Robert V Riddell State Park
Robert V Riddell State Park
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
26 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
8
Average
4
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zodreb
New York City, NY188 contributions
Oct 2020
A nice walk along lots of fun trails with really nice views everywhere you went. Honestly it was never a dull moment here. Everywhere was pretty. I was quite shocked at that, I couldn't get over the fact that everywhere you looked it was actually interesting and different. Forest, paths, stream, fields, everything. It's almost like someone made it but I don't think this area was planned. It seemed like a lot of pretty stuff just happened to be near each other and someone thought 'let's keep this place the way it is and not develop it'. Photographer's dream, really. You can walk around the entire thing in an hour or so. Bathroom not open during covid. Free parking, free entrance.
Written 13 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick M
Oneonta, NY712 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
We are so happy to have this State Park nearby - two separate acreages...First, the bottom (on Rte 28, north of I-88, exit 17) is where the Riddell farmstead was - plenty of trails to bird-watch, cross country ski and the Schenevus Creek is stocked! Second, the top (just south of exit 17 on Hemlock Road) is more hilly and has a myriad of trails (former logging roads from 3 separate eras) with plenty of open trails to explore, including waterfalls and a connector trail to Mud Lake which is adjacent to trails connecting to Hartwick College's Pine Lake Environmental Campus.
Written 25 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DavidBrandt67
Oneonta, NY6 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
We've been coming here for a couple years now. However to be honest we only live at the end of the road, so convenience is a big plus. The reason why we choose to come here is that it's a compact park while still remaining remote.
There are many water access points and our dogs love nothing more than coming here and swimming in the Schenevus Creek whenever they have the option, which is several times a week.
At the risk of more people visiting, the most beautiful times are dusk and dawn. It's just a fantastic place to get lost in nature and put your troubles on the back burner, if only for awhile.
There are many water access points and our dogs love nothing more than coming here and swimming in the Schenevus Creek whenever they have the option, which is several times a week.
At the risk of more people visiting, the most beautiful times are dusk and dawn. It's just a fantastic place to get lost in nature and put your troubles on the back burner, if only for awhile.
Written 20 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JuneNY
1,624 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
I have been to it many times. There are great trails in gorgeous woods. Part of the park is right along the Susquehanna River (at least thats what I think it is). There are occasional picnic tables.
Its just a great place to hike and enjoy nature. And, its free!!!!! If you don't like portapotties, make sure you use a nearby bathroom before you get there, though.
Its just a great place to hike and enjoy nature. And, its free!!!!! If you don't like portapotties, make sure you use a nearby bathroom before you get there, though.
Written 7 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie D
220 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
This is a small State Park with the entrance and parking area just off of Exit 17 on I-88. There are several short trails that begin from the back of the parking lot with a fairly well kept port-a-potty nearby. There is no fee to enter the park, and the the park is not staffed.
The trails are maintained and marked. If you combine all the loops, you can probably stitch together a nice, 3 mile walk/hike. The trails run beside Schenevus Creek and the Susquehanna River with a pretty footbridge over one small stream.
Snowshoeing is a delight here. On any given Saturday or Sunday in the winter, you'll find the wide trails with a track for snowshoes and a track for cross country skis. Take the dog and kids... it's fun.
The larger area of the park is just on the other side of 1-88. It is much less developed and there is no designated parking. There are several options for some nice hikes up and over the mountain. The Mud Lake trail is a 4 miles RT, out and back. If you wanted to just do the two miles over the mountain (about 500 ft vertical climb), you can park one car at the Pine Lake Environmental Campus. From the Mud Lake trail, there are several side trips with some interesting features.
All in all, this is a nice little state park. We're very happy to have it as an available recreation area.
The trails are maintained and marked. If you combine all the loops, you can probably stitch together a nice, 3 mile walk/hike. The trails run beside Schenevus Creek and the Susquehanna River with a pretty footbridge over one small stream.
Snowshoeing is a delight here. On any given Saturday or Sunday in the winter, you'll find the wide trails with a track for snowshoes and a track for cross country skis. Take the dog and kids... it's fun.
The larger area of the park is just on the other side of 1-88. It is much less developed and there is no designated parking. There are several options for some nice hikes up and over the mountain. The Mud Lake trail is a 4 miles RT, out and back. If you wanted to just do the two miles over the mountain (about 500 ft vertical climb), you can park one car at the Pine Lake Environmental Campus. From the Mud Lake trail, there are several side trips with some interesting features.
All in all, this is a nice little state park. We're very happy to have it as an available recreation area.
Written 10 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
objectiveone88
Cooperstown, NY37 contributions
Sept 2016 • Family
This park is nice for those who want an easy walk around some nice ,natural areas...old farm fields and some wooded areas too.
