This Serene New York State Park Boasts Vibrant, Turquoise Lakes With Caribbean-Like Water

The two small lakes in Green Lakes State Park have brilliant aqua water. It looks like it should be lapping the white-sand beach of an under-the-radar Caribbean island. Green and Round Lakes are not in the West Indies, though. Far from it. These hidden gem lakes are where you would least expect to find them, tucked away in Upstate New York.

Green Lakes State Park is in the small village of Fayetteville. Syracuse, which is known as the snowiest city in America during the winter, is only 10 miles west. Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) has nonstop flights from cities all over the country, Albany, the capital of the state, is just over two hours away, while the drive from New York City, which takes about four and a half hours, is a longer, but still-manageable, drive.

The trip is well worth it. Green Lakes State Park (car entrance fee $10) sits on 1,995 acres on the northern edge of Fayetteville. It is covered with a maple-basswood rich mesic forest and the 18-hole Green Lakes State Park Golf Course. There are more than 15 miles of hiking and biking trails, plus another 10 miles for cross-country skiing when it snows, in the state park. But the biggest reason to visit this state park is its two meromictic lakes.

As soon as you see the two lakes, you will realize why Green Lakes State Park is so underrated. A meromictic lake, whose surface and bottom waters do not mix between the seasons, is very rare, with fewer than 30 of them in the entire world. So there is a high potential for these lakes to have very unique, even ancient, plant and animal life.

Green and Round Lakes were both formed by glaciers during the last ice age, which was about 15,000 years ago. Green Lake, the larger of the two lakes, has a surface area of 65 acres with a maximum depth of about 195 feet. It has been designated a National Natural Landmark. Round Lake's surface area is around 34 acres, and 170 feet deep. Both pristine lakes have crystal-clear water that turns a stunning blue-green color, thanks to cyanobacteria, in the spring and summer. It really does look like Caribbean water. They are also surrounded by that dense upland forest, making for a pretty spectacular setting.

Given the sensitive landscape, private boats and kayaks are not allowed in the state park. However, you can rent a row boat ($15/hour) or a kayak (single $12/hour, tandem $20/hour) at the boat house.

Though there are plenty of spots in the state park with gorgeous views of the lakes, the best way to ogle their beauty is to walk around them. The Green Lake to Round Lake Trail circles both lakes. The nearly three-mile path is wide, well-maintained, and relatively flat. It even has informational plaques along the way. If you start your hike near the sandy beach on Green Lake, you can cool off as soon as you finish the loop trail. Just be prepared: It may not feel as tropical as it looks.

When you find a spot like this, it is always hard to leave at the end of the day. Luckily, at Green Lakes State Park, you don't have to. The state park has seven cabins ($115.50 per night with a two-night minimum) and 137 campsites (starting at $20 per night) for rent from mid-May through mid-October. Your pets can even join, so long as they stay on a leash. By spending the night, you will hopefully get to see a pink sunrise over the turquoise water. It is even more beautiful and serene first thing in the morning.

To extend your trip in Upstate New York, you should also check out Sylvan Beach on Oneida Lake. Not only is it the perfect spot to plan a lakeside vacation, but it is just 30 minutes from Green Lakes State Park. There is no need to book a flight to the Caribbean this summer.