El Dorado Beach Preserve
Henderson, NY
El Dorado Beach Preserve is a 360 acre Nature Conservancy preserve on eastern Lake Ontario, part of the same dune system as Sandy Island and Southwick. A 1.4 mile trail leads to the beach, a famous stop for migrating shorebirds. It's open from early May until early fall; swimming, fishing, bikes, and motor vehicles aren't allowed.
A wild, protected beach made for birders, though swimming isn't allowed.
How we score beachesBring binoculars. The rocky part of the beach is closed from mid May through September to protect nesting birds, so watch from the trail.
A small lot at the preserve entrance.
A 1.4 mile walking trail leads to the beach.
Open early May to early fall. Shorebird migration peaks in late spring and late summer.
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