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| Seneca Lake | |
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Location -
Ontario
County,
Seneca County,
Yates
County,
Schuyler County Surrounding Communities - Geneva, Dresden, Lodi, Watkins Glen Maps - Google Map, Windows Live (bird's eye), Multi, Depth & Boat Launches GPS - Northern outlet, Cayuga-Seneca Canal: (N 42.868 / W 76.940), Western inlet, Keuka Lake Outlet: (N 42.683 / W 76.947) Southern inlet, Catherine Creek (N 42.384 / W 76.863) Size - Area: 42,800 acres, Length: 38 miles, Max width: 1.9 miles, Max depth: 618 feet, Volume: 4.2 trillion gallons. Water Quality - High Water supply for Geneva and Watkins Glen Elevation - 445 feet Directions - Rt 14 runs along the west side of the the lake, while Rt 96A and 414 skim the eastern side. Rt 5/20 cuts through Geneva on the northern end. Access points (listed blow) can be found on each end of the lake and surrounding municipalities. |
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Description (pronunciation: "sen-nih-kah") From the Iroquois name meaning "Place of stone." Seneca Lake, the deepest and widest of the Finger Lakes, holds nearly half of their total volume. Reaching depths of 618 feet (the second deepest in the state), it rarely freezes over (only 9 recorded times), and provides a near-optimal habitat for Lake Trout. The deep, clear waters also make it an ideal place for the US military to test sonar and deep sea equipment. Seneca's waters remain moderate throughout the year, cooling the surrounding air, which tends to linger in the lake valley. This microclimate of cool, stable air, combined with the massive lake watershed, makes the surrounding land ideal for agriculture, especially vineyards. Seneca Lake has two inlets: Catherine Creek flows in from the south at Watkins Glen and the Keuka Lake Outlet brings Keuka Lake's waters in from the west at Dresden. At Geneva the lake empties into the Cayuga Seneca Canal, which runs east through Waterloo, Seneca Falls and eventually ends up in Cayuga Lake. Capping the northern shore is the City of Geneva, a beautiful setting with a rich history and popular waterfront. Wineries and resorts are thriving here, with Belhurst Castle and Geneva on the Lake being tourist favorites. Hobart and William Smith Colleges (once called Geneva College), situated on the lake shore to the west, admitted and awarded a medical degree to Elizabeth Blackwell in 1849, making her the first woman doctor in the northern hemisphere. On the southern end is the village of Watkins Glen; known to many across the country for the Watkins Glen International Raceway. Entertaining racing fans of all types for over 50 years, events at the track can easily draw in crowds that eclipse the village's population. For outdoors and waterfall lovers, the many parks, including the magnificent Watkins Glen State Park and the giant Shequaga Falls in the middle of the village of Montour Falls provide some of the best examples of the Finger Lake's unique geology. Like the other Finger Lakes, Seneca is surrounded by rolling hills of agriculture and mottled with forest to the east and west. Cottages and homes are scattered about the farms and concentrate around the shore. To the south, the cottages back off as cliffs as high as 600 ft lift up from the lake's basin, isolating the waters from the surrounding landscape. Spring meltwater creates numerous waterfalls that pour over the cliffs - a sight that gets quite a few boaters out on the first warm days of the year. Numerous parks dot the shoreline; from ones that cater to families, with their playgrounds, ball fields, and spray parks, to rough-and-rugged outdoors experiences like those provided by the nearby Finger Lakes National Forest. Fishermen come from all over for some of the best Lake Trout fishing (peaking with a world-class tournament on Memorial Day). Visitors often rent scenic cabins for weekends or weeks at a time in order to fit in everything they want to do. The Seneca Nation, the westernmost tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy, once inhabited the land surrounding Seneca Lake. That changed in 1779, when George Washington ordered General John Sullivan to aid the Revolutionary War effort by bringing "total destruction and devastation" to "hostile" Iroquois settlements (who were aiding the British). Many Seneca villages were destroyed in the campaign. Thousands more were driven from the region, and those who remained, struggled to maintain a standard quality of life. After the war, revolutionary soldiers were paid for their service with parcels of land, much of which was captured during the Sullivan Expedition, around Seneca Lake. The terrain surrounding Seneca is rich in nutrients and moisture - optimal for agriculture and an excellent prize for soldiers looking to settle and start a farm. Unfortunately, the hilly terrain, which is covered in thick forests and striped with deep gorges, isolated the farms from outside markets and hindered the growth of commercial farming in the region. It wasn't until the opening of the Erie Canal (and the Cayuga-Seneca Branch), that Seneca Lake agriculture had a pathway to markets around the state. Soon after, the Crooked Lake Canal (now the Keuka Lake Outlet) linked Keuka Lake to Seneca. Towns flourished and the Finger Lakes quickly became agricultural hotspots. The Finger Lakes wine industry prospered. Seneca Lake, with its cool and stable microclimate proved to be better for vineyards than the other lakes. Today, over 50 wineries surround the lake; offering varieties with diverse heritage and astounding creativity. Seneca Lake wines have won national awards and many garner favorable reviews from critics. Most Seneca Lake wineries offer tastings and tours, which has bloomed into a multi-million dollar tourism industry. Various shops, cafes, restaurants and resorts fill in the voids between wineries, offering visitors a taste of local crafts and cuisine. Despite being a freshwater lake, one of its principal industries is salt. Salt deposits, from an ancient evaporated ocean, lie embedded thousands of feet below the bedrock. This deposit is massive; stretching from Albany across parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Southern Ontario, and all of Michigan. The Cargill and US Salt plants located at the southern end of the lake in Watkins Glen, utilize the Lake's waters to dissolve the deposits. They then pipe the saline up from a well and evaporate the salt into crystals. The salt mined here ends up on tables, roads, and in factories across the US. The United States Military took an interest in Seneca Lake in the early 1940s and constructed a munitions storage facility on the land between Seneca and Cayuga Lake in 1941. The Seneca Army Depot was over 10 thousand acres of controversy, and still is. Decommissioned in 1999, and costing county taxpayers millions in the process, only a small fraction of the property has been reclaimed for business. While county leaders would like to see more businesses take over the site, some people want to preserve a large population of "white deer" that have called the fenced-in property home for over 60 years. Seneca Lake has a rich naval history as well. In 1942 the US Navy constructed the 2,600 acre Sampson Naval Training base on the eastern shore (adjacent to the Army Depot). Over 400,000 Navy personnel went through training here in order to serve in WWII. After the war, the grounds served as a college, educating thousands of returning veterans. For the Korean War effort, the base was transferred to the Air Force and was used to train over 300,000 personnel. Today, the land is the largest State Park in the Finger Lakes region, housing a museum dedicated to its military history. Visitors can wander the grounds looking for traces of the former base, including roads and foundations. |
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Accessibility Geneva Lakefront
Park.
The Geneva Lakefront is relatively new; created by the
relocation of State Routes 5 & 20 from the shores of Seneca
Lake in 1987. The city has done a wonderful job of creating
a scenic park that makes for a great place to fish, walk,
bike, or sit and enjoy the scenery. A boat launch and
several slips cater well to boaters, and those willing
to get a bit closer to the water can rent a paddle boat or
kayak at the ice cream shop at the base of Long Pier (near
the Marriott). In July and August, free concerts are held at
the lakefront Gazebo. In the middle of the park is the
Geneva Chamber of commerce building, which doubles as an
information center and serves as a great place to start a
weekend in the Finger Lakes.
Severne Point.
A public boat launch operated by the DEC. Features a
concrete ramp, dock, and parking for about 30 cars and
trailers.
Seneca Harbor Park.
This Watkins Glen waterfront is small, but beautiful. With
the marina on one side and the new Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
on the other, there's room for a just few picnic tables and
a comfort station. A pier with a small red shelter offers
not only a great fishing platform, but a short scenic walk.
What makes this park so special is what surrounds it. Right
next door you have the
Seneca Harbor Station Restaurant where you can enjoy the
lake from their covered deck. The Finger Lakes scenic
railway passes by here, often blowing its whistle and
turning heads.
Captain Bill's Tours offers both dinner cruises and
a quick guide to the lake. You can purchase tickets in the
gift shop. The
Seneca Harbor Wine Center offers tastings and sells
various wines and champagnes from Finger Lakes wineries.
Clute Memorial Park
(Lakeside Park).
A fully-equipped camping park encompassing 25 acres and
featuring over 100 campsites. Families can enjoy the ball
fields, playground, skate park, or tennis courts, or visit
the shore for a picnic or swim. The park also features a
large community center and enclosed pavilion for rent right
on the lake.
Smith Park and Campground.
This community park offers woodland camping on the east
shore of Seneca Lake. There is also a guarded swimming area,
bathhouse, hiking trails, and boat launch.
Lodi Point State Park.
