Beaver Lake Nature Center

Explore 600 acres of natural surroundings and spend some time bird watching.

The Beaver Lake Nature Center is just north of the Seneca River near Syracuse, New York. It features 9 miles of trails to explore and has over 200 bird species within the nature center. The woodland, deep woods, and three meadows trails are the longest, but most are less than a mile long. Lakeview Trail is wheelchair accessible, and the rest of the trails have minimal inclines, so this place is perfect for a leisurely stroll. 

This peaceful nature center is open daily (except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) from 7:30 am to 8 pm. The visitor center is open from 8 am to 7:15 pm. From the first Monday in May through Labor Day, they open up earlier at 7 am, making it an ideal time for bird watching before it gets busy. Please note that bicycles, pets, fishing, swimming, and smoking are not allowed. Be respectful of other visitors and only walk along the trails; never run. Beaver Lake is an ideal place to watch migratory birds such as Canadian geese. In the summertime, many people come to kayak on Beaver Lake. Feel free to bring a cold picnic lunch and eat at one of their picnic tables while you're here too.