This lake is located 5 minutes from my parents' house. I always stop by to take in the beautiful scenery and the wildlife. Oakland lake has a 0.6 mi circular loop and is perfect for a nightly stroll(during the summer months). There are also multiple bench chairs for passerby's to sit at and just take in the fresh air. Oakland lake is also surprisingly close to the alley pond park. To get here, just take the Q12 to the Burger King on Northern Blvd and walk a block south. read more

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Oakland Lake is a peaceful, natural escape tucked right into the Bayside and Oakland Gardens neighborhoods of Queens, NYC. Review aggregators and local trailgoers generally highlight several key aspects of the park: The place offers a dramatic contrast to the urban surroundings. When you are in the area it feels like you have left the city, with a backdrop of mature trees and steep shorelines. The lake acts as a crucial rest stop for migrating waterfowl. Visitors commonly spot Canada Geese, Mallards, Trumpeter Swans, and Herring Gulls, making it a favorite destination for local birders. The Oakland Lake Path is a popular, sometimes busy route. It is relatively flat and easy, with trailgoers highly recommending a visit from March through October for the best scenery. The lake is noted for being somewhat deep (up to 20 feet) compared to other NYC ponds. It is stocked and known for its populations of bass, sunfish, and pickerel. read more

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We often walk here after dinner. We used to bring our dog, Bobo, who passed away in 2023, so this trail holds many fond memories for us. The 0.6-mile path around Oakland Lake is peaceful and relaxing. I always look forward to seeing the beautiful swan, and today I also spotted two baby ducks. I was a little disappointed not to see the huge turtle I saw on a previous visit, but that's nature! Watch out for mosquitoes around dusk. The city could do a better job cutting the overgrown grass, but it's still one of my favorite neighborhood walks. read more

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What a gem! I went this week and soon as I stepped inside I was greeted by a pair of swans omg then immediately 12 turtles on a floating tree. Towards the end of my walk, saw a heron. This is my new favorite park to take a serene walk. read more

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Having had a cold for the last week or so and being away from work and my fellow human beings while I recover, I found myself craving sunshine and nature. Over the weekend, I took advantage of the great weather and enjoyed a beautiful hour long stroll through Oakland Lake. The ducks, the swans, turtles and the trees all seemed to conspire to create a wonderful landscape and symphony of harmonic beauty. I've previously only driven past this park and found myself dumbfounded why it's taken me so long to explore on foot. It reminds me of Kissena Park, expect less crowded and a bit more serene. Looking to get your steps in? Definitely check out Oakland Lake in read more

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Great place to walk and enjoy. Its hidden jem. Water and wild nature view. Open long hours. read more

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Circa 1971 I attended Queensborough, and if I had a big enough break between classes, I would drive over to the park, and study under a tree. Quiet, and peaceful. read more

Oakland Lake is a hidden gem in this area of Queens. Parking is pretty easy. The path is simple, but there are lots of things to see, like different plants and trees and wildlife! We've encountered some fairly aggressive geese! Some people run around this lake, but I'd say most people are taking a stroll. There are a few places to sit, as well as some places to take a nice picture. Simple but a nice oasis. read more

A marvelous little park in Eastern Bayside. The walk around the lake seems to be about a mile or perhaps a little less. The vegetation is well maintained, but I could go for a little less growth and a little more lake viewing on the eastern side. The people who walk here and their dogs are usually good natured. Many benches here, although the big cluster is at the north end. This is a particularly scenic spot in the spring and the fall. A local gem. read more

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My buddy TC turned me onto this place. This lake in the middle of Bayside is a great natural green space tucked in between a college, apartment buildings and million dollar homes. The lake is home to many waterfowl and rest stop for migrating species, such as Mallard Ducks, Canada Geese and a set of Trumpeter Swans. Some marine species like the Herring Gull come over from nearby Little Neck Bay looking for food from passing humans, like ourselves. Squirrels were jumping around in the trees and I'm sure that larger mammals like the local raccoons and opossums come out at night. Signs are posted all over to not feed the wildlife, but people still do it anyway. The 3/4 mile long paved walking trail around the lake is accessible from entrances down into the ravine from Springfield Blvd and on 46th Ave and the main level entrance is on Cloverdale Blvd. If you drive there, Cloverdale is your best bet for street parking. I don't know why, but we decided to do this trip in the middle of winter on a 37°F day. Snow still covered about 30% of the of the walkways and the birds were walking on surface ice partially covering the lake. Don't even think about walking out onto the ice! Ice rescue ladders are scattered around the the lake, so I'm sure people with less than common sense have tried it before. Stay on dry land and just enjoy the scenery. read more

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Adding another review today :) yay Friday! This is a pretty nice park for a walk! I came here a few times now and it's cool to see the leaves changing colors for fall. You can walk or run around the lake, and stop for some pictures. Great option to go outside and get some fresh air! read more

