The Picnic Place To Be!

In our neck of the woods, we like to get outside as much as we can.  And what better way to enjoy the great weather than a picnic! Queensbury has many wonderful spots to enjoy an outdoor meal and fun for the whole day.

Want a park with entertainment options for the whole family? Try one of these, all located right in Queensbury:

• Gurney Lane Recreation Area, 118 Gurney Lane Road – Offering over 150 acres of fun, Gurney Lane also includes a 6,200 sq. ft. swimming pool, trails, a mountain bike park with over 13 miles of bike trails, playground, basketball, kids pond fishing, restrooms, bath house, concession, and a picnic pavilion and tent with tables & grills.
• Feeder Canal, 82 Haviland Ave. – This is a 5-acre park with picnic tables and shelter, park benches, walking/biking, canal/river access for canoes & kayaks, access to the 7-mile trail from Feeder Dam to the Old Champlain Canal. Leashed dogs allowed.
• Freedom Park, 71 Glenwood Ave. – This barrier-free play area is great for children with a variety of physical abilities. Includes a 6,200 sq. ft. handicap-accessible playground, portable restroom, and picnic tables. No pets allowed.
• Glen Lake Canoe Launch, 290 Glen Lake Rd – This half-acre park offers a free boat launch side with picnic tables, portable restroom, fishing dock, and canoe/kayak storage rack. No motorized boats. Leashed dogs allowed.
• Hovey Pond Park, 25 Lafayette St. – This 10-acre park offers beautiful picnic views with a 4-acre pond surrounded by a walking path, floral gardens, marshland walkway & observation decks that include wetland education signs, play area, portable restroom, picnic tables, and park benches. Leashed dogs allowed.
• Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve, Hudson Pointe Blvd. – This 83-acre nature preserve offers walking, hiking, and biking trails and scenic views of the Hudson River. Camping, swimming, and motorized vehicles are not allowed, however, leashed dogs are welcome.
• Ridge/Jenkinsvillle Park, 133 Jenkinsville Rd. – Want your day to include sports? This 80-acre park includes 4 multi-sport athletic fields, a basketball court, 2 tennis courts, a four-field softball complex, 2 pickle ball courts, walking track, playground, concession, a picnic shelter and picnic tables, bathrooms (for supervised activities) & portable restroom. Leashed dogs allowed but no pets on the athletic fields.
• Meadowbrook Preserve, 306 Meadowbrook Rd. – This 54-acre carry in/carry out preserve also includes a 1.75-mile marked trail with nature education signs. Good for walking, hiking, and mountain biking. No motorized vehicles are permitted. Leashed dogs allowed.
• Hudson River Park, 450 Big Boom Rd. – This 44-acre park offers access to 6 miles of the Hudson River (swimming prohibited) as well as a free launch site for motorized boats, ½ basketball court, softball field, 2 pickle ball courts, playground, picnic shelter with cooking grill, fishing dock, and portable restroom. Leashed dogs allowed.
• Rush Pond Trail, West Mountain Road/Fox Farm – The Rush Pond Trail offers a 2.6-mile pathway through the Rush Pond wetlands, linking the Gurney Lane Recreation area, several neighborhoods, and the Queensbury School campus trail system. Great for walking, hiking, and mountain biking.  Camping, swimming, and motorized vehicles are prohibited. Leashed dogs are allowed.
• West End Park, 117 Luzerne Rd. – This 3-acre park includes a youth baseball field, basketball court, playground, portable restroom, picnic shelter with picnic tables. Leashed dogs allowed.

Looking to venture a short distance outside of Queensbury?

Try Crandall Park & Cole’s Woods on 600 Glen Street in Glens Falls. Crandall Park offers recreation and beautiful scenery with a fishing pond and fountains; trails; historical monuments; multi-use fields for soccer, baseball, softball, and lacrosse; tennis courts; basketball courts; playground; gazebo; charcoal grills; and amphitheater that regularly hosts live bands, events, and the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra.

Want more of a mountain atmosphere?  Try one of these local attractions:

• Prospect Mountain – With a 2,030 foot summit, enjoy a 100-mile panoramic view of Lake George and the Adirondack Region. Drive up to the summit on the Veteran’s Memorial Highway and stop at three scenic overlooks. Park at the summit, then ride the shuttle or walk to the peak. Picnic facilities and restrooms are available at the summit. There are well-marked, self-guided hiking and nature trails as well as historical ruins including the Bullwheel and Old Cable Railway. $10 for a carload, or hike the whole way up for free on the Prospect Mountain Trail Footpath. Round trip, your hike will take you around 4 miles in about 3 hours.
• West Mountain – Known for their skiing, West Mountain also offers a lot of summertime fun too! Take the scenic lift ride, hike the mixed-use trails, enjoy the new mountain biking trails, and eat on the patio at the main lodge.
• Sleeping Beauty Mountain – Located on the east side of Lake George, Sleeping Beauty offers a moderate hike, between 5-7.5 miles round trip, with a few steeper switchbacks. Suitable for older children, this hike is family-friendly.