Top 14 Lakes around Briarcliff Manor

Visitors frequently enjoy the Tarrytown Reservoir, which is now a 72-acre park offering walking and biking trails, and opportunities for non-motorized boating. The historic New Croton Dam is also very popular for its extensive views over the New Croton Reservoir. The Kensico Reservoir is another favorite, known for its scenic beauty and excellent fishing.

Yes, several locations are suitable for families. The Tarrytown Reservoir, now part of a park, offers walking and biking trails, picnic tables, and restrooms, with kayak rentals available seasonally. The New Croton Dam and its surrounding Croton Gorge Park are also family-friendly, providing impressive views and space for outdoor enjoyment.

Swimming is generally prohibited in most of the larger lakes and reservoirs around Briarcliff Manor, such as the New Croton Reservoir and Kensico Reservoir, as they serve as crucial parts of New York City's public water supply. The Tarrytown Lakes also explicitly prohibit swimming.

The lakes offer diverse outdoor activities. You can enjoy cycling along scenic routes like the North County Trailway, which passes by the New Croton Reservoir and Echo Lake. Hiking and nature study are popular at Pocantico Lake County Park. Fishing is a major draw at the New Croton and Kensico Reservoirs, though a free NYC DEP watershed access permit is required. For more detailed routes, explore the cycling and running trails guides for the area.

Yes, the Tarrytown Lakes offer opportunities for non-motorized boating, with kayak rentals available seasonally for those with a village permit. For fishing on the New Croton and Kensico Reservoirs, approved and registered rowboats are permitted with a free NYC DEP watershed access permit.

Pocantico Lake County Park is ideal for hiking and nature study, offering a tranquil, undeveloped setting. The Old Croton Trail, a popular path, has an endpoint near the base of the New Croton Dam. You can also find numerous running and hiking trails around Briarcliff Manor, including sections of the North County Trailway.

The natural settings around lakes like Pocantico Lake are habitats for diverse wildlife, including various bird species, amphibians, and mammals. The reservoirs, particularly Kensico Reservoir, are known for their fish populations, including Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass.

The New Croton Dam is a significant historical landmark, completed in 1906 and once the tallest dam in the world. It offers impressive views and is a testament to early 20th-century engineering. The Kensico Dam Plaza, featuring the Kensico Dam, is another notable landmark near the Kensico Reservoir.

Visitors particularly appreciate the scenic beauty, especially the breathtaking views from the New Croton Dam and the picturesque bike rides along the North County Trailway. The accessibility for walking, cycling, and non-motorized boating at places like the Tarrytown Reservoir is also highly valued.

Yes, for fishing in the New Croton and Kensico Reservoirs, a free NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) watershed access permit is required. If you plan to use a rowboat, it must also be approved and registered by the NYC DEP.

The Tarrytown Reservoir, part of Tarrytown Lakes Park, offers extensive walking and biking trails that connect to the broader North and South County Trailways. The North County Trailway itself provides a pleasant, car-free path for cycling and walking along water features.

The lakes are beautiful year-round, but spring and fall offer particularly pleasant weather for outdoor activities like hiking and cycling, with vibrant foliage in autumn. Summer is great for boating and enjoying the parks, while winter, if conditions permit, might allow for ice skating on the Tarrytown Lakes.