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During the Covid-19 quarantine I have officially gone stir crazy! Even free range chickens have to flee the coop at some point. Since there is not much to do at the moment other than taking a brief walk outside for some "fresh air". I strap on my PPE and head over to Oakland lake which offers a beautiful backdrop as you can walk, jog or crawl the .06 mile paved semi circular trail around the lake. Go crazy and step out of your comfort zone and travel counter clockwise and then clockwise, I dare you! A quick 411 - Oakland Lake is part of Alley Pond park and is the 2nd largest park in Queens. The lake is natural and created by an underground spring and ravine which run into Little neck bay. The park is clean and offers park benches along the lake trail. Bike riding is not allowed but unfortunately there are a few people who choose to ignore this fact. The park is dog friendly and garbage cans are provided around the grounds to discard your refuse. The ecosystem is alive and well. You can hear and see the teeming wildlife of birds, turtles, swans, ducks, geese and other of God's creatures strut their stuff. The lake host a variety of fish as you can see people casting out their lines on fish poles. I'm not sure what rules and regulations govern fishing here. As you pass by the main entrance to the lake by Cloverdale boulevard you can sometimes smell the fresh burgers grilling up by the Burger King located not too far on Northern Boulevard, stave off temptations to deviate from your course until after completing your journey around the lake. This old proverbial expression is so true "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade " During these uncertain times we are all making gallons of it. The lake is a great escape to exercise your body and clear your mind to focus on more important aspects of life. #Stay_#Strong_#World. We are all in this together. read more

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Little slip of a park but the lake is most of the time very beautiful, it occasionally is overrun with algae but none of the wildlife seem to mind, there is a family of Swans there and a large amount of turtles & waterfowl, plus other birds Z& standard critters, there is a high water table in 2 areas so be careful in the wetter seasons for the path to be overcome even through efforts to divert, but hey it's nature & we are in it's space :) read more

This is my favorite lake park near my home. I'd been here multiple times when each visit is very memorable. I love the set-up of the park. It has a circular walk path around the lake . Plenty of bench chairs are marked up. There are friendly stairs trail up. Garbage bins are provided along the trail for guests trash disposal. The park is clean. Beautiful wildlife are visible like the swan family , friends team of colorful geese, variety of birds and happy ducks. Definitely the lake has variety of fish as lots of anglers were trying to catch them. Street parking only. read more

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A beautiful extension of Allley Pond Park that stretches around a gorgeous pond. The peaceful, tranquil circular trail reaches about 3 miles and perfect for a short relaxed walk. There's plenty of benches for locals to sit and chitchat, take pictures, and just enjoy the overall scenery. On a bright and sunny day turtles walk up near the grasslands to move around, even enough room for geeses to roam around too. I loved everything and every moment spent at this park. Hope to return soon. read more

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Want to kill some time with a beautiful view? Come check Oakland Lake. It's a quick little hike that's so peaceful. Check it out nature lovers! read more

Oakland Lake - Lakes Near Me - Oakland Gardens, New York

This is a nice big place to take a walk or just chill at a bench. The scenery is beautiful. There are an immense amount of trees and there's a huge lake in the center. I see many people here during the day biking or walking their dog. Many swans and canada geese. Weird spieces of fish too. Many birds as well... I even saw a hawk too! You can take a picnic nearby too where there's a meadow, a huge plain of clean grass and wheats. One thing I do want to caution you about is to not go during the nightime. Firstly, there's no people during the night at all which makes it dangerous. Also, there are scary animals that come out in the dark like brown bats and I heard the hissing of water snakes which had me screaming. Raccoons lurk around here too. Just go during the day and all else is well! read more

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A beautiful, easy and accessible place to walk during any season. We always find street parking without any issues. The paths can get busy at times but social distancing is still easily maintained. The lake is so scenic and provides the perfect backdrop for a stroll or power walk. In the spring and summer, there is so much greenery from the trees, plants and flowers. There are swans, ducks and birds to watch. I see people fishing in the lake, I'm assuming for sport. You'll find benches around the lake to relax on. Paths go up from the lake and provide a little bit of excitement for those who tire of walking on flat ground. We hadn't been to Oakland Lake before the pandemic but it's become a go to when we want to get outside for some exercise. I'm grateful it's here! read more

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Beautiful park with lovely water views. Great place for a low impact walk/hike or just sitting by the water and watching the sunset. Lots of street parking, but be careful if you have to cross the street, people drive fast. Technically an extension of Alley Pond Park but way easier to park here directly rather than coming from main park area. read more

Lovely little park and lake. It's a nice short two more walk around the lake. Lots of vegetation, birds (geese, swans, ducks etc), turtles and squirrels. They recently upgraded the area around the lake and elevated the path. They added rocks along the perimeter and lots of new benches. The path is now less muddy and there are plenty of clean benches to sit and reflect. There are plenty of areas to park and it's within walking distance of restaurants. You can sit and eat by the lake. Unfortunately there's a lot of mosquitos so make sure to bring mosquito repellent. read more

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Great spot to relax after shopping nearby. Beautiful swans , dragonflies, and occasionally turtles and frogs here. The lake can seem dirty at times but overall it's a relaxing place to come alone or with family or friends. Been here many times with my father when I was young. read more

Small but cool Lake/Park that is right off of the highway. I actually used to go to school in this area a long time ago and never even realized it was here. I say Lake/Park because there is some green space with a few benches but for the most part it is a Lake with a path around it. It's a decent sized lake probably a few acres but it's not huge. There were some "trails" as well but very short trails. I guess they are more paths than trails. There's folks fishing here too but not sure what you can catch here. Parking was plentiful but I can see that not always being the case depending on when you come. read more

Small lake about half mile loop around the lake. No playground or tables. Benches along the way. Apparently street parking only. Nice little place and very clean. read more

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