This small marine park is a little more off the beaten path
than most Seneca Lake-side parks, but its isolation is its
charm. Primarily a boat launch with docking facilities, the
park also features a playground, pavilion and picnicking
facilities.
Sampson State Park.
This former naval training station and Air Force base, is
now the largest state park in the Finger Lakes. It has
several roads (most of which are
reconditioned from the base) that make for excellent
cycling. Hiking trails are also present, where visitors can
search for remnants of the base's history. Although not much
from this land's military history is still standing, the
former brig now serves as a museum. Photos, medals, weapons
and even a plane are on display; with guided tours
available. Most visitors come for the camping (245 electric
sites) and swimming, with the park becoming one of the
busiest in the summer.
There are a few shallow gullies to explore, although they
are rarely flowing with much water, and there are no
significant waterfalls. |
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Links |
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| Weather
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| Learn more about the other Finger Lakes
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| Area Attractions Local Festivals and Activities National Lake Trout Derby (Memorial Day), Geneva, NY Muscleman Triathlon (mid-July), Geneva, NY Concerts by the Lake (summer), Geneva, NY Garlic Festival (early Aug), Fox Run Vineyards Jazz Greats at Glenora (summer), Dundee, NY Evening Concert Series (summer), Watkins Glen, NY Waterfront Festival (mid-June), Watkins Glen, NY Italian-American Festival (early Aug), Watkins Glen, NY Pickin' In The Pasture (late Aug), Lodi, NY Seneca Lake Winery Map  1: Amberg Wine Cellars - Flint (north) 2: Belhurst Winery - Geneva (north) 3: White Springs Winery - Geneva (north) 4: Fox Run Vineyards - Penn Yan (west) 5: Red Tail Ridge Winery - Penn Yan (west) 6: Seneca Shore Wine Cellars - Penn Yan (west) 7: Anthony Road Wine Company - Penn Yan (west) 8: Prejean Winery - Penn Yan (west) 9: Torrey Ridge Winery & Earle Estates Meadery- Penn Yan (west) 10: Miles Wine Cellars - Himrod (west) 11: Four Chimneys Organic Winery - Himrod (west) 12: Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard - Himrod (west) 13: Villa Bellangelo - Dundee (west) 14: Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars - Dundee (west) 15: Glenora Wine Cellars - Dundee (west) 16: Fulkerson Winery - Dundee (west) 17: Rock Stream Vineyards - Rock Stream (west) 18: Arcadian Estate Winery - Rock Stream (west) 19: Lakewood Vineyards, Inc. - Watkins Glen (south) 20: Cascata Winery at the Professors' Place - Watkins Glen (south) 21: Castel Grisch Winery - Watkins Glen (south) 22: Catharine Valley Winery - Burdett (east) 23: Atwater Estate Vineyards - Hector (east) 24: Chateau LaFayette Reneau - Hector (east) 25: Bloomer Creek Vineyard - Hector (east) 26: Red Newt Cellars - Hector (east) 27: Leidenfrost Vineyards - Hector (east) 28: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards - Hector (east) 29: Tickle Hill Winery - Hector (east) 30: Penguin Bay Winery & Champagne House - Hector (east) 31: Standing Stone Vineyards - Hector (east) 32: Shalestone Vineyards - Lodi (east) 33: Caywood Vineyards - Caywood (east) 34: Silver Thread Vineyard - Lodi (east) 35: Wagner Vineyards - Lodi (east) 36: Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars - Lodi (east) 37: Nagy's New Land Vineyards & Winery - Geneva (north) 38: 3 Brothers Winery - Geneva (north) 39: Ventosa Vineyards - Geneva (north) Wine Tours Quality Wine Tours - Pittsford, NY Finger Lakes Winery Tours - Geneva, NY Grapevine Country Tours - Geneva, NY
Boat
Tours and Charters
Marinas and Rentals
Camping Resorts/Lodging Bed and Breakfast
Arts and Crafts |
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| Interesting
Stuff... Fish: Brown trout, rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, chain pickerel, rock bass, crappie, sunfish, bullheads, bowfin, white suckers, channel catfish, lake sturgeon, carp, alewives and smelt. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail is a great way to experience Seneca Lake through its most popular wineries. The tour organizes trail-wide events, awards, games, offers maps, sight-seeing/driver recommendations and tasting discounts. The information they provide is a great way to plan your wine-tasting trip. It is also recommended you use one of the many driving tour companies that service Seneca Lake. What is that man-made platform in the middle of the lake near Dresden? It's the Navy's Seneca Lake Sonar Test Facility. According to their website, "the facility performs test and evaluation of equipment ranging from single element transducers to complex sonar arrays and systems." Because of Seneca Lake's location, solid rock basin, depth, and relatively low boater traffic, this is an ideal spot for this type of testing. Satellite view, Bird's eye. Guns of the Seneca: Considered a common phenomenon for coastal areas, residents