Southwick Beach State Park, State park and National Natural Landmark on Lake Ontario, New York.
Southwick Beach State Park is a public recreational park on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario in Jefferson County, New York. It has a wide sandy beach, camping areas, and covered pavilions available for group use.
The land belonged to the Southwick family from 1870 until the state of New York acquired it in 1960. It has been managed as a public park ever since.
The park draws families from across the region who come to swim, camp, and spend time along the lake during summer. The sandy shoreline is the main gathering point, and the beach tends to fill up on warm weekends.
The park is open seasonally, roughly from May through early October, and works for both day visits and overnight camping. Weather near the lake can shift quickly in fall, so it is worth checking conditions before heading out.
The park protects rare coastal sand dune systems where sand dune willows grow, a plant found nowhere else in New York State. This dune habitat has been recognized as a National Natural Landmark, which is uncommon for an inland lakeshore.
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