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Swinging Bridge Lake, New York, USA

Also known as:  Swinging Bridge Reservoir

Swinging Bridge Lake is a Catskills lake located in southern Sullivan County, New York and was formed by the damming of the Mongaup River in 1926 for hydroelectric power. Bethel, Forestburgh, Lumberland, and Thompson are the four townships that border Swinging Bridge Lake. The lake’s name derived from a walking bridge across the Mongaup River that consisted of wooden planks held in place by steel cables. Anyone…
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    • All About Swinging Bridge Lake, NY

    Lake Locations: USA - US Mid-Atlantic Region - New York - Catskills Region, NY -

    Swinging Bridge Lake is a Catskills lake located in southern Sullivan County, New York and was formed by the damming of the Mongaup River in 1926 for hydroelectric power. Bethel, Forestburgh, Lumberland, and Thompson are the four townships that border Swinging Bridge Lake.

    The lake’s name derived from a walking bridge across the Mongaup River that consisted of wooden planks held in place by steel cables. Anyone daring enough to use the bridge was in for a “swinging” good time. The name Swinging Bridge Lake was given to the newly formed lake when the dam was completed.

    Swinging Bridge Lake is an exciting place for fishing, swimming, boating, and sailing. There are no restrictions on jet skis, size of boats, or even sea planes. White water paddling is located on the Mongaup River for the more adventuresome visitor. Although the average depth of the lake is more than 30 feet, there are sandbars and boulders less than a foot under the surface, so boaters should take care to avoid these areas. The depth of Swinging Bridge Lake ranges from 5 feet to a maximum depth of 110 feet.

    There is no shortage of fish as the Department of Environmental Conservation stocks Swinging Bridge Reservoir with fish every spring. Trout, bass, pickerel, blue gill, carp, perch, catfish, walleye, largemouth bass, and crappies are abundant, making Swinging Bridge Lake a top fishing spot for local fishing enthusiasts as well as visitors seeking their luck. Ice fishing is popular in winter.

    There are two public launch areas on Swinging Bridge Lake that are maintained by Alliance Energy Renewables, the owners of Swinging Bridge Lake. The Plank Road Northwest Recreation Area has a small picnic area, a portage launch point for non-powered water craft, and a boat launch with capabilities for shallow draft boats up to 20 feet. The Starlight Road Recreation Area has a picnic area and boat launch available. Alliance lowers water levels by about 17 feet in the winter to provide storage for heavy spring runoff.

    Nature enthusiasts will want to bring their cameras and binoculars to Swinging Bridge Lake. With abundant water and food plots available, the Swinging Bridge Lake area is teeming with wildlife. Families of turkey, deer, black bear, fox, rabbits, and beaver can be seen around the lake. Look to the sky for blue herons, a wide variety of songbirds, as well as the American Bald Eagle. Parts of Swinging Bridge Lake and its shoreline have become protected by the Department of Environmental Conservation for the preservation of the nesting grounds of the beautiful eagles, and no further home construction will be allowed in these protected areas.

    Trails around Swinging Bridge Lake provide opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. In the winter, these same trails can be used for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Accommodations around Swinging Bridge Lake are as varied as the activities there. You can choose from vacation rental homes, cabin rentals, or camping.

    If you should tire of nature’s beauty at Swinging Bridge Reservoir, a short drive will provide you many exciting attractions. Sullivan County is a great tourist area to visit with its historic sites, horse racing, shopping, golfing, and winter time skiing. A two hour drive will take you straight to New York City with all its hustle and bustle, but remember when you have had your fill of the noisy crowds and traffic congestion, tranquil Swinging Bridge Lake is just a short ride home.

    So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, your fishing gear, cameras, binoculars, and head to Swinging Bridge Lake today.

    Things to Do at Swinging Bridge Lake

    These are some activities in the Swinging Bridge Lake, NY area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Horseback Riding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Shopping

    What Kind of Fish Are in Swinging Bridge Lake?

    Swinging Bridge Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Carp
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Pickerel
    • Pike
    • Trout
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Swinging Bridge Lake

    If you’re considering a Swinging Bridge Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Swinging Bridge Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Swinging Bridge Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Swinging Bridge Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Alliance Energy Renewables, LLC

    Surface Area: 860 acres

    Shoreline Length: 28 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,065 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 1,048 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,070 feet

    Average Depth: 33 feet

    Maximum Depth: 110 feet

    Water Volume: 28,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1926

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