This spring I wasn’t sure if we would even get warm enough to want to go for a swim, but lo! Summer has arrived in Tech Valley! Here is a list of places to take a refreshing dip, ranging from municipal pools, to state parks, to country swimming holes. I’ll be testing out some of the more obscure ones and look forward to reviewing them through the summer.
Updated 6/17/2013
Table of Contents
Albany County
Albany – City of Albany Recreation Department – Several outdoor pools available, click link for PDF of locations.
Cohoes – Cohoes Community Center – indoor pool, basketball court and gym. Day passes available, non-residents welcome.
Colonie – Ciccotti Family Recreation Center – indoor pool with lazy river, water splash park, zero depth entry. Day passes $15 per person, ages 6 months and up for non-members.
Guilderland – Tawasentha Park – Outdoor pool, non-residents allowed as guests of town residents.
Ravena – Ravena Village Park – Outdoor pool. Non-residents welcome. Call 756-8233 for info.
Ravena – Ravena-Coeymans School District Aquatics Center – Indoor pool. Non-residents welcome, fees and info in link.
New Scotland – Thompson’s Lake State Park – Beach, near Thatcher State Park
Rensselaer County
Cherry Plain – Cherry Plain State Park – Beach.
Grafton – Grafton Lakes State Park – Beach.
North Greenbush– Snyder’s Lake – Town of North Greenbush
Greene County
Athens – Athens Community Pool – Outdoor pool. Link goes to Facebook page with membership and entry info.
Haines Falls – North-South Lake – Beach. Campground, day use swimming available.
Hunter – Dolan’s Lake – Beach. Picnic tables, lifeguard in summer months.
Maplecrest – CD Lane Park – Beach. Scroll down for park and beach info.
Columbia County
Hudson – Hudson High School – Indoor pool.
Taconic Hills – Taconic Hills Aquatic and Fitness Center – Indoor pool. Non-residents welcome, fee info for residents in link.
Taconic State Park – Beach – Rudd Pond
Taconic State Park – Beach – Copake Falls
Schenectady County
Niskayuna – Niskayuna Town Pool – Outdoor pool. Residents only, non-residents may attend as guests of residents. For fee info, click link and download Summer Brochure pdf.
Saratoga County
Ballston Spa – Ballston Spa Village Pool – Outdoor pool, is next to playground.
Charlton – Little Troy Park Beach & Swim Club – Beach – Open Memorial Day – Labor Day.
Moreau Lake State Park – Beach.
Other Lists
Swimmingholes.org is user generated, and has listings by state. Your mileage may vary, as this is crowdsourced.
All Over Albany has a great roundup of pools, with hours of operation, on Capital Region Swimming Pools 2011.
Katie on Kids Out and About adds a few more on Beyond the Pool: Splash Fountains, Creeks and Beaches in the Capital District.
Be sure to check links given for new policies before making a trip!