Brookwood Point, Otsego Lake
Activities: hiking, paddling
Location: 6000 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326
Difficulty: Easy Hiking, Easy-Moderate Paddling
Distance On Land: 22 acres with garden paths and a short wetland trail
New Accessible Paddling Dock installed in May 2025
Fee: No
A one hundred year old garden on Otsego Lake, this is a place to roam and explore diversified ecosystems including meadows and fields, seasoned and young woods, wetlands, a creek and the cultivated gardens. Each component of the 22-acre property represents a different habitat for birds and wildlife. Brookwood Point offers easy walking that is suitable for all ages as well as paddling access for hand-launched boats. Park by the kiosk, and start your walk to the garden paths, on the wetland trail, or sit by the lake and enjoy the outdoors. The wetland trail begins by the stone wall near the picnic table.
Brookwood Point is open to the public April through November, dawn until dusk. Visitors park in the upper parking lot in front of the information kiosk. Closed to regular access December through March.
For Paddlers:
A new paddling dock opened in May 2025 on the north side of Brookwood Point conservation Area. Paddlers and rowers can now enjoy a broad gravel path, a boardwalk over the wetlands, a 40 foot floating dock, and an accessible kayak launch.
Otsego is the largest lake in the area, and it can be windy at times. In July and August, kayak, canoe and stand-up paddle board rentals available on site from Canoe and Kayak Rentals and Sales. See website for hours.
Otsego Area Rowing offers rowing opportunities and coaching for people of all ages, in individual and team boats, for both pleasure and competition at Brookwood. Their mission is to promote the many benefits of rowing to everyone, regardless of age, experience, and ability. Please contact Otsego Area Rowing for more information.
For more information on paddling on Otsego Lake and the Susquehanna River, see the new New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail website.
Other Amenities, Features, and Activities: picnic area, information kiosk, toilets, parking, dogs allowed, vistas, fall foliage, fishing, birding, gardens, wetland trail, ADA accessible trail, public access paddling
Brookwood Point Conservation Area is a property of the Otsego Land Trust.
What Octet-ers are saying:
6/29/25 “Interesting area with gardens and trails.”
