From our friends at www.gofingerlakes.org
Top Six Paddling Locations in the Finger Lakes Region
On a warm spring afternoon, there is no better way to enjoy the beauty of the Finger Lakes than by boat. While many people are familiar with boating on the open waters of the lakes themselves, exploring the region in a kayak, paddleboard or canoe can be incredibly rewarding.
From two wild lakes to bayou-like swamps to a mighty river, the region boasts a diversity of opportunities for quiet water paddling. Recent interest has brought new outfitters to the region, adding ease to coordinating a spontaneous outing. Make planning even easier by visiting gofingerlakes.org – a new web site created by the non-profit Finger Lakes Land Trust to help connect people to the region’s best outdoor adventures.
Here are six of our favorite spots to enjoy by boat.
-Perfect Paddles Travel Brief-
Best Time of Year to Visit:
Although anytime is a great time to come, the best time to visit the Finger Lakes is late spring through summer, or May through September. It's an outdoor wonderland, full of recreational activities and water sports for any adventure lover!
Average Temperature:
Since the best time to visit this region is during the early spring and summer months we will only be sharing the relevant temperature information for these specified times.
May: 71° / 47°
June: 79° / 56°
July: 83° / 61°
August: 82° / 59°
September: 74° / 53°
SUP Environments to Paddle In
River
Lakes
SUP Activity Highlights:
Excursions
Tours
River SUP
Wildlife Paddles:
The Finger Lakes region is home to a wide variety of wildlife species. On any given paddle a participant is likely to see bald eagles, bears, beavers, or otters! To get in on a wildlife paddle, use our Locations/Activities guide HERE!
Lake Paddles:
If you are planning on visiting the Finger Lakes region it is best to team up with a company that is familiar with paddling them. While there, be sure to check out Bay Creek Paddling Center and No Waves, No Worries for all of your SUP needs!
Perfect Paddles Deals to Get Your Ready for Your Trip:
RHEOS (Floating) Sunglasses- 15% off with Member Benefits
Duk Gear- 20% off a waterproof cell phone case with Member Benefits
Check out more of our gear options HERE!
Interested in any of these extra activities? Be sure to head HERE to find a list of paddle pros in the area and what they offer!
Additional Attractions:
Belhurt Castle and Winery: Set inside a landmark 1880s stone castle, this stately hotel sits on the northwestern shore of Seneca Lake, 1.8 miles from the Geneva History Museum and 3.5 miles from Seneca Lake State Park. The individually decorated quarters range from simple to palatial. All have antiques, original art and en suite bathrooms; some have balconies, elaborate woodwork, fireplaces and stained-glass windows. Amenities include a relaxed tavern with lake views, an elegant fine-dining restaurant and a spa and salon. There's a winery on the property, and complimentary wine on tap in the lobby.
Taughannock Falls: Towering waterfall in Taughannock Falls State Park that can be seen from several hiking trails.
Seneca Lake Wine Trail: In the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country, 31 wineries sample & produce cool-climate wines.
Sonnenberg Gardens: Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park is a 50-acre state park located at 151 Charlotte Street in Canandaigua, New York, at the north end of Canandaigua Lake, in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. The house and gardens are open to the public every day, May through October.
Cornell Botanical Gardens: The Cornell Botanic Gardens is a botanical garden located adjacent to the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York. The Botanic Gardens proper consist of 25 acres of botanical gardens and 150 acres of the F.R. Newman Arboretum.
For reference, be sure to check out our Perfect Paddles Activities map! For the Finger Lakes Area, you will find it below:
Perfect Paddles Shops/Outfitters Near the Locations:
1. Bay Creek Paddling Center- Rochester, NY
2. No Waves No Worries- Bridgeport, NY
3. Pocono Paddleboard and Fitness- Lake Harmony, PA
4. SUP Girlz- Toronto, Canada
5. East of Six SUP- Toronto, Canada (Buddy Deal)
Buddy Deals: Don’t forget to take advantage of our fantastic Buddy Deals for exclusive discounts for our members! To become a member head HERE.
