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Outdoor Recreation

From skiing and snowmobiling in winter to camping, boating and hiking in the warmer months, New York has it all. Here hunters, anglers, trappers, clammers, birdwatchers, hikers, nature photographers -- anyone who likes outdoor pursuits can access a wealth of forests and streams, mountains and marshes, lakes, fields and coastlines.

On this website you will find information about

  • New York's diverse public lands, including locations, facilities, allowed uses, and special rules
  • Licenses, permits and rules governing outdoor pursuits in New York
  • DEC campgrounds, ski center, trails and other special facilities
  • How-to and safety tips, along with outdoor manners and courtesy

There's also some related information about how DEC regulates commercial taking of certain natural resources.

More about Outdoor Recreation:

  • Hunting - Hunting is among the most popular forms of wildlife recreation in New York State. Nearly 700,000 New Yorkers and over 50,000 nonresidents hunt in the Empire State.
  • Trapping - Summary of Regulations on furbearer management and trapping.
  • Fishing - Where to fish, how to fish, when to fish, for both freshwater and saltwater species.
  • Boating - Information about boating in New York.
  • Camping - The NYSDEC's Bureau of Recreation oversees the operations of the State owned campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves.
  • Accessible Recreation - Accessible recreation on public lands with facilities and programs suited for a wide range of ages and physical abilities
  • Hiking & Rock Climbing - Hiking trails are maintained on many areas of Forest Preserve land in the Adirondack Park and Catskill Park as well as on State Forests, Wildlife Management Areas and Unique Areas.
  • Snowmobiles - DEC policies for snowmobile use
  • Skiing - The cross-country ski trails in DEC Region 6's state forests
  • Places to Go - State-owned lands where the public can go for recreation