Emerald Lake State Park
A clear green lake sits tight against a wooded valley, with green lake and wooded shore shaping the visit
Artwork inspired by Paul Sample
A clear green lake sits tight against a wooded valley, with green lake and wooded shore shaping the visit Beach, paddling, campground, and forest paths surround a compact water body whose color comes from depth, reflection, and mineral-rich surroundings rather than tropical illusion. The park works at human scale: a short paddle and slow shore walk reveal changing light, ledges, and hemlock shade.
Arrive before the small beach fills, rent or bring a nonmotorized boat, and leave room for a quiet circuit away from the main lawn. The beach is unsupervised, parking and shoreline space are finite, and boats must follow current invasive-species rules.
- Water
- Emerald Lake
- Use
- Swimming and paddling
- Boats
- Nonmotorized
Quick guide
- Arrive before noon
- The beach and lot have limited capacity.
- Paddle the edges
- Reflections and ledges change around the shoreline.
Know before you go
- Arrive before noon
- The beach and lot have limited capacity.
- Paddle the edges
- Reflections and ledges change around the shoreline.
- Look beneath color
- Depth and surrounding forest shape the green appearance.
- Clean the boat
- Aquatic invasive-species rules protect the lake.
Good to know
The beach is unsupervised, parking and shoreline space are finite, and boats must follow current invasive-species rules.
Notice these
- green lake
- wooded shore
- small beach