Cayuga Lake
Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes, reaches across three counties (Seneca, Cayuga and Tompkins counties) and stretches for nearly 40 miles from Seneca Falls to Ithaca. Cayuga Lake feeds into the Seneca and Cayuga Canal, which connects to the Erie Canal. Ithaca, population 29,287 (2000 census), is at the southern end of Cayuga Lake. As host to Cornell University and Ithaca College, Ithaca has a gentle, bohemian vibe and plenty of associated culture. The area around Ithaca is known for its exceptional waterfalls and gorges. Small communities line the shores of the lake, including Myers, King Ferry, Aurora, Levanna, Union Springs and Cayuga on the eastern shore and Sheldrake, Poplar Beach and Canoga on the western shore.
Cayuga Lake also features one of the two islands in all of the Finger Lakes: Frontenac Island, visible from the lakefront shoreline at Union Springs. If you have an interest in paleontology, you'll want to check out the stromatoporoids on Frontenac.
Don't Miss
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail - Take a tour of the wineries around Cayuga Lake and get a taste of the local viticulture.
Cruising - Cayuga Lake is the perfect spot for a cruise. Champagne brunch, anyone?
Ithaca - Plenty of dining, arts and entertainment options in this boho college town. Build up an appetite by exploring Robert Treman State Park.
What To Do
Bicycling
Like most of the Finger Lakes, the area around Cayuga Lake is good for bicyclists, provided that they are experienced with road riding. There are no marked biking trails on the lake, but the 101-mile circuit around the lake is a popular road route. Several organizations host annual rides. The Ithaca Triathlon Club holds the 7th Annual Cayuga Lake Triathlon on Sunday, August 20, 2009. (http://www.ithacatriathlonclub.org/race/default.html)
Boating
Cayuga Lake is very popular for sailing and other recreational boating. If you are based near Ithaca, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park (607-273-3440) is the best place for public boat launches and dockage. Call ahead: the park is popular, and transient slips go quickly.
Marinas, both public and private, are located all around Cayuga Lake.
Beacon Bay Marina
Castelli's Marina
Cayuga Marina & Campground
Dean's Cove
Don's Marina
Finger Lakes Marine Service
Hibiscus Harbor Marina
Ithaca Yacht Club
Johnson Boat Yard & Marina
Lansing Town Park & Marina
Lockview Marina
Troy's Marina
Willis Marina
If you're looking for someone else to take the helm, all sorts of cruises are on offer on Cayuga Lake, including lunch, dinner and cocktail cruises. Cayuga Lake Cruises (607-256-0898) is a big operator on the lake; their three-hour dinner cruise is especially popular with visitors to Cayuga Lake.
Farming
Farming is big business in the area around Cayuga Lake, as agriculture is the single largest land use in the region. Because of environmental regulations designed to minimize the impact of industry on the Cayuga Lake watershed, farms are held to a high standard of environmental management, and the most eco-friendly farms proudly display "Lake Friendly Farm" signage.
Many farms offer tours. On the western side of Cayuga Lake, you'll find you-pick farms like Silver Queen Farm and specialized cheese makers like Farmstead Cheese. You'll also find alpaca farms! On the eastern side of Cayuga Lake, there are orchards and organic farms, as well as a highly regarded creamery.
Local produce can be found at the Ithaca Farmers Market.
Fishing
Cayuga Lake is popular with anglers. Trout fishing (especially brown trout, lake trout and rainbow trout) is particularly good on Cayuga lake. Pickerel, large-mouth bass, small-mouth bass, and northern pike can be found in the warmer waters of the more shallow areas of the lake. The northern and southern ends of Cayuga Lake feature shoals that make for great fishing. Check out the area around the southern end of the lake, especially the waters near Ithaca and Cayuga Lake State Park. You're likely to find plenty of pike, bass, bullhead and perch.
Hiking
Robert Treman State Park, just five miles south of Ithaca, offers some of the most scenic hiking trails in the area. The waterfalls, gorges and rock formations in the the park are well known with outdoors enthusiasts. Use the upper park entrance and check out the Old Mill Falls, among others, and follow the Gorge Trail to Enfield Glen.
