Verona Beach State Park is split into two distinct areas by Route 13. While many people are familiar with the beach on the shore of Oneida Lake, fewer have explored the much larger section of the park on the east side of the highway. If you're one of the uninitiated, this cache will give you a new appreciation of this diverse park land. You can read about many of the trails in Bill Ehling's book, "50 Hikes in Central New York" and find your way around with his expert guidance.
You can park at "The Fisherman's Parking Area" here:
N 43 11.152
W 75 43.290
The cache is off the ground, and should be accessible in winter. Depending on the weather conditions, you may need snowshoes to reach it. Warning: Be prepared to bushwhack! In summer, wear a hat, long sleeves, long pants, and bug repellent. In winter, bring warm dogs. And please, let's not hear any more complaints about stickers. You're not playing this game because it's easy. If you want it easy, take up croquet.
Consider these words from another park reference site:
Climate - The Verona Beach State Park area experiences average January temperatures from 18 degrees to above 22 degrees Fahrenheit (-8 to above -6 degrees Celsius). It is important to note that this area receives some of the heaviest snowfalls in the nation. Summer temperatures average around 72 degrees Fahrenheit (around 22 degrees Celsius). Precipitation in the region ranges from 36 inches to more than 44 inches of rain and snowmelt. The heaviest precipitation is received in the region's northeast segment.
Take some advice from The Bard before heading out:
"Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt." - Thurio, Act II, Scene 4
The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
Here's the scoop on Verona Beach, NY from the USGS GNIS (Geographic Names Information Server).
But it's much more fun to take a virtual tour of Verona, Italy!
From the NYS Parks website:
"Verona Beach State Park, located on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake, is a picnicker's and camper's delight. Shaded picnic areas and the campground are adjacent to the beach with an excellent view of the water. The lake, Black Creek, cattail marshes, and bottomland hardwood swamps give Verona Beach one of the most diverse aquatic habitats in the Central Region, and well worth a hike on the "Woods and Wetland" nature trail. The winter season hosts snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and ice fishermen. The eastern portion of the park is open for hunting deer, small game, and waterfowl, in season."