Oquaga Creek State Park
Hiking
While Oquaga Creek State Park has long been known as a summer respite for city residents, its Central New York woodland setting surrounding 55-acre Arctic Lake also makes for one of the most beautiful and varied sections of the Finger Lakes Trail.
Traveling south, hikers will begin the journey to Oquaga Creek State Park just after Masonville along section M27 of the Finger Lakes Trail map, climbing uphill along an old forest road to the top of Getter Hill in Beals Pond State Forest. Here, hikers will find the Getter Hill Lean-to and Motor Engine Falls.
Continuing to ascend, the trail will reach an elevation of approximately 2,000 feet before descending through Beals Pond. Following this, hikers will pass into Arctic China State Forest, a 2,858-acre forest bordering Oquaga Creek State Park.
After traveling 1.5 miles south along the Finger Lakes Trail in Arctic China, a trail junction on the right will indicate the blue-blazed trail leading to Oquaga Creek State Park. Traveling west into the park, hikers will reach Arctic Lake and the state park campground after about 1.6 miles along this trail.
Trail Map
Our Finger Lakes Trail map M27 provides detailed information concerning the trail as it passes near Oquaga Creek State Park and beyond. Map M27 is available as a digital download you can use on your smartphone and/or is available in a paper version which we will mail to you.
Finger Lakes Trail map M27 can be purchased by visiting our interactive map and selecting trail map M27. Proceeds from the map sale goes toward the ongoing administration of the entire 950 plus miles of the Finger Lakes Trail.
For use on your smartphone, you’ll need to install the Avenza App.
Sample Map – Shown below is a section of Finger Lakes Trail map M27 which shows the trail as it passes near Oquaga Creek State Park. Purchase the full map by clicking on map image below.
Camping
In addition to the Oquaga Creek State Park campground sites, thru hikers can utilize the Getter Hill Lean-to in the northern portion of Beals Pond State Forest.
After leaving Oquaga Creek State Park, the Cold Spring Lean-to is also available in the eastern portion of Arctic China State Forest.
For more information or to make camping reservations at the Arctic Lake Oquaga Creek State Park campground, visit the Oquaga Creek State Park website or call 607-467-4160.
Events
Coming Soon!
Fast Fact
Oquaga is the Mohawk word for “land of the wild grape,” and likely became the park’s namesake for its abundance of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.