Gilbert Lake State Park
Activities: Hiking, paddling, swimming, biking, fishing, winter sports, geocaching
Location: 18 CCC Road, Laurens, NY 13796
Difficulty Hiking: Easy
Distance Hiking: 12 miles of trails (variable)
Fee: Free during fall, winter and early spring. $7 per car during swimming season (Memorial Day to Labor Day). For information on passes, including the Fourth Grade Free Entry Program and the Golden Passport for people 62 and older, see https://parks.ny.gov/admission/default.aspx
Park is open year-round, from dawn to dusk. For assistance, call 607-432-2114.
Gilbert Lake State Park has more than 12 miles of interconnecting trails for hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. In addition to the namesake lake, the Park has three ponds, cabins and campsites, playgrounds, a disc golf course, swimming, boat rentals, boating (car top/hard bottom boats) and fishing. Gilbert Lake State Park is also home to the New York State Civilian Conservation Corps Museum.
Gilbert Lake Trail  A popular 1.3 mile loop around the lake. During hunting season, which begins October 15, this is the only trail open to hiking.
Ice-Pond and Twin Fawns Trail Loop
Combine these trails for loop of about 2.5 miles. Trails traverse open and wooded land, marked with signposts at intersections and easily followed. The gently rolling terrain is excellent for hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Park at trailhead on Cabin Colony Road. The trail begins following a road north toward Ice Pond. It soon forks at Deer Run Trail, stay left and continue on the road. Cross a stream, where the trail meets Wilderness Trail on left, stay straight on Ice Pond trail to intersection with Spring Pond Loop. Turn left and continue straight ahead to Lake of Twin Fawns. The trail starts to loop back, crossing Wilderness trail again (stay straight). At the end of the trail, bear left and continue along the road keeping left at next three intersections until you return to the trailhead.
Swimming
The beach is open seven days a week, 11 am to 7 pm, through Labor Day.
Boat rentals (available when lifeguards are on duty, same as swimming dates)Â Enjoy a paddle around Gilbert Lake on a kayak, double kayak, paddle board or row boat. (life jackets included)
Cross-Country Skiing Trails are groomed for cross country skiing in winter.
Cycling The New Lisbon Bike Route, launched in November 2020, links Gilbert Lake State Park with Texas Schoolhouse State Forest for a 20 mile ride. It includes one 5 mile loop within Gilbert Lake State Park.
Other Amenities, Features, and Activities: picnic area, grilling station, information kiosk/ranger station, parking, camping, dogs allowed, fall foliage, handicap accessible, biking, disc golf, fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, camping, swimming. A Hippocampe Beach/All-Terrain Wheelchair is now available at Gilbert Lake State Park to access beach and trails.
Trail Map pdf
Download a Trail Map to your phone
Gilbert Lake State Park website
Gilbert Lake State Park Facebook Page
Gilbert Lake State Park is part of the Central Region Geocache Challenge, a treasure hunt at New York State parks and historic sites.
Site Maintained by New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Here’s what Octet-ers are saying:
8/1/24 “Gilbert Lake State park was great. You can hike, swim, or kayak. It was my favorite of the Summer Octet Challenge. (Basswood pond was also a winner, just a nice hike on pretty trails. Star Field was also very nice.)”
7/29/24 “Hiked the Lake Trail and swam in the lake. Enjoyed seeing kayaks and paddleboards on lake.”
6/14/24 “My favorite park!”
6/3/24 “Nice hike on well-marked trails. Lake was calm and beautiful.”
4/26/24 “Enjoyed obvious, mostly flat, wide and well-marked trails.”
3/11/23 “Liked the CCC buildings. Beautiful snowy hemlock forest. We could have spent hours hiking at Gilbert Lake.”
1/28/23 “We had a blast walking out onto the frozen lake. Our daughter loved doing a penguin slide.”
1/13/23 “Muddy in places, but easy kid-friendly trail. 45 degrees in January.”
1/8/23 “Very fun connecting trails to make a longer hike, almost 5 miles.”
1/8/23 “Brought my four-year-old granddaughter for a winter hike around the lake, returned on another day to snowshoe with a friend.”
11/8/22 “Hiked with the ADK. Stayed on roads through cabin colony. Sunny and lovely November day.”
11/5/22 “Sunshine came out and was beautiful on the lake.”
10/30/22 “Nice walk!”
10/16/22 “Fished and walked.”
10/16/22 “The playground is the best.”
10/15/22 “Did the lake hike, very peaceful.”
10/8/22 “After hike we played on playground.”
6/29/22 “Lots of fishermen. Always a lovely hike in the woods.”
6/23/22 “501 calories burned. Beautiful hike, 2 ponds, dew, newts, no people, huge snail, lovely evening after a rainy day.”
6/21/22 “Easy trail walk for young kids.”
