Location: Plattsburgh, New York, in Clinton County
Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/pointauroche
Google map of location: Click here
Trail map: You can print out a map here.
Description: Point au Roche State Park is an absolute gem, located on the northwestern shore of Lake Champlain. It is comprised of several points and a peninsula surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the lake. With 856 acres, there are approximately 15 miles of trails through forest, along the shore, and in grassy fields.
The park and trails are open year-round. A $6 fee is charged from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day if you go in the main entrance (St. Armand’s Rd.) which has beach access. You can avoid the fee by entering on Camp Red Cloud Rd. See parking options below.
The park is very popular with beach-goers, hikers (often with dogs), runners, and mountain bikers. Although horses are allowed at any time, for the best experience we suggest avoiding summer weekends. Shoulder seasons (spring and fall) are perfect times to ride there.
You can camp 20 minutes away at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. See below.
Terrain: The terrain is mainly flat with occasional small rises and in places the trail is very close to the lake. The footing is excellent because the trails are extremely well maintained. Expect boardwalks and wooden bridges as well as stairs (with room for horses to walk beside). There are many opportunities for trotting and cantering. There are a few narrow points on cliffs that jut out into the lake – see the safety warning below.
Access: The park is in Plattsburgh, NY, in the northeastern corner of New York State, just south of the Canadian border. From Vermont the most direct access is via the Grand Isle ferry.
Parking: The easiest trailer parking is in the lot on Point au Roche State Park Drive just before the main parking lot for the beach. Roughly between Memorial Day and Labor Day you must pay a $6 fee. Click here for the location. To avoid the fee during summer, you can enter the park on Camp Red Cloud Rd and park either at the Park Maintenance area (there are trails right from the lot), or at small lot at the Lecture Center on Camp Red Cloud Rd.
Camping: You can camp with horses about 20 minutes away at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, 84 Fair Grounds Rd, Plattsburgh, NY. We have not camped there but a friend obtained the following information:
- Campsites get booked up for the year quickly (as much as a year in advance for some weekends), so make your reservation as early as possible by contacting Connie or Ed at 570-726-3633.
- $45 a night for full hook ups.
- $35 a night for water and electric only, with free uses of the dump station.
- $25 a night for tent sites – primitive no hook ups – may use on site bathrooms.
- $10 a night for a 10′ x 10′ horse stall. You must bring all your own shavings, hay, and grain.
- Use of the arena is allowed if there is not an event going on.
Restrictions and warnings:
- Expect to encounter other trail users and call out your presence to them. Negotiate passing other users in the safest manner.
- It can be windy, especially on the points, which might make some horses spooky.
- The points are narrow and on cliffs with no guard rails and therefore very dangerous. Consider the temperaments of all the horses in your group as well as the presence of other trail users before deciding to ride out onto a point. Consider having one person stay back on the trail to ask anyone with dogs or bikes to wait while horses are on the point.
- If your horse poops on the beach, clean it up. Also remove it from other heavily used areas and the parking lot.
- Do not ride in the water when people are swimming nearby.
- Trail and road conditions can change at any time. The actual conditions you encounter may differ from the information presented here. Horseback riding is inherently dangerous and you must employ independent judgement and use the information herein at your own risk. By accessing this site, you acknowledge and accept these limitations and agree to hold harmless Horse Trail Chicks, Monica Raymond, and Kerrie Garvey, from any liability, damages, injury, or death that result from using this information.
