Top Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Spots in New York

Discover top-rated destinations for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and outdoor adventures

🏖️Top Beaches in New York

6 locations

4.6(3,609)

Rockaway Beach

Public beach · Far Rockaway, New York

Dog-friendly

Destination for surfing & swimming, backed by a bike-friendly boardwalk with concession stands.

4.8(1,268)

Pebble Beach

Public beach · Brooklyn, New York

Dog-friendly

Rock-strewn, riverside beach popular for sunset views of Brooklyn Bridge & the Manhattan skyline.

4.6(851)

East Hampton Main Beach

Public beach · East Hampton, New York

Popular East Hampton ocean beach provides lifeguards plus a snack bar & bathroom.

4.5(573)

Manorhaven Beach Park & Pool

Park · Port Washington, New York

Community pool with water slides, plus athletic fields, playgrounds & beach along Manhasset Bay.

4.7(455)

Ditch Plains Beach

Public beach · Montauk, New York

A popular spot for surfing & swimming, this large beach offers seasonal lifeguards & scenic views.

4.6(385)

Kirk Park Beach

Beach pavillion · Montauk, New York

White-sand beach with seasonal lifeguards & a parking lot, plus toilet & shower facilities.

💧Top Waterfalls in New York

1 locations

4.8(626)

American Falls

Waterfall · Niagara Falls, New York

The American side of Niagara Falls stands 110 feet tall and stretches 950 feet wide, receiving about 11% of the mighty Niagara River's flow. Located within the 400-acre Niagara Falls State Park — designed by Frederick Law Olmsted — visitors can approach within meters of the brink, explore Goat Island and Luna Island via pedestrian bridges, and descend via the Cave of the Winds tour. An observation tower provides panoramic views of all three falls. Free park entry, open 365 days a year.

🏞️Top Lakes in New York

6 locations

4.6(1,612)

Lake Ontario

Lake · New York

Smallest Great Lake, spanning the US-Canada border & featuring many islands, beaches & lighthouses.

4.7(534)

Lake Champlain

Lake · New York

The nation's sixth largest lake, popular for boating, ice fishing & exploring nearby towns & parks.

4.8(346)

Great Sacandaga Lake

Lake · New York

A popular recreation standby, this 29-mile-long reservoir offers camping, boating & fishing.

4.8(274)

Seneca Lake

Lake · New York

A glacial finger lake, this lake is a popular fishing spot with a large lake trout population.

4.9(240)

Lake Minnewaska

Lake · Rochester, New York

Leafy hiking trails fringe this large lake, with sheer cliffs & a compact beach area for swimming.

4.9(217)

Ashokan Reservoir

Lake · New York

Water reservoir featuring a paved waterfront trail, views of the Catskills & fishing by permit.

🌊Top Rivers in New York

1 locations

4.6(857)

Hudson River

River · New York

Flowing 315 miles from the Adirondack Mountains to New York Bay, the Hudson River is one of America's most historically significant waterways. The river occupies a glacially-carved fjord, with tidal effects reaching 153 miles north to Troy. Indigenous peoples called it Mahicannittuk — "river that flows two ways." Henry Hudson explored it in 1609, and the Erie Canal made it a vital 19th-century artery. The river inspired the Hudson River School of landscape painting and remains a premier destination for fishing, kayaking, and sailing.