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| Canandaigua Lake - Finger Lakes |
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Location -
Ontario County,
Yates
County Surrounding Communities - Canandaigua, Naples, Middlesex, Rushville Maps - Google Map, Google Earth, Multi GPS - Northern outlet: (N 42.87433 / W 77.26187), Man-made outlet: (N 42.87483 / W 77.27182) Southern inlet, Naples Creek (N 42.66647 / W 77.35748) Size - Area: 10,750 acres, Length: 15.5 miles, Max width: 1.5 Miles, Max depth: 275 feet, Volume: 446 billion gallons. Water Quality - High (in decline) Elevation - 688 feet Directions - East Lake Rd. (Rt. 364) runs along the East side of the lake, until Crystal Beach, where it heads uphill to the east. A cottage access road, also named East Lake Rd. (Rt. 11) continues along the shore, but offers nothing but cottages and a dead end. On the west side West Lake Rd (Rt. 16) hugs the shore for the northern half, but veers west and Rt. 21 takes you the rest of the way. See below for more directions to specific access points. |
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Description (pronunciation: "Can-an-day-goo-ah") From the Seneca name meaning "Chosen Spot" With the City of Canandaigua and its highly developed shoreline and artificial outlet canal to the north and the fertile Naples Valley with the peaceful High-Tor Wildlife Management Area to the south, the Canandaigua Lake shoreline offers much contrast along its shores. The lake has always been a popular vacation destination for Rochesterians. Roseland Amusement park operated in the City of Canandaigua for 60 years, offering many upstate residents their first rollercoaster experience. Numerous camps and parks once bordered the lake at one time, now few remain as the demand for summer cottages has nearly coated the northern half's shores. Cottages on this lake are hot commodities, some fetching millions of dollars in sales. Where there are no cottages, farmland takes up the majority of the remaining watershed. Although this gives the lake's encapsulating hillsides a beautiful green patches of color, the nutrient-rich run-off causes abundant weed and algae growth in the lake, a problem for cottage owners and area residents that use the lake as a water source. Recently the City of Canandaigua has been a boom for tourism in the region. Roseland Waterpark now offers family entertainment in the form of waterslides, wave-pools and (artificial) beach lounging. Along the shore of the lake, Canandaigua hosts the New York Wine and Culinary Center. This multi-million dollar complex serves as a gateway to upstate NY wine and cuisine, offering workshops, tastings, certifications, merchandise and an excellent view of the lake. Canandaigua's numerous parks, shops and dining options are a draw from all over the region, also giving visitors a representative taste of upstate life. Throughout the length of the lake, you'll find a few small town and county parks that offer everything from scenic views to fishing or swimming. The southern end of the the lake is a state treasure. The High-Tor Wildlife Management Area, a 6,200 acre natural area east of the village of Naples. Containing wetlands, forested hills, pristine gullies and meadows, all offering scenic vistas, superb hiking opportunities and excellent access for hunting and fishing. The High-Tor area includes Clark, Conklin and Tannery Gullies as well as Hatch Hill, reaching 1800 feet high. To compliment the wildlife management area is the quaint village of Naples, well-known for their delicious grape pies. |
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| Accessibility Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park. The northern shore, within the city of Canandaigua, offers this small boat launch area. It's called a park, but it offers little in the way of recreation other than a place to launch your boat or cast a line. Directions: North end of the lake. Access is south of US 20 / SR 5. Google Directions. Pets: allowed, on leash. Admission: State park fees Parking: 70 cars and trailers Handicap accessibility: yes Accommodations: Fishing, Hand and trailer boat launch. No swimming. Contact: NYS Parks: 585-394-9420 (seasonal office)
Kershaw Park.
This recently renovated park in the City of Canandaigua
offers excellent views of the lake and an opportunity to
swim. There are lakefront walkways, pavilions, picnic tables
and a small boat launch within the 9 acre park. The
centerpiece is gazebo overlooking the lake and a 30 foot
fountain off the shore. This is easily one of the most
beautiful parks in the Finger Lakes. Adjacent to the park is
Steamboat Landing, containing a first class restaurant,
banquet center and the Canandaigua Lady, a 19th century
replica of a double-decked paddleboat. City Pier.
At the Lake outlet, Main Street meets the water and becomes
the city pier, and excellent fishing spot. As you walk the
pier, look on the east side of the pier to see
boathouses. Lagoon Walk Park.
