Beechwood State Park

Beechwood State Park is a wooded preserve along Lake Ontario in Sodus with miles of hiking trails and outdoor facilities. The grounds include a pebble shoreline, forest areas, and Maxwell Creek running through the property.

The site began in 1929 as a Girl Scout camp and operated as a summer facility for decades. It became a state park after the camp closed in 1996 due to financial challenges.

The area was home to the Onondaga and Cayuga peoples who lived along Sodus Bay for generations. The woodlands today hold this connection to the region's original inhabitants.

The park has several hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels for different visitors. Picnic areas with pavilions and fishing spots are available, along with small shelters scattered throughout the grounds.

Old buildings from the Girl Scout camp era still stand scattered across the park and reveal traces of its former use. These structures blending with the regrowing forest create an unusual landscape that tells two stories at once.

Location: Sodus

Website: https://townofsodus.net/camp-beechwood

GPS coordinates: 43.26870,-77.03060

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:09