claim to hear occasional pops, (sounding similar to cannon fire in the distance) coming from the lake. Cayuga and Seneca Lakes both have reports of this happening. For more information on this, see the "links" section. The Finger Lakes National Forest encompasses 16,032 acres in Seneca and Schuyler Counties. It is one of the smallest National Forests in the National Forest System and the only one in New York State. There are over 30 miles of trails that wind through gorges, ravines, pastures and woodlands. The trail use varies from hiking and cross country skiing, to snowmobiling, horseback riding and mountain biking. Recreational opportunities include camping, fishing, hunting and wildlife watching. There are two developed campgrounds within the National Forest which charge a fee for use, the Blueberry Patch Campground and the Potomac Group Campground. Free camping is allowed at the Backbone Horse Campground which was developed for overnight camping for horseback riders. Free camping is also allowed throughout the National Forest at least 50 feet away from streams, ponds, and trails. The Finger Lakes National Forest Ranger Station is located on Route 414 in Hector. The former Seneca Army Depot is the home of the largest herd of all white White-tailed deer in existence. When the Depot erected a fence in 1941, a number of deer were captured within the fencing. Several of those deer carried a recessive gene for white coloration. Because the herd was isolated within the confines of the Depot, the recessive gene spread throughout the herd. While the Army allowed hunting of the regular White-tailed deer to control populations, for a number of years hunters were not allowed the harvest the white deer, which allowed to population to increase all the more. The population of white deer is currently estimated to be at approximately 200 individuals. Unlike albino deer, the white deer have brown eyes, and it is not uncommon to see a doe with one white fawn and one brown fawn. It is also not uncommon to see deer with a combination of the brown and white coloring. The future of the herd is currently uncertain, with a number of proposals for development of the former Army Depot under consideration. Watkins Glen State Park, located at the southern end, is a fine exhibit of the Finger Lake region's natural beauty. This breathtaking rocky gorge descends over 400 feet creating 19 waterfalls. The gorge trail will wind over and under the cool waters offering some of the most spectacular scenery in the state. Racing at the Glen can bring in astounding crowds to the southern end of the lake for NASCAR, IndyCar and other road race circuits. Click here for events, and here to learn more about the history of the Watkins Glen International. Bonavista State Park Golf Course, in Ovid, is an 9-hole course with a wonderful view of the lake from the eastern hills. The 9 holes can be played twice from different tees for an 18-hole game. Visitors can also enjoy the clubhouse and restaurant or the picnic facilities and hiking trails surrounding the course. Map The origin of painted rocks on the cliffs at the southeast end of the lake are the subject of much confusion. They are often described as being the celebratory paintings of Seneca tribe warriors who narrowly escaped death as they crossed the lake at this point using previously hidden canoes, leaving General Sullivan and his campaign behind. This daring escape was the beginning of their flight to Fort Niagara to meet with their British allies. They returned after the Revolutionary War was over and painted this commemoration. The painting consists of an American flag, a teepee, and what appears to be several Native Americans. The site is near Hector, north of Watkins Glen, along a steep cliff that appears to have the remnants of an old cliff trail down to the shore. The general consensus among historians is that the escape to Fort Niagara did happen, but that this painting was not done by the escapees nor their tribe. For one, the steep cliffs here seem like an unlikely place to reach the shore, with the well-known, and less dangerous nearby launch sites at Excelsior Glen and Catherine Creek. Secondly, the Iroquois did not construct teepees, the characteristic residence of native tribes out west. Written records also state that the warriors escaped on horseback, not in canoes. Canoes certainly wouldn't have gotten them as far as Fort Niagara. Additionally, no mention of the painting exists in records until the 1880s, 100 years after the Sullivan campaign. Finally, the color and compositions were found by archaeologists to be uncharacteristic of native tribes. So where did the paintings come from? Inspired by seemingly legitimate illustrations painted on rocks in the nearby Excelsior Glen, and looking for away to promote tourism in the more remote cliff-lined southern end, they were mostly likely done by the boat tour industry, and touched up throughout the years by people who wanted to keep the legend alive. |
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| * Thanks to Kelly and Brenda for help with editing. |
