Reviews: Sylvan Beach Pier

Review Now

These are observations from the boating community. Waterway Guide information is verified regularly and all efforts will be made to validate any new updates submitted here. Thank you for taking the time to share comments about your experience.

Waterway Guide reserves the option of editing reviews and comments for grammar, clarity and the removal of defamatory or potentially slanderous language. When appropriate, reviews are forwarded to businesses for response prior to being made public. We will make every effort to be objective and impartial when posting reviews, but do not publicize details of disputes between parties.

Sylvan Beach Pier

Sylvan Beach, NY
Erie Canal 129.34 129.34

Lat / Lon: N 43° 11.754' / W 075° 43.672'

4.23

(13)

4.23 out of 5 stars

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Jul 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Sylvan Beach is a seasonal beach community with a very long dock wall for 20+ boats. There are no services, but the dock wall provides easy access to several restaurants and a very nice lakefront park. The wall fills up on the weekends with local traffic but seems to have plenty of space for transit boats during the week. The food at The Lake House, The Calan View Café and the Pancake House was all very good. The dock wall and park areas are very pet friendly. There is a Dollar General with a modest selection of groceries within an easy walk from the dock. Sung Harbor, just over the Route 13 bridge to the south, was exceptionally accommodating in that they received an Amazon delivery of fuel filters for us and installed them while the boat was on the dock wall (we were too large to get into their marina repair area).

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: David Mann, Now or Never, on Jun 17, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 5

No power or water available however it's free and close to town. Lots of pedestrian traffic in this area and when combined with the good visibility it feels very safe. Close proximity to food, drinks, and attractions including the beach. No cleats but steel rings are used to tie up. Great place to wait for the lake to lay down.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Tony Green on Jun 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

Good location on Oneida Lake. We're a small boat and had no trouble with the height of the east wall. Very busy, and it was a Tuesday—I can see why others avoid coming here on weekends. No services, and we had generator noise from a neighbor. Passing boat wakes started early and ended late, and the road noise was above average. The town is very touristy and unique, with a large public beach and amusement park, which was closed during our stay. Good restaurant options; we liked Eddie's. For some peace and quiet, cross the canal into Verona, where there are a lighthouse and state park. We're glad we saw this place, and might return.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Lance Williamson on Sep 23, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

We stayed at the wall east of the bridge. Less wave action at this location. Amusement park was closed for the season as were many businesses. Bathroom and showers are LONG WAY from the dock, past the State Police building in town.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Francis Gravel on Sep 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 6.7'

Rating: 5

Perfect place with kids. Beach, amusement park and resto availlable. Limited place during weekend. Need to be there before dinner or you will have some time to find a place to tie.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Our Boat Story, Mahalo, on Aug 16, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Likely the best beach next to a free dock. We stayed on the east side. It was much quieter than the west dock, but east has rings instead of cleats and is much higher. The amusement park is close by and fun for kids and adults alike. A beautiful park by the beach to walk the dogs. Loved this beautiful spot. Wish we could have stayed longer, but weather window forced us to cross the lake the next day.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Paul Steindorf, Ohana, on Jul 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Unless you are lucky enough to get a slip at Holmes Marina (very limited availability) this free wall is your only choice. Lots of locals raft up here during the weekends. But a good place to stage for an Oneida Lake crossing the next morning before afternoon winds build.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Graeme Walker, Confirmed Aquaholic, on Jul 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Had a nice spot on the East wall, plenty of rings, some with rope (wouldn't use those). No power or water. There were about eight of us East of the bridge, probably could have put more if we bunched up. Had lunch at the Pancake House, was very good. Not a big town and quite touristy with circus rides a couple of hundred yards away, didn't bother us wrt noise however.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Stephane Beauchamp, Meeresruh, on Jul 14, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 27'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 4

All the good spaces were taken on the east side of bridge so we went on the west side north wall with NW winds was a bit rocky, but notthing to make you spill your coffee and just reminds you you are in a boat????. There's a nice beach not far from there and water was warm mid july. There's an ice cream place with more then 50 flavors thats good on the main street and the melon salad at the lake house restaurant was really good and special. The amusement park was closed when we where there on a wednesday, but the arcade was open till 9pm.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Brian Wicks on Jun 20, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 4

This is well-protected wall with rings spaced out every 30' or so. We were on the wall with eight other boats. Several nice restaurants in close walking distance. Day boaters do use the wall as well. Watch out for floating logs coming out of canal and into Lake Oneida.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Wade A. on Jul 4, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

A nice stop before crossing Lake Oneida. Be prepared to be "off grid". Definitely stay east of the highway bridge to avoid wind/wave action from the lake. High wall works well for larger boats. Rings are well spaced. Good dog walking. Easy walk to dining/shopping. Can be a bit "buggy" at times.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Rob Dare, Liberty Call , on Jun 18, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

1000 foot long wall. East side of the bridge is a high wall with rings. West side of bridge is low fixed dock. West side is very exposed to west winds off the lake. The is a public restroom building a couple of blocks over from the wall. Several restaurants right at the wall. Was a nice place to stop to setup an early morning run across the lake. Nice green space and lots of areas to walk a dog.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: Brian Chapin, Tug Life, on Jun 16, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 4

Tie up with rings along entire length of wall. Short height of wall makes for easy access. Per W.W. guide, the best protection from waves and west wind is along wall east of bridge. Picnic tables, trash cans and green space adjacent to wall. Unable to locate restrooms.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer