Description:

Wellesley Island State Park has the largest camping complex in the Thousand Islands region. Secluded wilderness sites nestled along the banks of the St. Lawrence River are accessible only by foot or boat. Within this rustic paradise, fishing is excellent--particularly for muskie in autumn. To accommodate boaters, the park has a full service marina and four boat launches. A sandy beach on the river offers great swimming and sunbathing and there is a recreation barn and 9-hole golf course on the Island. One of the main attractions of the park is the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, which includes a museum, varied habitats such as wooded wetlands, 3 miles of shoreline and open granite outcrops, and miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and nature education. The Nature Center provides educational and recreational programs for all ages.

Geography:

Wellesley Island State Park is located on Wellesley Island, in the St. Lawrence River. It is part of the Town of Orleans, in Jefferson County.

Recreation:

Park activities range from summertime beach swimming to wintertime ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Visitors will also enjoy biking, boating, fishing, golfing, hiking, hunting, visiting the museum, participating in park-organized recreation activities, and picnicking. The Nature Center has a handicapped-accessible trail with access to picnic tables and the seasonal butterfly house.

Facilities:

The park offers a beach, a marina, boat launch sites, boat rentals, boat dockage, cabins, campsites, dumping stations, showers, food concessions, a golf course, a nature trail, a museum and visitor center, picnic tables, a playground, and playing fields. The park has facilities for group camping and twelve vacation rentals, which are fully outfitted cottages, with porches from which renters can enjoy the sunset.

Nearby Attractions:

Nearby attractions include Canoe-Picnic Point State Park, Grass Point State Park, Dewolf Point State Park, Waterson Point State Park, and Wellesley Island State Park Golf Course.