This is part of a 30-day series exploring adventurous living near Rockaway Beach, Queens.

27th Day in Rockaway: Backpacking III + Norton Basin

Training for my trekking trip continues to play a key role in my Rockaway explorations - as I found yet another awesome area to explore with hiking books on and backpack loaded up.

My intention was to check out Bayswater State Point Park but I was diverted by Bayswater Park only a few blocks away. Bayswater Park is a city park and was full of people on Monday after work hanging out, playing basketball, tennis and fishing. The view over the water was incredible and immediately caught my attention.

I decided to walk the perimeter of the park which is where I found the entrance to Norton Basin, an 11-acre NY State owned natural resource area which had a well maintained trail straight into the woods. The quiet trail brought me to another beautiful body of water which was surrounded by side trails and rock outcroppings to explore.

By the time I was done the sun was setting so the real Bayswater would have to wait for another day.

How to get to Norton Basin

Norton Basin is attached to NYC's Bayswater Park which is accessible via Beach Channel Drive and Bay 32nd Street in Far Rockaway, Queens (google map). Upon entering Bayswater Park you'll walk past the tennis courts into a large open field. Walk around the North side of the field until you reach a sign that says Norton Basin - the trail is about 20 feet behind the sign. Norton Basin is open dawn to dusk everyday.