The eastern boundary of the lakeshore park abuts the western edge of Orleans
County. Two entrances exist: the western entrance is the campsite entrance
and the eastern entrance is the marina entrance.
Be sure to pick up a map at the entrance kiosk at the marina/eastern entrance.
You can park in this lot and walk the trails behind the parking lot, especially
along the creek, which eventually lead to the campsite entrance. The fields may
hold a RN Pheasant or two, plus sparrows. Be
sure to check the rocks, jetties and lake edges for shorebirds, gulls and
terns Look over the lake for resting waterfowl. A probable Yellow-billed Loon was seen in Nov 2000.
Large flocks of waxwings are often present in fall, which has
included Bohemians.
The campsite entrance may be closed off-season, but is still publicly accesible via the maintenance entrance just to the west; drive through the back lot. The historic lighthouse which can be
seen from the lake at the marina entrance is at the end of the campsite entrance. The pines
and woods along this drive, especially near the creek hold plenty of
migrants in season. The potential here for variety and numbers is great, perhaps as
great as Island Cottage Woods. Spring of 2000 held a migrant Yellow-breasted
Chat. The pines may hold migrant Long-eared and Saw-whet owls in the same manner
as the Braddock Bay Owl trail.
View Lake Ontario from the lighthouse for offshore passerby's (waterfowl, loons, grebes, gulls, jaegers, etc). Presumably,
anything that can be recorded at Hamlin Beach State Park can be found here.
Disclaimer: Some of this is based upon personal experience but, the some is based upon
reports from knowledgable birders and hotline reports of birders in the
Buffalo area. Surely, this is not all-encompassing, but is meant to give the
reader a general impression of what to find here. The Lake Ontario Plains is bascically a uniform habitat
from the Niagara Peninsula in southern Ontario east to Oswego in Region 3. Check out the West Lakeshore, Hamlin Beach State Park and Island Cottage Woods web pages to get
an idea of seasonality and birds that can be found in this habitat.
Directions:
A map that accompanies the following directions is located here (24KB).
From the East (Rochester):
If you continued west from Hamlin Beach State Park and Lakeside Beach State Park on NYS Route 18, you would turn right (north) on Niagara-Orleans County-line Road
(which is also be NYS Route 269). That will bring you to Lake Shore Road. Turn left (west) onto Lake Shore Road. Soon, on the right will be the marina
entrance to Golden Hill State Park. The lake can be seen from here.
From the West (Buffalo):
The most direct route is to travel NY Route 104 eastbound through the town of Hartland. Shortly thereafter, turn left (north) onto NYS Route 269. That will bring you to Lake Shore Road. Turn left (west) onto Lake Shore Road. Soon, on the right will be the marina
entrance to Golden Hill State Park. The lake can be seen from here.
An indirect route will be to follow NY Route 18 from the mouth of the Niagara River. At various points, one can stop along the way to investigate the lake. Other miscellaneous sites along this route can be viewed at the Lake Ontario Plains site.
Once inside Lakeside Beach, the camping facilities are to the right (east) and the picnic area and "beach" is to the west. Restroom facilities can be found in the picnic area, which
is also the summer home of Red-headed Woodpeckers in recent years. The "beach" may hold shorebirds, gulls or terns, and the nearby woods might prove interesting.
Directly in front of the entrance gate is a decent bluff to watch the lake. Observer here
for waterfowl, loons, grebes, gulls, jaegers that may be migrating or sitting on the water. Passerines (and "winter finches") might be heard migrating overhead.
Presumably, anything that can be recorded at Hamlin Beach State Park can be found here.
Directions:
A map that accompanies the following directions is located here (28KB).
From the East (Rochester):
If you continued west from Hamlin Beach State Park on the Lake Ontario Parkway, the parkway ends at Lakeside Beach.
From the West (Buffalo):
The most direct route is to travel NY Route 104 eastbound to NYS Route 98. Turn left (north) and take NY Route 98 to the Lake Ontario Parkway. Turn west onto the parkway, the parkway ends at Lakeside Beach. .
An indirect route will be to follow NY Route 18 from the mouth of the Niagara River. At various points, one can stop along the way to investigate the lake. Other miscellaneous sites along this route can be viewed at the Lake Ontario Plains site.
Be sure to view the maps of Golden Hill and Lakeside Beach State Parks for points of reference.
Yates Township
Carlton Township
Golden Hill State Park
Golden Hill State Park is located in the Town of Somerset in Niagara County. It
features a historic lighthouse (Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse), which invites visitors to take self-guided tours in the warmer seasons. A
state-operated campsite exists here in season.
Lakeside Beach State Park
Lakeside Beach State Park is located in Orleans County at the end of the Lake Ontario Parkway. It can be easily reached via the parkway, or NYS Route 18. It is a state park. As such, entrance fees are required between 8AM and 5PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and weekends until mid-October.
Nearby Birding
This map (22KB) may help locate the following locations.
Check in breeding season for regional oddities such as: Acadian Flycatcher, Cerulean, Mourning and Hooded Warblers.
The hamlet of Shadigee is at the end of NY Route 63. A parking area next to a guard rail is marked by a historic "Yates Pier" sign. View Lake Ontario from here for offshore passerby's. Presumably, anything that can be recorded at Hamlin Beach State Park can be found here.
State Resources Online
The descriptions/maps to the Four Mile, Lakeside Beach and Golden Hill State Parks are sponsored by NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation .
Links from any one of the following sites may describe the above public locations.
This page was last updated on 10 December 2001.
Comments or questions regarding this page should be sent to Webmaster.
Copyright, © Kurt Fox, 1999-2001.
Return to main page