Mills Memorial State Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Mills Memorial State Park is a popular destination located in the town of St.


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Summary

Johnsville, New York. The park sits on the southern shore of the Erie Canal and offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping.

One of the main attractions of the park is the historic Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, which preserves and celebrates the canal's history. The site includes a visitor center, several historic buildings, and a walking trail that follows the canal's original path.

Another highlight of Mills Memorial State Park is the 60-acre lake, which is open for fishing, boating, and swimming. There are several picnic areas and a playground for families to enjoy.

Visitors to the park can also explore the many miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through the surrounding forests and wetlands. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including beavers, muskrats, and numerous bird species.

The best time to visit Mills Memorial State Park is during the summer months when temperatures are warm enough for swimming and outdoor activities. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Overall, Mills Memorial State Park is an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural significance.

       

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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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