Boating Seneca Lake

You can choose between two boats that port at the tip of Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen, the Seneca Legacy or the Seneca Spirit. If you go with the Seneca Legacy, you can eat while you enjoy the scenery and narrated tour by the crew. 

On your tour, you’ll learn about the area, the history of the lakes and Watkins Glen, and what those paintings are on the impenetrable lake cliffside.

Getting there

• 📍1 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• 📞 (607) 535-4541
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Want an intimate Seneca Lake tour without the crowds?

Want to see waterfalls from the water?

Falling Waters Boat Tours offers you and 5 other passengers a quiet ride aboard a 195 Stingray bow rider, which allows you to enjoy the views, get up close to the waterfalls, and have some fun. 

Falling Waters Boat Tours has another perk: a Finger Lakes beverage from the owners’ patio, which over-looks spectacular Hector Falls. And then you can take a short jaunt to explore the falls as well - all included in your tour package.

Getting there

• 📍3816 N Falls Rd, Burdett, NY 14818
• 📞 (607) 444-2428
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

If you’re in the Geneva area and want to take a tour, Finger Lakes Water Adventures offers reel boat tours leaving from the Finger Lakes Welcome Center. On your tour, you’ll get a narrated history of Seneca Lake and the surrounding areas.

Finger Lakes Water Adventures also offers a tour of the Seneca-Cayuga Canal on Memorial Day weekend where you can experience the canal locks and learn about the birthplace of Memorial Day.

If you want to rent a boat to take out yourself, Finger Lakes Water Adventures also has you covered there.

Getting there

• 📍401 Boodys Hill Rd, Waterloo, NY 13165
• 📞 (315) 789-5520
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Think you won’t meet any movie stars in the Finger Lakes Region? Wrong! Come to Watkins Glen and meet “True Love,” a 67’ schooner that was once in movies alongside stars like Katharine Hepburn, Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong. 

Today, she sails the waters of Seneca Lake from the Seneca Harbor Park Pier in Watkins Glen. You can book from a variety of sailing options, such as a public sail, chartered, wine and wind tours, or a sails and ales tour.

Getting there

• 📍Harbor Park Pier, 214 N Franklin Street Seneca, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• 📞 (607) 535-5253
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Cayuta Lake is a small, 2-mile-long lake northeast of Oddessa, NY. It's a great little lake if you want to spend some quiet time outdoors, and also for fishing. 

You can launch your boat onto Cayuta Lake from the state-maintained boat launch at the north end of the lake.

Highlights

• Boating
• Padding
• Fishing

Getting there

• 📍Loch Heid Road, Alpine, NY 14805
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Launch onto Cayuta Lake (no access to Seneca Lake)
• Concrete ramp
• Seasonal dock
• Canoe and kayak launch
• Parking for 15 cars and trailers
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

To access the Clute Park boat launch, instead of turning into the lake-front park, you’ll turn into the RV campground, drive past the community center, and down Boat Launch Road.

This is by far the best descriptive name ever for a road name because down Boat Launch Road, you’ll find the Watkins Glen Yacht Club and the boat launch. There are actually numerous launching sites into the outlet of Seneca Lake.

Highlights

• Boating
• Viewing wildlife
• Paddling
• Biking
• Camping
• Swimming

Getting there

• 📍 Boat Launch Rd, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• 📞 (607) 535-4438
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• 4 boat launch sites
• Ample parking
• Access to Seneca Lake
• Swimming area
• Splash pad
• Pavilions and facilities
• Skate park
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Parking fee

Operated by the City of Geneva, NY, you can launch your motor boat on the concrete ramp at the Geneva public boat launch. Additionally, you can temporarily tie up to the docks…catch some dinner in Geneva, watch the sunset, or go for a walk along the lakeshore…even if you’re not ready to trailer your boat home yet.

Highlights

• Boating
• Hiking
• Biking
• Viewing Wildlife
• Fishing
• Paddling

Getting there

• 📍47 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY 14456
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Hard-surface launch 
• Parking for 20 cars and trailers
• Temporary docks
• Facilities
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

If you are looking for a picnic and launch site meant to cater to boaters, the Lodi Point State Marine Park is for you.

While plenty of locals use the park for a nice day at the beach, this state marine park was developed as a site for launching boats on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. The park is pleasant and it offers picnic facilities such as bathrooms, picnic tables, and grills.

