Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park is located in Dutchess County, New York.


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Summary

It offers visitors a variety of activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and camping. The park covers over 1,000 acres and has a beautiful view of the Hudson River.

One reason to visit Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park is its natural beauty. Visitors can enjoy a scenic view of the Hudson River and the surrounding mountains. The park has several trails that offer hiking opportunities for all skill levels. It also has a beach area where visitors can swim, sunbathe, or have a picnic.

There are several points of interest to see within the park, including the Staatsburgh State Historic Site, which is a historic mansion located adjacent to the park. Visitors can take a guided tour of the mansion and learn about its history. The park also has a marina where visitors can rent boats or launch their own.

Interesting facts about Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park include that it was originally known as the Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park until it was renamed in 1996. The park is named after Margaret Lewis Norrie, who was an advocate for parks and recreation in New York State. The park also has a unique geological formation called the Cockles Shell Ridge, which is a limestone ridge that was formed over 400 million years ago.

The best time of year to visit Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the park offers the most activities. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing during the winter months.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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