Set on the northwestern shoreline of Lake Champlain lies Point Au Roches State Park with 863 acres of unspoiled and secluded old-growth forests, serene marshes, and quiet coves nestled alongside the lake waters. The park’s day-use area has a fantastic and well-protected small sandy beach with shallow waters for safe swimming, picnic facilities and grilling areas, convenient public restrooms, and a great playground for the kids. With hiking trails from the shoreline through the forests and wetlands, Point Au Roche Beach offers visitors more than one of the best swimming spots in Plattsburgh, NY. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome at Point Au Roche State Park.
Plattsburgh City Beach on Lake Champlain sits at the end of Beach Road and, at more than a mile long, ranks as one of the longest freshwater beaches in America. This is our favorite stretch of beach for long beach walks, safe lifeguarded swimming, sunbathing, kite flying or kite surfing, boating, fishing, and beautiful beach sunsets over Lake Champlain. With a dog park for your pooch, kayak and SUP rentals, beach volleyball, picnic areas with outdoor grills, and a food truck and Cabana Beach Bar to refuel, Plattsburgh City Beach has all you need for a fun beach day in Upstate New York. Break your beach day by exploring the trails branching from the shoreline into Cumberland Bay State Park.
Hop on the ferry from Cumberland Head to explore the beautiful beaches of Vermont at Grand Isle State Park on South Hero Island, the largest island in Lake Champlain. The Plattsburgh, NY to Grand Isle, VT ferry runs 24/7 year-round for a 15-minute journey to the beaches of Grand Isle State Park with over 4,000 feet of shoreline with quiet beaches for swimming and secluded rugged rocky areas to explore. Grand Isle State Park offers not only great spots to swim near Plattsburgh – visitors can enjoy shore fishing, boating, kayaking, picnic areas for barbeques, and tranquil nature trails for hiking the shoreline of Lake Champlain.