Beaver Lake Nature Center

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Baldwinsville, NY
Beaver Lake Nature Center

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Explore 10 miles of trails through 670 acres of natural habitats at Beaver Lake Nature Center. Four trails are still available for hiking. No fishing or hunting.
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Our Nature Center Policies:

Beaver Lake Nature Center’s trails are hiking trails designed for nature study and observation. In the winter months the trails are used for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Pets, biking, collecting, and fires (including bbq and gas grills) are NOT permitted on park grounds. Please be mindful of others and of wildlife. Always yield to the nature observer.

***Please walk, never run, by another visitor.***

When visiting the Nature Center, the entrance is through the main gate on East Mud Lake Road and parking is permitted only in the Nature Center’s parking lots (not on surrounding roads).

09/20/2026

📸 Sunday Snapshots!
Photos of Beaver Lake Nature Center from this past week

09/18/2026

Check out what's happening at Beaver Lake this weekend!

Saturday, September 19
🛶9 AM - 3:30 PM: Canoe and Kayak Rentals (weather permitting) - $10/hour/vessel; personal flotation devices are provided (30lbs and up). Park admission ($5/vehicle).
🐸11 AM: Guided Bog Walk - Join a naturalist for a journey out onto the Bog Trail where you will see unique wildlife not found on other trails! We'll stop at the observation tower for a look across the lake and venture onto the island for some great sights. Free with Park admission ($5/vehicle).
🍂5 PM: Early Autumn Kayak Tour - Enjoy autumn’s glow during an early evening paddle around Beaver Lake. Pre-registration required. Call ahead to see if spots are available! $20/person.

Sunday, September 20
🛶9 AM - 3:30 PM: Canoe and Kayak Rentals (weather permitting) - $10/hour/vessel; personal flotation devices are provided (30lbs and up). Park admission ($5/vehicle).
🍁10 AM: Autumn Equinox Walk - Learn about changes in nature, autumn traditions, astronomy, and fall flowers while hiking the Three Meadows Trail (1.4 miles). Free with Park admission ($5/vehicle).

09/15/2026

What an unforgettable weekend! 🍂
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the 48th Annual Golden Harvest Festival with us! 💛
We’re deeply grateful to the talented performers who filled the air with music and laughter, to the incredible artists and crafters who shared their one-of-a-kind creations, and to the food vendors who kept us all fueled with delicious treats. And of course, a huge thank-you to our amazing volunteers — whose energy, creativity, and countless hours behind the scenes are what make this festival possible. And thank you once again to our 2026 Accessibility Sponsor Oswego Health for helping make our shuttle bus and tram services possible.
These photos are just a few of the highlights — we’d love to see your favorite photos and moments in the comments below. Thank you for being part of this tradition, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you again next year. ✨

09/13/2026

Due to thunderstorms in the area, we are closing the festival early. Thank you for your cooperation as we attempt to keep all festival attendees, vendors, performers, and volunteers safe. That’s a wrap on the 2026 Golden Harvest Festival. See you next September! 🌻

09/12/2026

What a great first day at the 48th annual Golden Harvest Festival! We had blue skies, tasty food, foot-tapping music, lots of shopping, and FUN. ✨
We hope to see you tomorrow! 10AM-5PM

Thank you to our 2026 Accessibility sponsor for helping make our shuttle bus and tram services possible. ✨

09/10/2026

Golden Harvest Festival is almost here! 🌻
Rain or shine, it’s a weekend for making memories! Every song enjoyed, every scarecrow discovered, and every donut eaten, helps support Beaver Lake and keep this community tradition alive! ✨
We can't wait to see you and kick off the fall festival season with the 48th annual Golden Harvest Festival! 🌽
Golden Harvest Festival is THIS weekend - September 12 & 13 from 10 AM - 5 PM.

Enjoy this look back through the years.

09/09/2026

Golden Harvest Festival is just a few days away! We want to take a moment to thank our 2026 Accessibility Sponsor, for helping make our shuttle bus and tram services possible. Parking, shuttle buses, and tram service are free for all festival attendees. Thank you, Oswego Health! 🌟

09/08/2026

While trekking through Hidden Hills, you'll come across a walnut tree standing alone, surrounded by goldenrod and milkweed. If you venture down the trail from late August through October, you may even see a mass of fuzz on the tree. Look closer and you'll notice the tree isn't growing hair; it's being fed on by a large number of caterpillars! These caterpillars are aptly named walnut caterpillars, and they will eventually metamorphosize into moths (Datana integerrima). They're native to eastern North America, existing from southern Canada through the US and down to northern Mexico.

The fuzzy bits are not literally hair, but they are hair-like sensory structures called setae. Besides being a sensory organ and insulation layer, they also serve as a defense mechanism. These hairs can detach from the caterpillar and stick to a potential predator, causing skin irritation. If these setae get into the eye, they can hurt quite a bit! However, unlike other caterpillars that we often dub "stinging caterpillars," walnut caterpillars do not have venom sacs or spikes.

These caterpillars will feed and molt in a group on the same tree as they grow. With how numerous they are, they can sometimes severely damage a tree by eating so much of it. However, because they stick together, the damage may be limited to only a limb or two, allowing the rest of the tree to remain healthy. They do not spin a cocoon. Instead, they pupate and rest in the soil over the winter, waiting until the next summer to emerge and begin the cycle anew.

09/06/2026

📸 Sunday Snapshots!
Photos of Beaver Lake Nature Center from this past week

09/05/2026

We’re ONE week away from Golden Harvest Festival! ✨
Take a look back at some of our favorite moments from last year—music, magicians, puppet shows, mazes, games, shopping, delicious food, nature, friends, community, and of course, beautiful Beaver Lake.
What are YOU most excited to experience this year?

Address

8477 E Mud Lake Road
Baldwinsville, NY
13027

Telephone

+13156382519

Website

http://beaverlakenature.org/

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