Beaver Island Park Walk, NY

Overview
This is an easy scenic walk around Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island, New York, located very close to the international border with Canada. This park has picnic areas with rain shelters and picnic tables, playgrounds, soccer fields, a golf course, a marina, a kayak launch, the historic River Lea house, a frisbee golf course, fishing, various walking trails, and more.


History
On the Southwest side of Beaver Island Park is River Lea, the home, headquarters and museum of the Grand Island Historical Society.Hike
If you drive into the park there is an entrance fee, so I usually park outside the park somewhere and walk in. Good places to park are on the side of the road on Bush or Ferry roads, East of Beaver Island Parkway. If you want to make the walk longer, you can park further North on the side of Fix road.

Start by taking the paved walking path that follows Beaver Island Parkway into the park. The path follows the road for about 1 mile, then turns and crosses the road. Before you cross the road, you will see the golf course to your left. When you reach the next road, make a right and walk down the hill. At 1.25 miles you will see a "Nature Center" that has been closed for years. I'm not sure what the state is doing with this building.

At 1.37 miles you will see a kayak launch and at 1.43 miles you will reach the marina. Walk on the grass alongside the marina until you see a walking path up ahead. There will be a group picnic area to your left. Take the path up to the boardwalk and you will see the public beach to your right where beach activity and swimming are popular during the warmer months (mainly only June, July, and August in this part of the Country). If you look across the water you will see Canada. Walk across the boardwalk until you reach the end, then take a slight left and walk up to the road.

Next, turn right and follow the road toward River Lea. Follow the path around the River Lea historic house and it will enter a wooded area. Continue for 0.5 miles until you exit the wooded area. You will see a kayak launch here. To your left is the Golf course maintenance building which would be open on weekdays. Look across the water to see the town of Tonawanda and the Buffalo waterfront to your right. Walk North and pass the trailhead parking area which is another popular and free parking area. Once past the parking lot, look for a path/trail going West. This is called the Spaulding trail. Take that roughly 1 mile West through a forested area and you will exit near the entrance of Beaver Island Park. Turn right and follow the paved path along Beaver Island Parkway to where you parked.

There are many other good walking routes in the park, but this is one very nice scenic route that I have walked many times.

2022-09-07 Mike_W