Plattsburgh City Beach

Manisha

Been to this beach a few times this summer, it’s beautiful. It does not feel overcrowded, shallow water is great for the little ones. Removing one star because restrooms were dirty and they close earlier than beach closing time. By 5:45pm, doors were already locked yesterday.

Jodie-Lynn McMullen

Quiet and peaceful beach an hour ish away from Montreal?! Yes please..what's that? 7$ to get in and that's it? Pffft.. the beach is clean and well maintained, lots of picnic tables and BBQs available as well! We had an entire section of the beach to ourselves! The only downside is that the bathrooms and changing rooms aren't the cleanest but for 7$ of beachy peace for the day who is going to complain about that?

Aaron Simpson

Reportedly one of the largest freshwater beaches in the United States, and one I’d never heard of, the Plattsburgh City Beach presented itself to me as something of a hidden gem. Sitting on the coast of Lake Champlain’s Cumberland Bay, the beach offers over a mile of sand, picnic areas, space for windsurfing, kayaking, and an adjacent beach bar. Speaking as someone that’s more accustomed to the beaches one can find in the Carolinas, seeing New York’s Crab Island and Velcour Island in the foreground and Vermont’s Green Mountains in the background was a breathtakingly different beachside perspective. The sand, admittedly more course than that which can be found on beaches from North Carolina to Florida, was comfortable to walk barefoot - the small stones feeling something like an exfoliating massage. The water was truthfully a little cold for my preference, settling in the low sixties. It didn’t take long to become accustomed to the temperature while wading through the shoreline, but submerging myself for a swim seemed an unpleasant prospect that I refused to indulge. Beside the public entrance to the beach sat a lifeguard chair and an area that they had cordoned off for swimming. Disappointingly, the area was small and shallow, never really wetting my knees beyond the splash of a rogue wave. Unfamiliar with the state rules, my stepson found himself the subject of constant whistling for stepping out a little further than the lifeguard on duty liked, and even faced a few blasts from the air horn for venturing out a few feet to the side. Following a brief conversation with the lifeguard, it seemed that those wishing to splash around and venture out a little deeper needed to be beyond 100ft to the side of the cordoned area - a fact which wasn’t signposted or clear to us. Parking for non-residents was $12, paid by plate, and was effective as a day pass. Parking for residents was free. There is a public restroom with showers, which seems less necessary considering that the beach feeds out into freshwater rather than saltwater, and a beach bar. However, the area felt underdeveloped and touches on a curious debate as to the benefits of an almost ‘undiscovered’ beach that seems empty and allows the space a large group would want to spread out, versus a more developed area with amenities designed to keep you in the area for longer. Overall, the Plattsburgh City Beach was a worthwhile day trip, offering enough entertainment for an afternoon with the family: space enough for beach games, sunbathing, and enjoying a cold beer in the sun. Yet, the strict lifeguards and underdeveloped environment make it difficult to stay beyond a few hours.

Johnny Charron

Beautiful beach just north of downtown Plattsburgh NY, Great for all ages and the beach has a dog park at the entrance of parking lot.Cabana beach bar has cold drinks ,alcohol and snacks ,Ice cream etc owner is awesome and hours of …