Nestled along the St. Lawrence River in the heart of New York’s Thousand Islands region, Cedar Point State Park has welcomed visitors since 1898, making it one of the state’s oldest parks. At just 48 acres, it’s compact but delivers an outsized experience thanks to its stunning riverfront location overlooking the iconic island-dotted waterway.

The park sits at the edge of where the St. Lawrence widens into a sprawling maze of granite islands and channels — a landscape shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago. From the shoreline, you can watch massive freighters navigate the international shipping lane while kayakers weave between nearby islands. It’s one of the few spots where you can witness both at once.

Fishing is a main draw here, with smallmouth bass, northern pike, and muskellunge pulling anglers back year after year. The park offers boat launches and dock space for exploring the surrounding islands by water. On land, hiking trails wind through cedar groves and along the riverbank, while picnic areas provide front-row seats to some of the best sunsets in northern New York.

The best time to visit is late June through early September, when the river is warm enough for swimming and the summer programming is in full swing. Shoulder seasons — May and October — reward visitors with fewer crowds and spectacular foliage along the river corridor.

Whether you’re casting a line at dawn or simply watching boats drift past the islands, Cedar Point delivers a quintessential Thousand Islands experience in an intimate, uncrowded setting.

Explore Nearby

• Finger Lakes National Forest — National Forest in New York
• Mohawk Towpath Byway — Scenic Byway in New York
• Lakes to Locks Passage — Scenic Byway in New York
• Salisbury Center Bridge — Covered Bridge in New York
• Jay Bridge — Covered Bridge in New York