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Swinging Bridge Reservoir

Bethel · Thompson · Lumberland · Forestburgh, New York — Sullivan County.

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885Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120022971).

Location & fast facts

Where Swinging Bridge Reservoir is in New York

The red circle marks Swinging Bridge Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Swinging Bridge Reservoir

  • County: Sullivan
  • Shore towns: Bethel, Thompson, Lumberland, Forestburgh
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 89 mi from Albany and 121 mi from Syracuse, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in New York

Official NYSDEC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 2 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Walleye, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass and Crappie
  • Camping. 16 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official fishing data (NYSDEC)

Fish species listed by NYSDEC for this recommended fishing water: Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Yellow perch, Crappie, Walleye, Carp.

Stocked by the state: Walleye (2020, 2022, 2024; 49,900 fish in all, fry included)

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds and Fish Stocking Lists (2011 on) on data.ny.gov, records for Swinging Bridge Reservoir (Sullivan County). NYSDEC page.

Lake map

Swinging Bridge Reservoir shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)21 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Thompson
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Thompson

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120022971), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Swinging Bridge Reservoir

We found 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Swinging Bridge Reservoir, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

10 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in New York

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (41.6173, -74.7833). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Swinging Bridge Reservoir. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Swinging Bridge Reservoir

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampThompson—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating41.6090, -74.7830
    Boat rampThompson—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating41.6263, -74.7812

    NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Swinging Bridge Reservoir

    How big is Swinging Bridge Reservoir?

    Swinging Bridge Reservoir covers about 885 acres in Bethel, Thompson, Lumberland and Forestburgh, New York (Sullivan County).

    What fish are in Swinging Bridge Reservoir?

    NYSDEC fishing and stocking data lists Walleye, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Crappie, Yellow perch, Sunfish and Carp.

    Is there a public boat launch on Swinging Bridge Reservoir?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Swinging Bridge Reservoir?

    Yes. We list 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Swinging Bridge Reservoir?

    Swinging Bridge Reservoir touches Bethel, Thompson, Lumberland and Forestburgh in Sullivan County, New York.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Swinging Bridge Reservoir? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New York lakes & ponds · All waters in Bethel