Beaver Lake Nature Center is located in Onondaga County, New York, near Baldwinsville, New York. At this county park there are 400 acres of land and 9 miles of trails. The trails are some of the best groomed in central New York and wind through many different types of land cover. Including boardwalks through a bog, over wetlands surrounding a lake, woodlands, and rotational mowed fields.
More information about Beaver Lake Nature Center can be found below my photo gallery. The photo gallery is updated as I edit more photos from this wonderful county park.
Information on Beaver Lake Nature Center
Beaver Lake Nature Center (BLNC) was founded in 1970. It was established due to a collaboration between Onondaga County Parks and local citizens who recognized the ecological and educational value of preserving the natural area surrounding Beaver Lake.
By the way, the name of the large pond or lake is Mud Lake on maps. Beaver Lake is a much more interesting name, wouldn’t you say?
Key Points: Why Beaver Lake Nature Center Was Created
- Location: The site is centered around a glacial lake formed approximately 10,000 years ago.
- Purpose: To protect the lake’s diverse ecosystems and to serve as a center for environmental education, conservation, and recreation.
- Development: The land was acquired by the county, and efforts were made to create trails, educational programs, and facilities to engage the public in nature appreciation and stewardship.
- Opening: It officially opened to the public in 1970 and has since grown to include over 9 miles of trails, a large visitor center, and numerous programs for both children and adults. Many of the events bring in large numbers of people.
Here’s a concise timeline of Beaver Lake Nature Center’s early history, with a focus on how the parkland was assembled:
- Pre-1960s — Private Ownership & Early Uses
- The land around what we now call Beaver Lake was largely in private hands, used for small-scale dairy farming, timber harvesting, and cranberry bogs. Much of the shoreline wetland remained undeveloped but was fragmented among several landowners.
- Mid-1960s — Grassroots Conservation Effort
- Local naturalists, school teachers, and civic groups began pressing Onondaga County to protect the area’s unique glacial lake, swamp forests, and upland hardwood tracts as both a wildlife refuge and outdoor classroom.
- 1968 — County Legislature Approves Study & Funding
- Onondaga County Parks Commission commissioned a feasibility study (funded in part by a small state grant). The report recommended acquiring at least 250 acres around the lake to safeguard water quality and provide a nature study center.
- 1969–70 — Initial Land Purchases
- Using a combination of:
- County bond funds (voter-approved referendum)
- State conservation grants (through New York’s Environmental Protection Fund)
- Private donations (small gifts from local families and civic clubs)
the county bought the first parcels—roughly 246 acres—from several families (notably the former Stanwix and Eastman properties) whose lands abutted Beaver Lake.
- Using a combination of:
- 1970 — Official Opening
- In late spring 1970, with trails roughed in and a modest interpretive “field station” set up in a converted farmhouse, Beaver Lake Nature Center opened to the public. Early programs included guided walks, school field trips, and summer nature camps.
- 1970s–80s — Steady Expansion
- Over the next decade, the Parks Department pieced together an additional ~150 acres:
- Strategic buys of adjacent farmland as owners put properties on the market
- Easement donations from landowners who wanted to see their woodlots protected
- A handful of state “Urban Greenway” grants helped link Beaver Lake to nearby wetlands at Clear Creek.
- Over the next decade, the Parks Department pieced together an additional ~150 acres:
- Today — Nearly 400 Acres Preserved
- Through that combination of bonds, grants, and goodwill, Beaver Lake Nature Center has grown from an initial 246 acres to close to 400 acres of wetlands, upland woods, meadows, and trails—truly a model of incremental, community-driven land conservation.
Beaver Lake Nature Center Trails
The trails are very smooth and easy to walk on. There is very little relief around the lake, so the trails are, for the most part, level. They are maintained by Onondaga County employees and volunteers. The Friends of Beaver Lake organization does a great job of volunteering and promoting events at the park, which bring in money to help make the park a better place.
You can find the trail map on the Onondaga County Parks website:
- Printed trail maps are available at the Visitor Center and kiosks near the parking area. The maps show:
- Over 9 miles of trails
- Trail names, distances, and difficulty levels
- Key features like observation decks, wetlands, and the lake itself
Example Trails You’ll See on the Map:
- Lakeview Trail (1.3 miles, scenic, lakeside views) The boardwalk on this trail has been redone this year (2025) and is now wider and improved over the older boardwalk, which at times did flood.
- Hemlock Hollow Trail (0.4 miles, shaded evergreen forest)
- Three Meadows Trail (1.4 miles, open meadow loop)
- Arbor Trail (0.5 miles, tree ID markers, good for kids)
- Bog Trail (boardwalk through wetland areas). My favorite!
Flora and Fauna of Beaver Lake Nature Center
The animals and birds found at BLNC are similar to those found across central New York. I do not know of any unique species that make the area home.
Many programs focus on finding flora and fauna at the park. Visit the Friends of BLNC and County Park websites for all the events.
If you’re looking for an unofficial but highly detailed flora inventory:
🔎 iNaturalist – Beaver Lake Nature Center
- iNaturalist users have logged hundreds of plant species from Beaver Lake.
- You can filter by plants, season, rarity, and even specific trails.
- Good for photos, blooming periods, and identification help.
