Gilbert Lake State Park — Attraction in Town of New Lisbon

We love Gilbert Lake State Park! We rent a few cabins at a different state park within a couple hours' drive each year on the 4th of July week, and this is our third stay at Gilbert Lake. We had cabins 27 and 28 and they're a great pair facing each other with a nice common yard area.

Great swimming and beach area, with playground and nice day use areas. The frisbee golf is a FUN addition that I really think more state parks should add for the cost. We always enjoy it! There are quite a few nice trails, and a nice walking trail that I'd almost say is wheelchair accessible around the lake. Gilbert Lake is a great spot to kayak, especially near sunset as most of the lake finally ends up in the shade. OH, and we saw a bald eagle at the beach, flying back and forth overhead, and then landed in a tree, while we were there! SO COOL! As for other family activities, there are also a lot of geocaches spread around the park, if you're into that. And if you're not, check it out. Great outdoor activity. :)

(If you've got Verizon cell phones, be warned the service is SPOTTY! None of us got more than 1 occasional bar of 3G at the cabins, but up in the Hilltop area, we got 1 or 2 bars of LTE. Down at frisbee golf at the picnic tables by the swings, we also got 1 or 2 bars of LTE. And lastly, NO SERVICE at the beach itself, but about 30 feet away to the right of the beach of you're facing it, in front of the stone building, 2 bars LTE. Very strange lol.)

The 6-person cabins are set up nicely with cold running water, fridge, stove, sink, and a "stall" type toilet out on the enclosed porch. 2 decent sized bedrooms and a main common room.

The parking for the beach is definitely less than optimal, though. It was almost as easy to just walk down from the cabins (and we were the furthest cabins, just about) than to park in the beach lot across the way from the beach and go back up. There is a nice dropoff zone, though. But walking all those stairs a few times a day every day for a week will remind you of those leg muscles when you get back to camp!

Everyone was super nice that we encountered (except one ranger who I won't provide more details on because it would likely give this person away lol) - but everyone else from the guys in the golf carts ramming around doing things to the other rangers on bikes and such, to the folks in the office, were super friendly...

Second year coming to Gilbert Lake and this year experience has been disgusting!!!! The CHEIF of the lifeguards targeted my children immediately the first time going on the beach during this stay. I have no problem in following the rules I let my 14yr,11yr,10yr,8yr,and 8 yr old children go in the water while I set up at the table. Mind you there is a lifeguard present. So the lifeguard told my sister she has to be in arm’s length of the kids. Fine! My sister stays in the water with them now. I hear on the loud speaker that all parents must be in the water with their kids at all times.I go in the water and the lifeguard just has been staring at me for a very long period of time so I smiled and waved at her and she didn’t wave back she called another lifeguard to sit in her chair and she than heads into the water running yelling at me in front of my kids pointing her finger at me telling me that I disrespected her WHICH WAS NOT TRUE! At this moment I seen it for what it was I got me and my kids out of the water and packed my things I looked around and realized my kids were the only black kids around , their were other kids without no parents in the water with them which they seem to look a lot younger than my kids and this was clearly a discrimination situation which I had told her and she tells me she is the CHEIF. This is heart breaking for my kids and I feel she should get in trouble for this !!!!! A random lady on the beach seen what happened and found me as I was leaving and told me she seen the whole thing and it was clearly because of the color of their skin. This is sooooo freaking sad and unacceptable!!!!!!! The lady made a complaint on the CHEIF and the manager of the park Tom came along listened to what happened and I told him I feel we was being discriminated he tells me well she has a black husband so she wouldn’t be raciest 🤦🏻‍♀️

The whole thing was crazy I will not be bringing my family...

I have spent 7 years coming here since 2017, (no 2018 or 2020). Beautiful surroundings and campsites. Office is right when you pull in and has 1.50.keurig coffee on demand, many Gilbert Lake stickers, mugs, shirts and souvenirs which is nice. Firewood is sold there and left out of the park and down a mile on left is a consistent firewood seller and gives free things away. Honor system setup and quality wood. Campsites are in a loop setting and you feel in the woods mostly , but some.sites are kind of open but most have woods behind them. Some also have electric for tents. I had site 64, 68, and 127, 107 over the years and all are decent. The lake is beautiful and some activities to do there too. Cooperstown is about a 20 minute ride thru beautiful farm country. Madison Bouclville Antique Show is our draw to the area where huge massive antique show goes on in June and August. Lots to do in Cooperstown with a trolley ride and scenic train and mini golf, kayak, rail riders in Milford. Also Fly Creek Cider Mill is a fun attraction. Plenty to do around with Oneonta 15 minutes away, and a Mirabito convenience store 10 minutes down the way. Colonial Ridge Golf is 5 minutes away and incredibly beautiful, relaxing, and well priced. Paved roads are brand new and is nice driving thru with deer all around at certain times. Everyone working there is nice and professional. Nothing bad to say over the 7 years at all. Stars are absolutely amazing...