Otisco Lake

One of New York State’s 11 Finger Lakes

Otisco Lake is the easternmost of the Finger Lakes. From Rochester, it takes about 90 minutes to reach Otisco Lake Park, which has a small parking lot and a picnic area. On the south end of the lake, you’ll find the Otisco Lake Causeway, a former roadway that used to cross the lake. On the west side of the causeway, there’s a public boat launch available. There’s a gap in the causeway that creates a channel between the north and south ends of the lake, making it a great spot for kayaking and fishing. Otisco has no public swimming areas. You can drive around the entire lake in 30 minutes.

The causeway is an abandoned roadway that once spanned the lake. There is a gap in the causeway where a bridge once connected the shores. The opening is the boating and water-flow channel between the north and south ends, making for excellent fishing.

Head over to the west side on West Valley Road to the NYS DEC Fishing Access. You’ll find a car-top boat launch here and parking for about 20 cars. You can fish from the causeway or bring a chair and a book to enjoy Otisco Lake’s quiet, gorgeous view.

Other points of interest

Spafford County Forest looms large above the southwestern end of Otisco Lake and is a pristine forest without formal trails. Church Hill Road will take you up to the woods, or take Moon Hill Road, passing Bucktail Falls along the way, less than 50 ft. from the road.

According to NYFalls, “Bucktail Falls is on private property, but is not POSTED. The owner is okay with visitors respectfully walking to see and photograph the falls.” Please check before you go to ensure this is still true.

Routes 5 & 20, a 67-mile convergence of New York State Route 5 and US Route 20, is a gently rolling scenic highway. It connects the Town of Avon in the west to Auburn in the east, passing through Canandaigua, Geneva, and Seneca Falls. The road is known as Genesee Street in some areas and Main Street in others and serves as the main thoroughfare for the towns and villages it passes through. The route follows a foot trail used by the region’s first inhabitants that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie as it passed through a valley between the Adirondack and the Catskill Mountains. New York State Route 5 was originally constructed in 1794 to connect Fort Schuyler in Utica on the Mohawk River with Canawaugus in Caledonia on the Genesee River.

The Finger Lakes region is a diverse and picturesque area located south-southeast of Rochester. It encompasses cities, villages, farmland, and 11 lakes, making it a versatile tourist destination. Visitors can enjoy activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, and dining while taking in the natural beauty of the lakes. They can take a leisurely lakeside stroll or embark on a challenging hike along scenic hilltops or deep into the region’s unique waterfall gorges.

What is your favorite thing to do on Otisco Lake?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.