Hot Air Balloon Rides
Ballooning enthusiasts should check out the Festival of Balloons in nearby Dansville - it will be held on Labor Day Weekend 2009. Several hot air balloon operations offer rides in the Finger Lakes region:
High Hopes Balloon Co. offers flights in the Finger Lakes and surrounding area. (585-377-7768, highhopesbaloon@aol.com, http://www.highhopesballoon.com/) For ballooning enthusiasts, the Festival of Balloons in nearby Dansville will be held on Labor Day Weekend 2009.
Finger Lakes Ballooning offers flights in the Finger Lakes and surrounding area. (315-594-8946)
Liberty Balloon Company offers flights in the Finger Lakes and Letchworth Park. They have a special wine country tour that launches from Canadaigua. (1-800-777-2FLY, office@libertyballoon.com, http://www.libertyballoon.com)
Sunset Adventures, based in nearby Auburn, offers balloon flights in the Finger Lakes area. (315-252-7768, http://www.fingerlakes-ballooning.com/)
Hunting
The best hunting and trapping around Cayuga Lake can be found in the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, a New York State-managed spread that includes uplands, wetlands, hiking trails and signed nature trails.
Public Parks
Cayuga Lake State Park, in Seneca Falls, is a lake-front park with fishing, camping, picnic tables, a public boat launch and a playground for the kids. This park, on the north-western shore of Cayuga Lake, is popular with locals and visitors alike. The Cayuga Lake State Park campgrounds are highly rated.
Wine
The Finger Lakes is the largest and most well-regarded winemaking region in the eastern United States, and it owes much of its acclaim to the lakes themselves. The plunging depth of the lakes (especially Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake) moderates the effect of cold weather, and the steep slopes of the surrounding hills make for fortuitous air patterns that whisk away pockets of cold air, making it possible for a longer and more stable growing season. These and other factors make for top-notch viticulture in the Finger Lakes. Many varietals thrive in this climate, but the Finger Lakes Rieslings are especially esteemed by oenophiles.
The Cayuga Wine Trail is the oldest wine trail in the United States. Started by Mary Plane of Cayuga Vineyards (since renamed Cayuga Ridge) in the early 1980's, the Cayuga Wine Trail has blossomed into a string of highly regarded vineyards. As the winemaking industry has grown, so has the Cayuga Wine Trail.
Wineries on the Cayuga Wine Trail
Americana Vineyards
Bellwether Hard Cider
Buttonwood Grove Winery
Cobblestone Farm Winery
Goose Watch Winery
Hosmer Winery
King Ferry Winery
Knapp Winery
Long Point Winery
Lucas Vineyards
Montezuma Winery
Sheldrake Point Vineyard
Six Mile Creek Vineyard
Swedish Hill Vineyard
Thirsty Owl Vine Company
Cayuga Wine Trail
P.O. Box 123
Fayette, NY 13065
Tel: 800-684-5217
info@cayugawinetrail.com
Where To Stay
There are plenty of places to stay when visiting Cayuga Lake, with the most options centered in and around Ithaca, where you'll find hotel chains to fit every budget, as well as a wide selection of charming country inns and B&B's.
The towns and villages that line the lakefront also provide some hospitality options - mostly B&B's geared towards couples or private rental homes catering to families and groups. Check out Aurora, Dryden, Interlaken, Lansing, Ovid, Romulus, Spencer, Trumansburg and Seneca Falls for B&B's and small inns with local flavor.
Where to Eat
Ithaca is a great restaurant town - you'll find dining options to suit every palate and budget in this somewhat bohemian college town.
Cornell University and Ithaca College contribute to the youthful vibe, but eateries are in no way limited to student fare. Fine dining, international flavor, gastropubs - you name it, Ithaca has it.
Good restaurants can be found up and down Cayuga Lake - Seneca Falls, Ovid and Interlaken are all host to noted waterfront restaurants.