsh from one of the boat launches on the lake.
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44 New York State Parks
Within a 2-Hour Drive
Area 1
Green space, unguarded beach, no concessions.
Area 3
Pond, swimming beach, playground, bathhouse, concessions, 3 shelters
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39 Natural Swimming Areas
Area 4
Swimming beach, 2 shelters, concessions.
Area 5
Green space, unguarded beach, paved walking paths. The hiking trail along the West Bluff to the Devil’s Nose Trail was closed due to erosion, but has (I believe) re-opened! There was a First-Day Hike this year (1/1/19) on the new trail, although it is not yet clear whether it was a special occasion access or if it is open to the public. Once I visit or hear otherwise, I’ll update this article.
CCC/POW Camp
The green space at 968 Moscow Road was previously used as camps–first by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) young men 1935-1941, then by German prisoners of war (POW)1944-1946. There is excellent interpretive signage as well as parking lot for roughly 20 cars. Checkout this camp-tour map of the area as you move around the signage. From the map: “The CCC boys lived here while they worked for one dollar a day building Hamlin Beach State Park from 1935 to 1941. German POWs lived here from 1944 to 1946 while they worked on area farms and in area canning factories for 85 cents a day. This field trip will cover both the CCC and the POW camp in the same tour.” There’s also information on that PDF letting you know what the marker-flags on site are for.
Thank you to Hamlin Selection for sharing an updated map that includes the camp at 968 Marsh Road, Yanty Marsh Boardwalk, and other features that older brochures are missing.
More information about Hamlin Beach State Park
- Cost: in season, vehicle entrance fee; off season, free
- Located on Lake Ontario, roughly 35 minutes / 30 miles from Rochester (get directions)
- More information: nysparks.com
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