Near the stream at several points....he hike up to mud lake is great, harder than one would think, but its nice up top and there is a waterfall on the way up.
Yes,watch for ticks if you wander into the taller grass, but that's for anywhere these days.
Good place to ride a bike off road too...
Near the stream at several points....he hike up to mud lake is great, harder than one would think, but its nice up top and there is a waterfall on the way up.
Yes,watch for ticks if you wander into the taller grass, but that's for anywhere these days.
Good place to ride a bike off road too...
Written 18 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Howard S
Albany, NY839 contributions
Aug 2021
The narrative from the NYS Parks website indicates the following.
"Robert V. Riddell State Park offers more than 2,000 acres of fields and forested woodlands located in the Susquehanna River Valley. The park is named for Robert V. Riddell of Coliersville who believed that we are caretakers of the land and that we should pass it on, undeveloped to future generations.
The park offers a variety of family-friendly passive recreational opportunities. As part of an extensive statewide trail network, it is a preferred destination for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Additional activities include bird-watching, snowshoeing and fishing."
My comments are the following. It is just off I-88 and is very easy to get to. However, as a result you can hear the traffic when in the park. The park has a rest room, picnic tables, a barbecue, and benches. While I was there I saw dog walkers and bird watchers. There is easily room for 12 cars in the lot, and the lot was full when I was there, so evidently this is a popular park. It was also buggy and I am glad I used insect repellent.
NYS Parks, however, could improve the signage at the front of the park (see attached photo), as it barely provides any information and the trail map is a faded piece of paper posted on the board. It literally pales in comparison to what I have seen at other parks of comparable size.
"Robert V. Riddell State Park offers more than 2,000 acres of fields and forested woodlands located in the Susquehanna River Valley. The park is named for Robert V. Riddell of Coliersville who believed that we are caretakers of the land and that we should pass it on, undeveloped to future generations.
The park offers a variety of family-friendly passive recreational opportunities. As part of an extensive statewide trail network, it is a preferred destination for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Additional activities include bird-watching, snowshoeing and fishing."
My comments are the following. It is just off I-88 and is very easy to get to. However, as a result you can hear the traffic when in the park. The park has a rest room, picnic tables, a barbecue, and benches. While I was there I saw dog walkers and bird watchers. There is easily room for 12 cars in the lot, and the lot was full when I was there, so evidently this is a popular park. It was also buggy and I am glad I used insect repellent.
NYS Parks, however, could improve the signage at the front of the park (see attached photo), as it barely provides any information and the trail map is a faded piece of paper posted on the board. It literally pales in comparison to what I have seen at other parks of comparable size.
Written 16 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris J
Oneonta, NY43 contributions
May 2017 • Family
Being only a few miles from this park, my family and I frequent this location to just get away and enjoy some local nature.
Our favorite hiking spaces are the high peaks and Catskills, but they take time and planning to visit. For a spur of the moment place to go, Riddel Park fits the bill. Split by I88, this park has a more developed and utilized northern area and a more remote and trail less traveled southern side.
The parks are well maintained, typically are not busy, and have provided us hours of mostly level trails to explore. The northern part has a nicer parking lot. The southern area requires you to park on the shoulder of a road.
If you are looking to get out experience nature, this park is a good place to visit.
Our favorite hiking spaces are the high peaks and Catskills, but they take time and planning to visit. For a spur of the moment place to go, Riddel Park fits the bill. Split by I88, this park has a more developed and utilized northern area and a more remote and trail less traveled southern side.
The parks are well maintained, typically are not busy, and have provided us hours of mostly level trails to explore. The northern part has a nicer parking lot. The southern area requires you to park on the shoulder of a road.
If you are looking to get out experience nature, this park is a good place to visit.
Written 18 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary K
Oneonta, NY84 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
We've been to the Park many times, in all seasons, mostly for a walk on a nice day. We've only been in the part of the Park on the north side of I-88. Pleasant paths, great scenery, with a stream winding through it. You can pretty much stay on the level, or try the hilly bits, which are outside the main field. Watch out for some boggy spots.
Written 8 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amber N
Oneonta, New York, United States8 contributions
May 2015 • Family
This is a great place to go hiking with your dogs. They have a trail map, parking, and there are picnic tables nearby where you park. The majority of the actual trail-area of the park is very isolated and wild, which is great for the wilderness-wanderer. My three dogs loved the trails- which are partially wooded and partially field. Unfortunately, my one dog (not the other two for some reason) had six ticks on him when we checked them over at the car. Glad we checked and pulled them off! But ticks are definitely to be expected in this area- just check yourself and keep tick/flea meds on your pets (and pull off any you find). I would like to go back- I think I'll just steer clear of the grassy areas next time. :)
Written 21 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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