Hiking Keuka Lake will take you along the water, in deep forests, and give you a true taste of wild New York.
Keuka Lake offers excellent hiking for everyone in your group, be they experienced or beginner hikers. Surrounded by numerous state forests, the Finger Lakes Trail, and waterways worth exploring, this lake is epitomical Finger Lakes Region.
I know you'll want to make sure to spend some time on the trails and at the incredible Finger Lakes waterfalls while you visit Keuka Lake.
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Chances are really rather excellent you'll find one or more hikes to add to your itinerary!
Dug out by the Laurentide Ice Sheet 10,000 years ago, the area surrounding Keuka Lake is hilly but not mountainous. In steep, shale-lined gullies that lead down to the lake, many landowners have carved out tracts of the forest for lake-side homes. Further up the hills, the land is excellent for agriculture, while our farmers are dedicated to protecting the watershed that empties into the lake.
If you’re a hiker, you’ll likely traverse through hardwood forests, many left to grow thick and returning to the wild after having been farmed in the past. Don’t think they're just left to do their own thing. Nope, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) manages state forests for optimal growth, logging, and wildlife management.
I'm glad you asked because Keuka Lake has numerous hiking treasures you'll want to explore and fully experience.
You’ll find a myriad of things to do at Birdseye Hollow State Forest. A 3,446-acre state forest run by the DEC, you can access Birdseye Hollow Park, complete with picnic areas, a pavilion, and a playground.
Additionally, this state forest between Keuka and Seneca Lakes is part of a large wetland system, including Sanford Lake, great for paddling and fishing. You can hike around and through the wetlands and forest on maintained trails within the forest, as well as part of the Finger Lakes Trail.
You can also take the Forest Stewardship Auto Tour (or walk part or all of it), which describes different ways state forests are used in New York State.
On this 1,899-acre parcel, you’ll most probably walk on the Finger Lakes Trail, a 580-mile trail system that connects major trails within the region. The Bristol Hills section of the trail system gives you access to the north and central areas of Italy Hill State Forest on a nearly five-mile out and back trail.
Check out this handy map before you go.
If you’re interested in hiking on the bluff of Keuka Lake, Keuka Lake State Park is your spot. This park has shoreline to walk along, forest woods to hike through, and gullies to traverse. You can choose from 8 different trails, most that are easy to medium in difficulty.
Additionally, Keuka Lake State Park has camping, swimming with lifeguards, playgrounds, pavilions, and picnic areas. There is also a boat launch and plenty of shoreline for launching a kayak or canoe.
You can also fish from the shore or come in the autumn for hunting.
You can walk from Keuka Lake to Seneca Lake on the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail.
At 6.8 miles long, this trail follows the stream that carries water from one Finger Lake to another.
If you are a history buff, there’s tons of history on this trail. Some little snippets:
If you aren’t super interested in historical events, enjoy the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail for an easy hike, run, bike ride, or horseback ride. You’ll see some waterfalls, lots of maple trees, and most probably some wildlife.
Common wildlife you’ll see are mallard ducks, might see a white-tailed deer, songbirds, woodpeckers, osprey, and turtles in the turtle pond. Great blue herons also frequent either end of the stream.
There are lots of access points along the trail. Check out the Friends of the Outlet online for a good map.
Access on the Keuka Lake end:
Access on the Seneca Lake end:
Located south of Keuka Lake, near the town of Painted Post, Meads Creek State Forest contains a portion of the Finger Lakes Trail that spurs off the main trail, called The Crystal Hills Branch Trail. The hiking trail is maintained by volunteers with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, the folks that developed the Finger Lakes Trail.
There’s also a portion of the Great Eastern Trail that runs through Meads Creek. Directions on Google will probably send you to this trailhead. Its a nice, family-friendly hike, and also a great place to go fishing.
This state forest is multi-use, so hunting is permitted - so please be safe and smart when you’re out hunting in the fall!
If you're spending time on the western side of Keuka Lake, you’ll find this state forest in the small town of Wheeler.
The trail that runs through Pigtail Hollow State Forest is a portion of the Finger Lakes Trail called the Bristol Hills Branch Trail. The DEC doesn’t maintain trails in all of their state forests because the forests are managed for multiple uses which doesn’t necessarily include hiking.
This almost 1,000-acre parcel butts up against the Urbana State Forest. You’ll find wildlife here such as white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and maybe a black bear or two.
With 30 acres, including 16 acres dedicated to the Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve, the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum in Branchport offers hikers the great outdoors and education.
You can opt to head out into the preserve, walk on the section of the trail which has been designated part of the NYS Birding Trail, or go on a guided tour with museum staff.
If you enjoy paddling, the museum grounds offer excellent paddling, and you might be interested in the annual Paddle Keuka 5K, hosted by Saunders Finger Lakes Museum.
Either way, there's lots to do and see at the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum, and those of us that live nearby are waiting with bated breath while funds are raised for museum development and a new building.
Hiking the South Bradford State Forest, you’ll find yourself on volunteer-maintained trails. These trails are part of three trail systems: the Finger Lakes Trail, the Great Eastern Trail, and the North Country National Scenic Trail systems.
Located in the town of Bradford on the southeastern side of Keuka Lake, you’ll see drilling activity on these multi-use lands. If you’re interested in seeing some wellheads and pipelines, come to the South Bradford State Forest.
You won’t only see drilling going on though, you’ll probably also see some white-tailed deer, forest songbirds, and maybe some ravens - which don’t populate the Finger Lakes Region except in the very southern parts.
If you considered going to Pigtail Hollow State Forest, the Urbana State Forest shares a western boundary with Pigtail. You can find these two state forests on the western side of Keuka Lake, near the town of Urbana.
Trails within Urbana State Forest are maintained by volunteers of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. If you hike the section of the Finger Lakes Trail which runs through this state forest, you’ll find yourself on the Bristol Hills Branch Trail.
You can also visit Huckleberry Bog, a wetland system where highbush blueberries grow. It's just a short loop trail off the Bristol Hills Branch Trail.
Keuka Lake has too many amazing hikes to miss!
Which hiking option will you add to your next Finger Lakes adventure itinerary?