Green Lakes State Park

Location - Fayetteville, Manlius, Onondaga County Maps - Google Map, Google Earth, Multi GPS - Park Entrance (N 43.04393 / W 75.97106) Size -  Max depth: Round Lake is 180 feet, Green Lake is 195 feet Water Quality - not potable. Directions - From I481, take exit 3E.  Follow E Genesee St. through Fayetteville and pass Springview Dr. on the right. The park entrance will be the next street on your left (Green Lakes Park Dr.)

Description Tucked away in an ancient, post-glacial river valley,  the centerpieces of this park are the 2 glacial "green" lakes. Through a combination of their depth,  surrounding limestone and photosynthetic bacteria, the lakes maintain a bright aquamarine color. The lakes are calm, clear, and deep. Round Lake is measured at 180' deep, while Green Lake reaches 195'.  Because of their depth and the high salinity of the basin waters, the lakes are meromictic and do not turn over. Sediment collects in the bottom and virtually doesn't decay. Meromictic lakes are often characterized by the still, mirror-like waters. Photosynthetic bacteria contributes to the geology of the lakes by creating reefs of calcium/sulphor deposits below the surface along the shore. The larger of the two, Green Lake has a sandy public beach with swimming access. The forested area surrounding the lakes is filled with old growth trees and many trails wind through them. Best time to visit: Year round Time: From a few hours to all day.

Accessibility Seasons/Hours: Spring through fall. Park closes at dusk. Parking: a parking lot at each entrance. Admission: $7 vehicle fee. Handicap accessibility: yes, but not for trails or beach. Accommodations: Restrooms, picnic areas, drinking fountains, beach, grills, hiking trails, pavilions, campsites, cabins, fishing, showers, playground, snack bar, lifeguards and golf course.  Swimming is allowed only in the designated swimming area only.

Trails - Easy Markings - Marked with educational signage and maps. The Green Lake Trail and the Round Lake Trail offer excellent views of the lakes and their shores. The Green Lake trail starts on either end of the beach and circles the lake, winding up on the other side of the beach. Both trails connect on the shore opposite the Green Lake beach.

Interesting Facts... Have you ever seen a green or blue pothole in a creek bed? Usually found in gullies that have plenty of waterfalls. These potholes are old waterfall plunge pools, that have deepened by dissolving the limestone underneath. They eventually become so deep that they don't mix well with the creek waters, and any sediment that gets in them precipitates to the bottom, keeping the water inside clear. Calcium carbonate from the dissolved limestone give these holes their characteristic color. Now think on a more massive scale. Say a retreating glacier and an ancient river pouring from its melt water. This river created such a massive torrent of rushing water, that the plunge pool from a gigantic waterfall created the Green Lakes.  The river dried up as the glacier disappeared and the lakes continued to dissolve away the limestone, expanding to their current form. Since this lake is meromictic, its surface waters do not mix with salty anoxic waters below. Anything that falls to the bottom will meet a massive collection of debris, which decays so slowly, researchers are able to take core samples and find out what plants and animals inhabited the area thousands of years ago. The lake bottom is like a natural mummification system. It's difficult to see the bottom of the lake because of it's mirror-like surface, but with a polarizer lens or polarizing sunglasses, you can cut through the glare and get a better view of the lake's contents.

Contact Green Lakes State Park 7900 Green Lakes Road Fayetteville, NY 13066 Phone: (315) 637-6111

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