Welcome to Delta Lake State Park, a 720-acre wooded park that makes a perfect retreat for RV enthusiasts. Surrounded by shady trees with a gorgeous view of a picture-perfect lake, it’s ideal for campers looking to enjoy a little outdoor recreation during any season. This unique state park is located on a peninsula that extends into Delta Lake Reservoir, less than ten miles from the city center of Rome, NY. The campground at Delta Lake State Park offers 101 spacious, shaded campsites suitable for either tents or RVs, a white sand beach, scenic water frontage, picnic spots, and a boat launch area.
Due to the campground’s lakeside location, it’s a popular summer hangout spot for water sport enthusiasts of all types. Those who enjoy swimming in nature will love the clear water and white sandy beaches, which are watched over by trained lifeguards during the summer months. Overnight campers and day visitors alike can take advantage of the boat launch facilities to enjoy power boating, jet skiing, canoeing, and fishing.
Exploring the three miles of nature trails gives visitors an up-close view of the flora in the area, including vulnerable species such as the sundial lupine, and may provide them with an opportunity to see some of the wildlife in the area, such as deer, porcupine, and several varieties of squirrels. Picnicking in nature is another favorite activity for this area in the summer months. In the winter, the campground is closed to overnight camping, but the surrounding trails are still open, allowing visitors to enjoy winter activities like cross-country skiing, ice fishing and snowshoeing.
Delta Lake State Park can be accessed by car, on foot, or by boat. The entrance is located approximately six miles off New York State Route 46. The highways and roads that lead to the park are fairly straight, flat two-lane highways that make it easy to get to the campground. There are no driving restrictions within the park but as the surroundings are wooded, so keep an eye out for low-hanging branches and wandering wildlife. The roads inside the campground and day-use area are also paved and are wide enough to navigate in all but the very largest of campervans easily. Once you’ve set up your RV camp, you can get around on foot or by bicycle along the park's wooded trails, or launch your boat and explore Delta Lake from the water. Various parking areas are available for day visitors, and if you're staying overnight, you can park your rig in the camping area.
The campground at Delta Lake State Park is situated right next to the public use area, just a little bit over two miles from the nearest town, Westernville, NY. The 101 reservable campsites are arranged in three large loops and are spacious, with enough room for either tents or RVs up to 40 feet in length. Most of the campsites are located within the forested areas; however, 20 sites are located along the waterfront that you can reserve for a slightly higher fee. Each campsite has electrical hookups, 79 of which have 30 amp power and 22 which have 50 amp power, a fire pit, and a picnic table, but no single hookups for either water or sewer. The use of generators is only allowed from 9 AM to 11 AM and from 5 PM to 9 PM. While the majority of the campsites are relatively level, some may require blocks to stabilize the trailer. There are faucets with potable water as well as several restrooms with hot showers and flush toilets available at each loop. A dump station and water fill-up station are centrally located just outside of loops A and B. While the park is open all year round, the campground is closed to overnight campers during the winter months. Pets are welcome at this campground, but they must be on a six-foot or shorter leash and may not be left unattended at any time.
The park’s three miles of nature trails, wooded campsites, and miles of shoreline are the perfect spots to enjoy a little bird watching. Swimming and wading birds are regularly seen enjoying the lake. Not only common waterbirds such as Canada geese, mallards, great blue herons, and mergansers but also threatened and endangered species, such as the double-crested cormorant and the cattle egret. When the campground is closed for the winter months, the peace and quiet attract even more birdlife to this state park, including several varieties of chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, and sparrows. Birds of prey that hunt in this area can include sharp-shinned hawks, harriers, bald eagles, and endangered owls such as the barn owl and the long-eared owl. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars in your motorhome if you are heading to Delta Lake State Park!
While the campground is closed to overnight camping during the winter months, the park’s three miles of groomed nature trails provide the opportunity to explore a range of fantastic winter sports, including cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. It’s the perfect off-season activity to give day visitors an unparalleled opportunity to explore the park’s icy landscapes between December and March. The trails are free to use and are suitable for novice to intermediate skiers. Please note that during the offseason, these trails are only open for skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
Delta Lake Reservoir is a popular hangout spot for anglers year-round. During the summer months, this lake is a great spot to fish for crappie, small and large-mouthed bass, and chain pickerel, either from a boat or from the shore. Fishing in this lake is particularly popular in the winter months, and although the campground is closed to overnight camping, visitors can still enjoy some of the best ice fishing in the area during the daytime. Species that are most frequently sought after during the winter months include walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike. It is not uncommon to land northern pikes that exceed 45 inches from the Delta Lake Reservoir. Fishing licenses are required and can be acquired at an agent location or online at the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Those who choose to park their motorhomes in the Delta Lake State Park Campground will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of outdoor sports. Facilities for the outdoor sports are available to both day visitors and campers near the main day-use area. You can rope the whole group in for a game of basketball, baseball, or volleyball, or try your luck at the horseshoe pits. Near the volleyball court is a playground with monkey bars, a small slide, and a kid-sized climbing wall that allows the younger set to let off some steam as well.
Boating is an extremely popular summer activity on Delta Lake for overnight campers and for locals who visit for a day trip. Delta Lake State Park has its own boat launch area with two hard surface ramps located on-site. Most types of watercraft are permitted on this lake, from windsurfing and board sailing to powerboating. Guests at this park are welcome to bring their own watercraft, whether that be an inner tube, canoe, kayak, or motorboat, or they can rent a canoe, paddleboat, or kayak at nearby businesses. Water skiing and jet skis are allowed on this lake as well, although they are required to steer clear of designated swimming areas. Lifejackets are recommended for everyone, and needed for children under the age of 12 or any age individual on a personal watercraft or being towed in the water. New York State requires that boats be dried or disinfected before launch to avoid the spread of invasive aquatic species.
There are approximately three miles of nature trails surrounding Delta Lake State Park, some of which are marked and others that are unmarked. You can choose from the 0.31-mile Beach Trail, the 0.52-mile Fox Run Trail, the 0.37-mile Snowmobile Trail, or the two-mile Yellow Trail. The terrain is wooded and mainly flat, so the trails can be enjoyed by any skill level, and are even suitable for family treks with the little ones. Whether you’re visiting for the day or staying overnight in the RV campground, you are welcome to take advantage of the beautiful trails and picnic spots provided by Delta Lake State Park. Keep your eyes peeled for all sorts of woodland creatures, such as squirrels and deer. Dogs are allowed to accompany their human companions on these trails, but they must be kept on a six-foot or shorter leash.