Highlights

• Boating
• Fishing
• Paddling

Getting there

• 📍Lower Lake Rd, Lodi, NY 14860
• 📞 (315) 585-6392
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Hard launch surface
• Transient docks
• Picnic areas
•  Facilities
• Pavilion
• Max 2 leashed dogs allowed
• Entry fee

Featuring a marina, slips, gas pumps, and multiple hard-surfaced launch sites, Sampson State Park was updated within the past few years to accommodate boaters like you.

If you are interested in camping and boating, this is the park you’ll want to visit on Seneca Lake because the park was designed with boaters and campers in mind. 

Featuring 96 boat slips and almost 250 electric camp sites, you can boat, camp, hike, bike, fish, swim, and a myriad of other activities at Sampson State Park.

Highlights

• Boating
• Camping
• Padding
• Fishing
• Biking
• Hiking
• Hunting

Getting there

• 📍6040-6144 NY-96A, Romulus, NY 14541
• 📞 (315) 585-6392
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Multiple boat ramps
• 96 boat slips
• 250 electric campsites
• Park facilities
• Swimming area
• Max 2 leashed dogs allowed
• Entry fee

At the northern point of Seneca Lake State Park, you’ll find a marina and well-maintained boat launch ramp. With an ample parking lot, this’ll be just the start of a day full of fun on the lake.

Entrance to the park also gives you access to the pavilions, walkways along the lake-front, picnic tables, facilities, swimming area, and spray park.

Highlights

• Boating
• Paddling
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Viewing wildlife
• Hiking
• Biking
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowshoeing

Getting there

• 📍1 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY 14456
• 📞 (315) 789-2331
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Concrete boat ramp
• Marina
• Picnic areas
• Facilities
• Spray park
• Swimming area with lifeguard
• Max 2 leashed dogs allowed
• Entry fee

Located about half-way up the lake on the western shore of Seneca Lake, Severne Point Boat Launch site has a hard launch surface for putting in your motor boat.

Set in a kind of out-of-the-way spot, there are no other facilities here, but you will find a pretty good amount of parking.

Highlights

• Boating
• Fishing
• Paddling

Getting there

• 📍195 Severne Rd, Himrod, NY 14842
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Hard-surface launch area
• Parking for 30 vehicles
• Dogs allowed
• Free

Located about ⅓ of the way up the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, you’ll need to drive down a steep dirt access road to get to the boat launch in Smith Memorial Park. Because of this, this boat launch site is most ideal for small craft, kayaks, and canoes. 

There’s a remote parking lot for about 6 cars with trailers, so you’ll dock your boat and then ought to be prepared to walk after parking your car. 

This site is good for launching if you have a smaller boat and don’t want to fight with traffic. Great for fishing boats!

Highlights

• Boating
• Paddling
• Camping
• Swimming

Getting there

• 📍 5303 Park Ave, Hector, NY 14841
• 📞 (607) 546-4467
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Hard launch surface
• Best for small boats, kayaks, and canoes
• Steep dirt road access
• Remote parking
• Max 2 leashed dogs allowed
• Entry fee

The Watkins Glen Village Marina, located at Seneca Harbor Park, provides you access to a hard surface launching site and lots of parking for vehicles. 

Located at the southern tip of Seneca Lake and run by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), you can park and launch for free. Call to inquire about seasonal slips and transient docking.

Highlights

• Boating
• Paddling

Getting there

• 📍 2 Seneca Harbor Dr, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• 📞 (607) 546-8505
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Hard surface ramp
• Parking for 25-40 vehicles
• Seasonal slips
• Transient docks
• Dogs allowed
• Free 

If you wish to enter Seneca Lake from the southern tip, where Catherine Creek becomes the lake's outlet, you can launch your motor boat at the Montour Falls Municipal Marina and Campground. Then, you get to enjoy passing through the Catherine Creek Wildlife Management Area before reaching the greater lake.

Highlights

• Boating
• Camping
• Viewing Wildlife

Getting there

• 📍Marina Park, 97 Marina Dr, Montour Falls, NY 14865
• 📞 (607) 210-4124
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Seasonal slips, docks, and campsites
• Facilities
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Call regarding fees

If you have a smaller fishing vessel and want to avoid the crowds, boating Waneta and Lamoka Lakes can provide you the peace and enjoyment of boating  smaller lake. 

Waneta and Lamoka Lakes are two small, shallow lakes between Keuka and Seneca Lakes. They were dug out by the Laurnetide Ice Sheet, but not large enough to fall into the category of being one of THE Finger Lakes. 

