> Canonical: https://nyparks.org/guides/new-york-swimming-docks-and-launches > Content revision: 2026-10-25T21:17:08.995Z THE FIELD GUIDE # Check swimming, docks and boat launches Compare the named waterfront facility with the official park notice before bringing swim or boating plans. Reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · New York Parks Water access changes by facility and season. A closed swimming area does not necessarily close its entire park, and an open park page does not establish that a particular dock, beach or ramp is usable. The linked notices below show which named places State Parks currently identifies. Check their official pages again before traveling. ## Swimming and lakeside areas At [Sojourner Truth State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/sojourner-truth-state-park), State Parks says the Lake Sophia swimming and lakeside areas, the Rim Trail around the lake and the swim-area parking lot closed for improvements beginning September 8, 2026. The agency points visitors to the main parking area near the Empire State Trail. [Evangola State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/evangola-state-park) says its swimming area is closed for the 2026 season. Neither notice is a whole-park closure. ## Docks and launches Both sets of [Long Point](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/long-point-state-park-thousand-islands) docks are closed for repairs until further notice. The agency also reports that its boat-launch ramp was removed for winter. [Allegany State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/allegany-state-park-quaker-area) says the Friends Boat Launch is closed for the season. Confirm the exact launch or docking facility before towing or carrying a boat. No reopening date should be assumed from a seasonal label. The notices below retain their source dates and area labels. Water quality, lifeguard status and weather can change separately; use current agency instructions for those conditions. ## Documented current impacts These notices are shared with affected park pages. Regional guidance is labeled separately. Area closureWater recreation ### Evangola swimming closed for the 2026 season Applies to the named area - Swimming area The swimming area at Evangola State Park is closed for the 2026 season. This notice does not say that the rest of the park is closed. [Read the official notice: New York State Parks visitor directory ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/evangola-state-park)Source checked Oct 20, 2026 [Evangola State Park ↗](https://nyparks.org/parks/evangola-state-park) Area closureWater recreation ### Friends Boat Launch closed for the season Applies to the named area - Friends Boat Launch State Parks says the Friends Boat Launch at Allegany State Park is closed for the season. This is a launch-area closure, not a closure of the whole park. [Read the official notice: New York State Parks visitor directory ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/allegany-state-park-quaker-area)Source checked Oct 20, 2026 [Allegany State Park ↗](https://nyparks.org/parks/allegany-state-park) Area closureWater recreation ### Long Point docks closed for repairs Applies to the named area - Long Point docks and boat-launch ramp Both sets of docks at Long Point are closed until further notice for repairs. The agency also says the boat-launch ramp was removed for winter. Confirm facilities on the official page before bringing a boat. [Read the official notice: New York State Parks visitor directory ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/long-point-state-park-thousand-islands)Source checked Oct 20, 2026 [Long Point State Park - Thousand Islands ↗](https://nyparks.org/parks/long-point-state-park-thousand-islands) Area closureWater recreation ### Lake Sophia swim and Rim Trail areas closed for improvements Applies to the named area - Lake Sophia swim area and Rim Trail State Parks says swimming at Lake Sophia, the swim and lakeside areas, the Rim Trail around the lake, and the swim-area parking lot closed beginning September 8, 2026 while improvements continue. The main parking area near the Empire State Trail remains the listed access point; this is not a whole-park closure. Sep 8, 2026 · No end date confirmed [Read the official notice: New York State Parks visitor directory ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/sojourner-truth-state-park)Source checked Oct 20, 2026 [Sojourner Truth State Park ↗](https://nyparks.org/parks/sojourner-truth-state-park) Visitor informationWater recreation ### Grafton Lakes State Park: Martin Dunham Reservoir water-level update Park-specific information - Martin Dunham Reservoir water-level update State Parks reports that Martin Dunham Reservoir was 40 inches below the spillway crest on October 24, 2026. The agency has opened a valve to relieve pressure on the dam following DEC flood-protection and dam-safety recommendations. This water-level notice does not establish a whole-park closure. [Read the official notice: New York State Parks visitor directory ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/grafton-lakes-state-park)Source checked Oct 25, 2026 [Grafton Lakes State Park ↗](https://nyparks.org/parks/grafton-lakes-state-park) ## Sources & further reading - [parks.ny.gov: sojourner truth state park ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/sojourner-truth-state-park) - [parks.ny.gov: evangola state park ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/evangola-state-park) - [parks.ny.gov: long point state park thousand islands ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/long-point-state-park-thousand-islands) - [parks.ny.gov: allegany state park quaker area ↗](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/allegany-state-park-quaker-area) [Suggest a correction](https://nyparks.org/about#corrections) · [Markdown version](https://nyparks.org/guides/new-york-swimming-docks-and-launches.md)