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Family Fall Fishing Festival
Hempstead, Nassau County
Enjoy a family-oriented fishing festival on October 18 from 10 AM to 4 PM at Hempstead Lake State Park. No fishing license is required for this event, hosted by NYSDEC and NYS Parks. Festival activities include fly-fishing instruction and casting practice with loaner rods, free bait and fish-cleaning services. Children can "cast" for pumpkins, then decorate their "catch" with the supplies provided. More than 1,000 fish are stocked for this event. The festival also features exhibits from local fishing clubs, face painting and a magic show. Admission is $6 for everyone over the age of 12.
Watchable Wildlife: Riverside Park
Riverside Park is Manhattan's most spectacular waterfront park, with more than 260 acres stretching four miles along the Hudson River from 72nd to 158th streets. Designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the park offers an escape from the city and opportunities for everyone to relax, play and socialize in a tranquil environment.
Waterfowl and the occasional seal enjoy sunning themselves on the wooden docks at the 79th Street boat basin, and songbirds and raptors can be found in and around the bird sanctuary between 116th and 125th streets. Pollinators are drawn to the native flora, and raccoons and reptiles round out the wildlife found here.
Hike of the Month: Hoffman Notch
Minerva, Schroon and North Hudson, Essex County
Hikers looking for a truly remote wilderness experience should visit the 38,488-acre Hoffman Notch Wilderness in the east central section of the Adirondack Park. The highlight of the area is the 3,693-foot Hoffman Mountain.
The most popular hike is the short 1.2-mile hike up Mt. Severance, where the summit provides a scenic view of Schroon Lake and the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. The trailhead is located on State Rte. 9, approximately a half-mile south of the intersection with Rte. 74.
Recreational opportunities include hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, primitive camping, canoeing, bird watching, wildlife photography and fishing. Big game hunting is allowed in the area in the fall.
Visitors to the Hoffman Notch Wilderness should be properly prepared and equipped for a remote, wildland experience. Tips and links on this page will help you plan an enjoyable and safe adventure.
Mentor a Young Hunter
Columbus Day weekend, October 11-13, is also this year's Youth Firearms Deer Hunt weekend. This hunt is one of many opportunities when parents, guardians and other responsible adults can pass on New York State's great hunting traditions to the next generation. While accompanied by an experienced adult hunter aged 21 or older, licensed hunters ages 14 and 15 can carry a firearm to hunt for one deer during this special weekend.
There is also a Youth Pheasant Hunting weekend scheduled for October 11-12. Pheasant hunting was one of the first hunting experiences for many of today's adult hunters, and this two-day hunt will help maintain this traditional introduction to hunting.
Visit DEC's Junior Hunter Mentoring Program webpage for all the details on what youth hunters and their adult mentors must do to participate. Children grow up before you know it. Don't miss an opportunity to share your love of hunting and the outdoors with a youngster.
Read more about this topic in Conservationist magazine:
Fall Camping at Fair Haven Beach
Sterling, Cayuga County
Enjoy a beautiful autumn sunset over Lake Ontario from your campsite at Fair Haven Beach State Park. With one of the finest public waterfronts in upstate New York, Fair Haven Beach is a favorite among boaters, anglers and nature lovers. Cabins and cottages are available through November 29; make reservations through Reserve America.
Fair Haven Beach State Park features 1,500 feet of sandy beach, a pond and a creek for fishing, and several trails for hiking. Waterfowl hunting is allowed in the park during the fall. While the campground is closed in the winter, the trails remain open year-round for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
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