You Can Both Swim and Hike on This Historic Trail in New York – It’s Summer Perfection

Quaint, charming, and quiet, the Glimmerglass and Sleeping Lion Loop sounds like something out of a fairytale book. As it so happens, it looks like it too, complete with forests that change with every season, a covered bridge, a mansion on a hillside, and a glittering lake with designated swimming areas to help you cool off in the New York summer heat.

This charming trail is 2.8 miles and takes almost an hour to complete. It’s a loop trail and is relatively easy to traverse, so much so that it could really be considered a brisk walk by those who are more used to rugged terrain. But, this also means that it’s a great hike for young children and for leashed dogs who can’t handle harder paths. It’s part of the larger Glimmerglass State Park, so payment for parking is required, as well as for the use of campgrounds, but otherwise the other facilities are free: a playground, a fishing pier, a boat launch, picnic benches, restrooms, and, of course, well-maintained trails and beaches for you to use. 

The trail curves along Otsego Lake and through the nearby forest and is a favorite for local bird enthusiasts who come to find willow flycatchers, doves, blue jays, sandpipers, and gulls, among others. From spring to autumn, the trail is best used for hiking and sightseeing, but in the winter, it is mainly a cross-country skiing course and a place for snowshoeing. The lake is the headwaters of the Susquehanna River and is actually the origin point of Chesapeake Bay. It’s known for being a bit windy, but is overall a stunning and peaceful area that offers public beaches and accessible swimming areas for those in need. However, it’s important to note that the beaches are only open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, and from Memorial Day to the middle of June, they’re only open on the weekends. Swimming months also bring the addition of a concession stand to the park. 

Two attractions of interest are part of or near the hike: the Hyde Covered Bridge and the Hyde Hall Mansion. Built in 1825, the Hyde Covered Bridge happens to be the oldest covered bridge in the country and is the oldest surviving bridge in the state of New York. Walking through it, you’ll feel as if you’re walking back through time, or perhaps that the Headless Horseman may come after you (for those who have seen the movie). Then, there’s the mansion. Built between the years of 1817-1834, this mansion was meant to mimic an English estate and has fifty rooms that are available for tourists to visit.

This hike isn’t something that will make you work up much of a sweat, but it is beautiful and a good excursion to get you warmed up for swimming in the summer. With two historical touches to the path, the Glimmerglass and Sleeping Lion Loop is truly a one-of-a-kind hike in New York. But, maybe we missed a more historical and beautiful hike that also has access to beaches for swimming? Use our nomination form and tell us all about it.