A beautiful little slice of wilderness in the vast suburban blanket that covers Long Island. One of…read moremy favorite spots to walk/ bike to get my dose of wild when I can't go too far. Plenty of trails and spots to fish or just take in the views.

Took a GREAT walk/hike all the way from the Babylon Elementary School parking lot to Southard's…read morePond, then on to Belmont State Park... WONDERFUL, easy, peaceful hike!! Grew up nearby (Huntington) and though we frequently went to Belmont, this was the first time we also experienced Southard's. What an awesome, scenic trail, and Southard is the perfect midway and/or starting point. We honestly didn't see too much of the park, but the lake is so peaceful, with plenty of ducks, geese, and swans to greet us. Not sure of the parking/logistics for parking, since we walked here, but it's definitely worth a visit, any season!! Will be back, hopefully soon, to (re)discover more in the spring and fall...

Nice park for the beginner or more experienced hiker or just someone who wants to have some peace…read moreand quiet outdoors for a couple of hours. The parking lot is big and there is a bathroom, which is appreciated. I took a look at the trail map before I left to find one of a decent length, so check out options, but the trails are well-marked. Once you get past the main train next to the lake, you can find yourself pretty alone except for another occasional hiker, but you can vibe with nature, see a waterfall, and just breathe in the fresh air. Some of the trails are long, but I paced one that was only a couple of miles and still got some nice scenery and a lot of steps in. It's great this park isn't too far from the urban areas of Northern NJ and there are many trail options so you can visit again and experience something new. There's also a sign for trout fishing if that's your thing. Check it out if you want to get away for the day.

It's a great place for me to run. It's flatter than most areas around here. It's also very…read moretranquil, and beautiful to watch as you run along the path.The path around the large pond is wide, which is great for the amount of people that are coming through there and many of the areas around the paths have shade, which makes it great for running as well. There's a large parking area with lots of parking space which is a convenient. When you come into the reserve it's off of the highway. The an entrance which is one way in and then the exit on the opposite end of the lot which is one way out. The only drawback from me was that there were a number of people in the park with their dogs unleashed and the dog should be leashed . Which makes it difficult and unnerving for a runner to see a dog come out and not see the owner close by.

On memory alone this place scores a 5! Yes it is somewhat dirty with tons of goose crap. But I…read morebasically spent years 2-16 coming here all the time. The little play area of the park was so cool when I was 2-5. Then it was the lake I loved swimming in and where I learned how to swim (6-8). My mom would always yell to me not to go past my waist but I did any way. The trick is to go in almost to the waist and dive forward and go under and then swim back to waist length depth. She never knew, or, she probably did and figured she would let me think I was being clever. A little older I remember throwing my ninja turtle(s) into the "deep end" and trying to find them. So yah, if anyone finds him send me a message. When I was a little older I jumped off the docks and eventually, rode my bike off of it too (dumb "tweens"). There were always the basketball courts though those are in sad shape and when I was younger, the scary older boys looked imposing. Around the same time my friend and I would ride our bikes* to Rogers lake and/or kayak. Finally, from about 14-16 or 17 or so, I did crew and those are my last memories. I think I purposely flipped my boat deep in the water the last time I ever went on the lake. *Watch your bikes. Don't do what I did and "hide" it by some bush near the lake. Some good for nothing low life scum stole my Grey Gary Fisher bike and I never got it back, obviously (cops don't care). I wish karma strikes this loser back in whatever way is deemed appropriate by those who dole it out (perhaps some low life can steal his/her childs bike). Other than bike stealing low life losers, I suspect it was someone with the first name E, this is a safe place.

This place is very crowdy! People litter, leave ripped floatys, towels, toys, cans, poopy…read morediapers... Parking lot is always full. Can't understand why White pond attract so many people, so many other places around which is way better for swimming and kayaking! And fishing never been great over there.

Doggy friendly lake in Putnam!…read more This pond looks like a lake since it's pretty big for a "pond" but once you're in the water you can definitely tell you're in a pond. Clean, warm in the summer, perfect spot for tubing or just floating around. Came here for the first time not knowing much about it but here's what you DO need to know: -bring sunblock -bring a floating device -fishing friendly (there's a dock just for it) -don't expect to find a nice area to sunbathe -dogs are welcome inside and outside of pond -no restrooms/changing area -plenty of parking (it's free!) -dock for tubing -kayak friendly -paddle boards too! -no shops -no food area -no drinking fountain -bug spray recommended I don't think I missed anything but that's your little wrap up. It's a lazy lake I'd say where you can just let yourself be carried away and float on your floatie. Fun spot for friends. Definitely bring drinks and food or at least a snack since there are no shops around. I totally get it that people are upset about the whole bathroom thing but truthfully it's a free pond, just drive up somewhere near by and that's it. It's ok to be a little outdoorsy sometimes just yeah, don't do it in the water lol.

Lovely lake beach area for in season Fairfield residents which is not accessible off season or…read morewithout residency. Many trails throughout although no clear map or directions at starting points nor marked throughout. Lots of dogs off leashes so be aware. Drive past the lake and parking area to get to "cascades" area. Peaceful and tranquil nature. Fairly easy "hike" but hiking shoes recommended due to wet leaves and exposed roots and rocks.

love the lake so nice and refreshing. Love eating some fruit on a hot sunny day while jumping right…read moreinto the lake. After that, we immediately started walking in the trail it's absolutely beautiful and if you enjoy nature and staying active you will love this. Perfect for fishing too! The staff were so kind and welcoming

No matter what time of the day or evening, nor warm or chilly season, we have to get outside and…read morewalk. This Lakeside area is a very good excuse after the many productive hours of being stuck indoors. As you can see from my photos, we go often, and we are not alone. The many creatures we observe, and who observe us, are a lovely curious attraction. Please do not disturb their peaceful existence. Just quietly enjoy your opportunity, take it in, then go home smiling. You're welcome

A nice experience in nature yet not being far from civilization. There's something for everyone in…read morethe family to do, fish, play tennis, be on the playground & they have a covered area

Stopped by for the first time today to take a walk around the lake and get a little exercise. They…read morehave parking lots located at both ends. They have a nice water fall at one end and at the other there is a playground and sports field. There are plenty of benches and gazebos if you want to take a break and take in the scenery. They also have three nice fountains in the center of the lake. Only problem I had was avoiding lots of goose droppings and a hissing goose that wasn't happy to see me...lol Other then that plenty of people walking and enjoying the nice sunny day. I definitely plan to add this to my list of places for a nice walk....