The City of Canandaigua hosts this nature park along the
Canandaigua Outlet. Recent state funding allowed the city to
build this natural lagoon into a series of trails, bridges
and observation decks. A popular spot for walks, canoeing
and nature-spotting. The plan for low-impact development
across this 34 acre wetland gives the area a natural feel.
If you are visiting Kershaw Park, cross the road and hike
the trails here.
Onanda Park.
On the western shore towards the south end, the Town of
Canandaigua purchased an old YMCA campground and now runs it
as a public campground, meeting center, natural area, beach
and boat launch. On the lake side there is excellent lake
access, complete with full boat launch and guarded swimming
area. Furnished lakefront cabins are also available for
rental. Across West Lake Rd. are more cabins as well as a 2
mile
nature trail up and around the hillside bordering the
northern end of Barnes Gully. One can creek-walk up Barnes
Gully for three beautiful cascades or view them from
observation platforms on the trail above. During the winter,
the clear slopes of the western side offer great sledding
opportunities.
Gannet Hill County Park
does not offer access to the lake or even a decent view of
it. But it is worth mentioning because at an elevation of
2,256 feet, you can easily see the hills past Seneca and
Cayuga Lakes. There's
plenty to do at this well-developed 410 acre park.
Butler Beach (West Lake Schoolhouse
Park) is a free swimming area run by the Town of
Canandaigua. It's not really a beach, but a small strip of
lakefront property.
Canandaigua Lake State Boat Launch in Woodville.
Simply a
state-provided concrete ramp for boat launching on the
southern end of the lake, near Naples.
Deep Run Park and Beech
is a small park and free
swimming area run by Ontario County. It's a nice area to
swim and have a picnic.
High Tor Wildlife Management Area.
At the Southern end of the lake,
east of Naples, the state set aside this diverse 6,100 acre
stretch of land, containing, many steep wooded hills,
gullies, eroded cliffs and marshland. The Management
Area is divided into 3 main regions. Directly to the east of
Naples is 3,400 acres of wooded hills (containing Conklin
Gully). East of the southern end of Canandaigua
Lake is the South Hill region. This
beautiful area was once called the "Birthplace of the
Seneca" by the Seneca Indians. It's mostly made up of
successional fields and wooded areas scaling the 1900 feet
high South Hill. It also contains Clark Gully. The third
area is the southern end of the lake. This 1,700 acre
wetland habitat provides for abundant fish and waterfowl
numbers. The perfect spot for fishing or bird watching. |
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| Interesting Stuff... Fish: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Rock Bass, Tiger Muskies, Walleyes, Yellow Perch, Bluegills, Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Brown Bullhead and Northern Pike Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens is a state historic park in the City of Canandaigua. This Victorian era estate encompasses over 50 acres of gardens, a historic Queen Anne style mansion and greenhouse. The mansion, the former summer home of Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson, was built in 1887, with the surrounding gardens developed for decades after. Today this estate is open for tours, events, weddings and parties. It is also home to the Finger Lakes Wine Center, offering tastings and private parties. For more information on Sonnenberg Gardens, visit their website. Driving Directions Bobble Hill Rd, on the west shore, was once considered the perfect test track for trying out a new car. Getting up the steep road was, and still is, a challenge for underpowered vehicles. Squaw Island, the shrinking island of the Finger Lakes, is on the northwest end of the lake (map). It is a sandbar, formed by sediment draining from Sucker Brook to the north. If you look at the satellite map, you will see traces of the sandbar leading from the tributary, during the fall the sandbar may be visible above water. Construction efforts to raise lake levels by damning the outlet has since lead to erosion that has claimed more than 70% of its area in less than 200 years. Squaw Island is unique in that it is one of few places in the world where lime oncolites form. The Island is state property and some recent efforts have been made by the DEC to reinforce the shoreline using wooden planks. Today, less than 8,000 square feet remain. The Skyliner, Roseland Amusement Park's classic wooden coaster has been moved to Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Ice harvesting on Canandaigua Lake was once a booming industry in the days prior to refrigeration. Distributors on the northern shore would cut large blocks out of the lake in winter and cut and distribute smaller blocks to be used for refrigeration. Today, ice fishing is a popular winter lake activity. The Ring of Fire is a summer activity for shoreline residents that's easy to participate in. Each residence lights a fire or flare along the shore, creating a speckled ring around the lake. This tradition stems from a Seneca Indian harvest festival where the Seneca would burn tobacco around the shore of the lake to give thanks for bountiful harvests. Today, the Ring of Fire takes place July 3rd. Grape Pies are a must if your
passing through Naples. Try the following: |
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