Chemung River
Wild rivers in New York are typically thought to be found only in the Adirondack Park, but the Chemung River is a great alternative for paddlers looking for a scenic trip local to the Finger Lakes region. The river is over 45 miles long, but many first-time visitors will prefer the six mile stretch between Bottcher’s Landing in Big Flats and the Fitch’s Bridge pullout just west of Elmira. This stretch of the river is particularly picturesque and passes under the steep Palisades, a long sinuous cliff hundreds of feet high that looms over the river along its southern shore.
Paddling the six mile stretch should take a couple hours but trips of a few days are also possible. It is even possible to continue along the Chemung to the Susquehanna and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay on a river adventure of epic proportions. Connect with one of many outfitters in the area to make your river trip easy.
Hemlock-Canadice State Forest
Paddlers are welcome to enjoy over 2,000 acres of tranquil water, free of the common boat traffic found on all of the other Finger Lakes. The shores of these gems are free of development and utterly wild, so exploring Hemlock-Canadice State Forest is like stepping back in time to behold the Finger Lakes in their natural state.
Please note: there is no swimming here. Otherwise, these preserved lands offer an abundance of recreational activities. With placid water to paddle and over 20 miles of multiuse trails surrounding the lakes, there is a lot to do and see and the opportunities are expanding.
West River
Over four miles long, the meandering West River, as well as trips along tributaries, provides ample paddling in an almost idyllic landscape. Tall cattails and thick lily pads carpet the banks throughout the 1,700-acre marshland. Surrounded by forested hillsides, the river and vast wetlands are truly peaceful and a world unto itself. In fact, paddling up the West River to the developed shores and loud motors on Canandaigua Lake feels a bit like stepping forward in time as the wilderness cedes to civilization. It is akin to Adirondack paddling trips and a true testament to how removed the river and wetlands actually feel.
Ambitious paddlers can explore the lake itself, but be advised strong north-south winds sometimes fill the center of the lake with tall waves. Various car top launch points are available along the river as well as on the southwest corner of Canandaigua Lake.
Howland Island
Paddlers will enjoy both the river and canal surrounding Howland Island with the added benefit that this is a “round” river trip. This type of configuration means you can paddle the river and canal and end up right where you started without retracing your course. As expected, these experiences are very rare and make planning a trip easy. The entire circuit would be about 10 miles and this includes the Seneca River, the Swift Water Channel, and the Erie Canal.
Longer trips can be created by navigating further along the Seneca River and looping back along the Erie Canal further to the southwest. While larger powered boats will be encountered along the canal these large boats tend to avoid the river due to thick weeds and other obstructions. The Montezuma Audubon Center, the informational hub for the Wetland Complex, offers regular, naturalist-guided, paddling trips to further enhance the experience.
Owasco Flats
At the southern end of Owasco Lake is an inlet and diverse floodplain that provide excellent birding, paddling, and a couple of short nature trails. Commonly known as Owasco Flats, the inlet serves as an important habitat for fish spawning within its emergent marshes, which also does double duty as a natural water quality buffer for Owasco Lake.
During the spring, runs of rainbow trout will find fisherman nearly shoulder to shoulder along the inlet trail. But paddling along the inlet is the activity that really shines here. The slow and quiet paddler will be rewarded with ample bird spotting and rare photo opportunities. When conditions permit, paddlers can explore the inlet all the way to Rt. 38 in Moravia.
Staghorn Cliffs
A paddle along Skaneateles Lake’s eastern shore will wow paddlers young and old. Leave from the boat launch at the Town of Scott Family Park, located just off of Glen Haven Road. From there, a two-mile paddle along the lake’s edge will bring you to the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Cora Kampfe Dickinson Conservation Area which protects 1,300 feet along the bluffs known locally as the “Staghorn Cliffs.”
Here, the lakeshore bedrock contains staghorn coral fossils. Peer into the water or step out of your boat to see an ancient coral reef from the Devonian Period, ca. 400-350 million years ago.
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