Lake Erie Islands State Park

Lake Erie State Park is on the shores of Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes in North America and covers a total area of 355 acres in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York. The park was established in 1928 and is in the heart of the New York grape belt. The main attraction to the park is the three-quarter mile long shoreline of Lake Erie which borders the shallowest areas of the lake. There are several other recreational activities on offer at the site including biking, kayaking, disc golf, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, fishing, and hiking.

The park has 102 campsites and 10 cabins for visitors to enjoy their time at the park among the rolling hills and beautiful treed picnic areas. The ambiance created as well as the terrain and the ecosystem at the park has made Lake Erie State Park be selected as among America's Top 10 Bird Watching Spots (especially for the migratory birds following the edge of the lake) and America's Top 100 Family Campgrounds. Park roads are mostly flat which makes the terrain great for easy hiking, biking and cross-country skiing while enjoying the magnificent scenery at the park.

Day users of the park can access designated picnic areas as well as playgrounds for kids, a swimming area, and shelters. Restrooms, bathrooms, pavilions, and grills are also available. The park is quite popular, and you should not be surprised to find the place crowded during the day. Regardless, most people find that the place is all the same relatively quiet.

If you have a dog, you can bring them along to the park, but you must supervise your furry friend and keep them on a leash no longer than 10 feet long. Dogs are not allowed around public facilities like bathing areas, public buildings, or around the cross-country ski trails. In the camping areas that allow dogs, you are not allowed to have more than two dogs at any one time.