You can access one lake from the other via a joint stream that runs through the Waneta-Lamoka Wildlife Management Area (WMA) - if you vessel is small enough to pass under the bridge.

Accessing the lakes is simple with a parking area just off Route 23. If you enjoy watching wildlife or fishing, this WMA hosts plenty of waterfowl, muskrat, mink, songbirds, and lots of fish.

Highlights

• Fishing
• Trapping
• Hunting
• Paddling

Getting there

Boat Launch Site

• 📍319 Co Rd 23, Dundee, NY 14837
• 📞 585-226-2466
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

Waneta Lake

• Length: 3.1 miles 
• Max depth: 29 feet
• Average depth: 15 feet

Lamoka Lake

• Length: 1.6 miles
• Max depth: 40 feet
• Average depth: 20 feet

• State-maintained launch site
• Dogs allowed
• Free

At Anchor Inn & Marina, on the western shore of Seneca Lake, you can rent pontoon or speed boats, as well as jet skis, kayaks, and stand up paddle boards (SUPs). 

If you need lodging, Anchor Inn & Marina has you covered. And if you bring your own boat, they’ve got lifts while you lodge.

Added perk: they have a Tiki Bar!

Getting there

• 📍3425 Co Rte 30, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• 📞 (607) 535-4159
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

At Geiger’s Marine, located at the Village of Montour Falls Municipal Marina and Campground, you can rent a pontoon or fishing boat, kayaks, canoes, and legit paddleboats. 

When I say paddleboats, I don’t mean stand up paddle boards, I mean the paddle boats like paddling with bicycle pedals. Not as exciting as a pontoon boat, but, ya know…still fun. 

A full-service marina, they can also service your RV if you’re camping at the campground.  

Getting there

• 📍Marina Park, 97 Marina Dr, Montour Falls, NY 14865
• 📞 (607) 426-1183
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Rent a bowrider speed boat or pontoon from Glen Harbor Marina at half- or full-day rentals. A full-service marina, you can rest assured you’re getting the best taken care of fleet on Seneca Lake. 

If you are also looking to rent smaller craft, you can rent single or tandem kayaks, or canoes here.

Getting there

• 📍517 E 4th St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• 📞 (607) 535-2751
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

You won’t be able to miss Roy’s Marina while driving on Route 14 because their barn is their billboard, advertising in huge letters “BOAT SALES & RENTALS.” With a 70-year history on Seneca Lake, this family-run business has just about everything you could need for a day (or more) on the lake.

And once you’re there, you can choose from renting pontoon and speed boats, 16’ fishing craft with motors, kayaks, and SUPs. Want to go fishing in the lake trout capital of the world? Reserve a fishing charter with Roy’s Marina to get to all the best spots.

Getting there

• 📍 4398 Clarks Point, Geneva, NY 14456
• 📞 (315) 789-3094
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Located at South Bay Marina on the western side of Seneca Lake, you can rent a pontoon boat Seneca Lake Boat Rentals. Go out on the lake with a crew of up to 12 friends or family to spend the day - or a few days - at the lake.

Getting there

• 📍3434 N Plum Point Rd, Himrod, NY 14842
• 📞 (585) 446-3846
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

With locations next to Seneca Park in Geneva, NY, and Sampson Park in Romulus, you can rent tri-poon boats (like pontoons) for the half-day, full-day, or sunset cruises. 

Seneca Lake Resorts can also get you all set up with cabins, events in their 2,500-foot venue, and marina.

Getting there

Sampson Park

• 📍6040 NY-96A, Romulus, NY 14541
• 📞 (315) 651-4949
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Seneca Park

• 📍1 Lakefront Drive, Geneva, NY 14456
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Rent a pontoon boat for a day on the water at Seneca Sunshine Rentals. 

Take a card from their tagline: Relax…You’re at the lake…

Getting there

• 📍155 South Clute Park Drive, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• 📞 (607) 228-0420
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Ok, a marina that pretty much has it all? Call Stivers Seneca Marine. Not only can you rent a pontoon boat, you can go on the reel tour boat with them. You can also rent a houseboat, get a vacation rental or a cabin, or camp with your RV. They also have boat slips and locations on both Seneca Lake and the Seneca River in Waterloo. 

Did you wanna do that canal tour on Memorial Day on the reel boat? Call Stivers Seneca Marine.

Getting there

• 📍401 Boodys Hill Rd, Waterloo, NY 13165
• 📞 (315) 789-5520
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps