Stony Brook State Park
Stony Brook State Park
4.5
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There is a wide variety of recreation available at this scenic park including hiking, camping, tennis, swimming and hunting.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
224 reviews
Excellent
129
Very good
68
Average
13
Poor
6
Terrible
8
Vicky
1 contribution
Aug 2020
Be aware this park is operating at 50% capacity due to the Covid virus. My husband and I travelled from NW Pa to hike this park and picnic. We arrived at 12 noon and were met with blockades at the entrances and officers at the entrance saying they were at capacity and we could not enter. There were at least 10 cars lined up on the sides of the road with some very unhappy people being told they were closed.
Written August 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb Lynn
1 contribution
Jul 2020 • Solo
I have been camping at state parks for many years without any issues. This park was the 1st poorly run campground that I have gone to.
Security drove around in their cars and did nothing when people were up disturbing others until 1:30-2am. Quiet hours were not enforced. Parking rules of 2 cars per site was also not followed. I like dogs but most sites had 2 dogs per site and the owners did not pickup poop or quiet there dogs. Again nothing was enforced. Lastly, during this time we must all maintain safe distancing. People walking the trails did not wear masks when walking in close quarters. Also in the swimming area, people were close to each other without masks. Definitely not a safe environment. This will be one park I will not return to ever again.
Don’t expect peace and quiet if you go to this park.
Security drove around in their cars and did nothing when people were up disturbing others until 1:30-2am. Quiet hours were not enforced. Parking rules of 2 cars per site was also not followed. I like dogs but most sites had 2 dogs per site and the owners did not pickup poop or quiet there dogs. Again nothing was enforced. Lastly, during this time we must all maintain safe distancing. People walking the trails did not wear masks when walking in close quarters. Also in the swimming area, people were close to each other without masks. Definitely not a safe environment. This will be one park I will not return to ever again.
Don’t expect peace and quiet if you go to this park.
Written August 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CJ O
East Bethany, NY126 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
I love this park to camp. My sole gripe is GENERATORS. We tent camp up in the 200s for peace and quiet/family friendliness. I have hearing damage and listening to my neighbors generator 10 to 20 ft away is a bit much. It's not their fault, generators are allowed during designated hours. They have been super respectful of that. It would be super nice is the mgmt could keep anyone who requires a generator to the 400s or 300s and have the 200s remain quiet and tenter/cabin user friendly. Not everyone wants a toilet hookup and gas generator fumes next to their tent. :/ I will bring my ear mufflers next time (usually for mowing). This is not healthy for my already damaged (not from a generator, long story) hearing.
Written August 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeff77664
Downingtown, PA611 contributions
May 2022
Wen there in May and spent several hours. The Gorge Trail was not yet open. Did the West Rim Trail and you could see 3 waterfalls from a distance. The trail was steep with numerous ups and downs. The park was not crowded when we went.
Written July 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ADbomtony
New York City, NY158 contributions
Jul 2020
We did the West and East rim trail as the Gorge trail was closed. It took 1.5 hours to finish the entire hike. Paths are well marked and flat except when ascending.
Great but distant views of the fall along good bird watching
Lots of spaces for picnics and swimming (though it was closed for cleaning)
Great but distant views of the fall along good bird watching
Lots of spaces for picnics and swimming (though it was closed for cleaning)
Written July 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MAM
352 contributions
Jun 2022
Had a fun time hiking the gorge and rim trails and enjoying the waterfalls. 2 of us liked it, but it was a little more strenuous than some of our party could handle. Camping was average, kind of old fashioned with minimal amenities.
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahp31
Rochester13 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
This is an amazing beautiful place that I have enjoyed for years. I have been looking forward to taking my own children here. I'm am greatly sadden and angry that you can no longer go in the water beyond the "pool" which is freezing cold! People don't want to go for the pool they want to go explore the water and waterfalls. I would even sign a waver to do so. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone now and I will never go again. What a huge disappointment. Pretty soon our children won't be allowed to do anything at all.
Written July 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
parklady77
Hornell, NY1 contribution
Jun 2011
Stony Brook used to have 2 pools. Then they closed the upper pool years ago. Why? Who knows. Then in 2010 they closed the lower pool....they said due to lack of funds. HUH ? Lack of funds for what ......chlorine maybe ....but this is a fresh water creek pool. NOW this year 2011 they will continue to keep the pool closed. This is by far the cheapest state park pool in the state to run.....no chemicals....no pumps. ONLY pay for the lifegaurds....nothing else. Really, what good is a park without a pool on a summer day? I guess we just don't pay enough in taxes......
Written June 8, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charles N
SMETHPORT9 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Don't come here. Although the scenery is beautiful, today, on the busiest holiday weekend of the summer, I witnessed an obnoxious park official handing out $250 tickets to people, many of whom were not likely native speakers of English, because ( in his words) "You were in the water." This was along the trail, which people have freely waded in and played under the waterfall for decades. We had driven an hour and half to get there, because my daughter had seen very recent photos of people wading under the falls and it looked like cool fun. This nasty ranger was beyond rude and had people in tears, ruining their weekend. There is only one sign, not very noticeable, off to the side near the beginning of the trail, easily missed, stating how dangerous it was to wade in the water by the creek. We did not see this until we were on our way back. Also, people who had been there many times before, including one woman who said she had been coming there for fifty years, said nobody ever was given a hard time for wading. There were signs that said no swimming, but wading at the creek's edge or small pools is not what most people, including me, would consider "swimming".If someone was actually doing something genuinely hazardous, a polite warning would suffice. The last couple I watched this guy accost were minding their own business, escorting their little child who was about 18 months old. When my teenager commented when she walked by, "There's a $250 fine just for walking in the water?", the ranger rudely snapped, "It all depends on your attitude." I think I know who needs an attitude adjustment, and it's not the vacationers enjoying the creek. I won't be back to this place. There's no excuse for treating people this way. Thumbs down .
Written July 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rtalia22
Buffalo, NY37 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
I would give the parks beauty a 5/5. We were looking forward to a fun day until we got their and got two tickets from state police within a matter of 10 minutes. Not to mention the 3 other people I saw get tickets for nonsense. I got my first ticket for taking my kids picture in ankle deep water to get the waterfall in the background. But apparently because that wasn't an area you could swim they ticketed me even though we weren't swimming. Then the second ticket was given to my daughters 16 year old boyfriend for having his drone out, which was only up in the air about 20 feet for maybe a minute. He has a permit/license for it which we showed the officer but that "didn't matter because they are illegal to use in state parks" which we were unaware of. Instead of giving us a warning they ticketed us a second time. Needless to say a day of summer fun was not so fun because the state troopers were watching your every move. They were ticketing everyone!! I will not be back which is a shame because it was a beautiful park.
Written July 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are you open today we wanted to come and visit this park from Buffalo NY
Written July 20, 2019
beasley46
Pavilion, New York
Hi, beasley46. What would you like to know about this attraction?
Written July 9, 2018
Any updates on creek walking? Planning a fall camping trip and I know the pools will be closed.
Written August 7, 2017
When we went, we got ticketed for just taking a picture in the creek! So I would say unfortunately no creek walking, unless you're willing to get a ticket that will cost you $120!!
Written August 7, 2017
Would this serve as a good base camp for day trips in the Finger Lakes region? We have no definitive plans in terms of what exactly we want to see/do in the area. We plan to hike and enjoy nature. would also enjoy brewery tours, Farmers markets, museums/local history sites.
Written May 8, 2017
I love Stony Brook, but for your interests, I agree with those above who have said that Keuka Lake State Park may be a better base camp for you. There is a single brewery in Hornell, as well as a cidery in Canisteo, but that is about all you will find within a half an hour of the park. There are more as you move centrally within the region.
Good luck, and have a great travel season!
Written May 9, 2017
My husband and I are going camping here this weekend and was wondering if there is any place to go canoeing in the park? Thanks in advance for the answers!
Written June 22, 2016
I have visited Stony Brook many times over the past 65 years, but I've never seen any canoeing. I've swam there, I've walked in the Glen, I've picnicked there with family - grandparents, cousins and parents, but no canoes. You might try going to one of the nearby Finger Lakes for boating.
Written June 23, 2016
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