Hiking Keuka Lake

Hiking trails for everyone in your group

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. 


What you'll find on this page:

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.

Read on about: 

  • Finger Lakes hardwood forests
  • Hiking the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum
  • State parks and forests around Keuka Lake
  • And more...

Chances are really rather excellent you'll find one or more hikes to add to your itinerary!


Epitomical Finger Lakes forest

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. 

Keuka Lake hiking will take you through upstate New York hardwood forest.Hiking Keuka Lake will take you through northeast hardwood forests. And you'll probably see some water too.

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.


Where can I hike around Keuka Lake?

I'm glad you asked because Keuka Lake has numerous hiking treasures you'll want to explore and fully experience.

Birdseye Hollow State Forest

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.

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Snowshoeing
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Camping
  • Snowmobiling
  • Hunting
  • Trapping
  • Fishing

Getting there

Features

  • State forest: 3,446 acres
  • Portion of Finger Lakes Trail
  • Picnic areas
  • Kayak and canoe launch
  • Dogs allowed
  • Free entry
white pineYou'll find stands of white pine in some areas of the Finger Lakes Region.

Italy Hill State Forest

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.

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Viewing wildlife
  • Hunting
  • Trapping
  • Camping

Getting there

Features

  • State forest: 1,899 acres
  • Contains portion of Finger Lakes Trail
  • Out-and-back trail: 5 miles
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Free entry

Keuka Lake State Park

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.

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Boating
  • Snowshoeing
  • Fishing
  • Paddling
  • Camping

Getting there

  • 📍3560 Pepper Rd, Keuka Park, NY 14478
  • 📞 (315) 536-3666
  • 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

  • State park: 621 acres
  • 8 hiking trails
  • Shoreline
  • Swimming area with lifeguard
  • Boat launch
  • Pavilions
  • Picnic areas
  • Max 2 dogs allowed on leash
  • Entry fee

Keuka Outlet Trail

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:

  • You can see ruins of grain mills from the late 1800’s
  • The Crooked Lake Canal once dammed the waters of the Keuka Lake Outlet
  • The trail is made on what used to be the towpath for mules to pull boats - before the days of steam engines
  • After the days of the canal system, the  trail became a railroad, and was later ruined by a hurricane

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.

Getting there

Access on the Keuka Lake end:

  • 📍Penn Yan Public Boat Launch 298 Water St, Penn Yan, NY 14527
  • 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Access on the Seneca Lake end: 

  • 📍100 Seneca St, Dresden, NY 14441
  • 📞 
  • 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

  • Municipal and volunteer mantained
  • Trail: 6.8 miles
  • 3 playgrounds
  • Finger Lakes railroad history
  • Ruins
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Free entry

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Snowshoeing
  • Biking
  • Horseback riding
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Running
  • Viewing wildlife
  • Fishing
Keuka Lake Outlet TrailYou can hike the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail from Keuka Lake to Seneca Lake.

Meads Creek State Forest

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!

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Viewing wildlife
  • Camping
  • Hunting
  • Trapping
  • Fishing

Getting there

  • 📍Trailhead address: 5367 Meads Creek Rd, Painted Post, NY 14870
  • 📞 607-622-8282
  • 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

  • State forest: 1,452 acres
  • Crystal Hills Branch Trail portion of Finger Lakes Trail
  • Portion of Great Eastern Trail
  • Dogs allowed
  • Free entry

Pigtail Hollow State Forest

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.

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Viewing wildlife
  • Camping
  • Hunting
  • Trapping

Getting there

  • 📍Bath, NY 14810
  • 📞 607-622-8282
  • 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

  • State forest: 998 acres
  • Portion of Finger Lakes Trail
  • Dogs allowed
  • Free entry
Black bearBlack bears roam - and sleep - around Keuka Lake.

Saunders Finger Lakes Museum

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.

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Viewing wildlife
  • Paddling

Getting there

  • 📍3369 Guyanoga Rd, Branchport, NY 14418
  • 📞 (315) 595-2200
  • 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

  • Museum: 30 acres
  • NYS Birding Trail
  • Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve
  • Paddle Keuka 5K
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Free entry

South Bradford State Forest

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.

Highlights

  • Hunting
  • Trapping
  • Viewing wildlife
  • Hiking
  • Camping

Getting there

Features

  • State forest: 1,819 acres
  • Crystal Hills Branch Hiking Trail portion of Finger Lakes Trail
  • Significant number of gas wellheads and pipelines
  • Dogs allowed
  • Free entry

Urbana State Forest

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.

Highlights

  • Hiking
  • Viewing wildlife
  • Camping
  • Hunting
  • Trapping

Getting there

  • 📍Hammondsport, NY 14840
  • 📞  607-622-8282
  • 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

  • State forest: 2,690 acres
  • Crystal Hills Branch Hiking Trail portion of Finger Lakes Trail
  • Dogs allowed
  • Free entry

Create your own Finger Lakes adventure

Keuka Lake has too many amazing hikes to miss!

Which hiking option will you add to your next Finger Lakes adventure itinerary? 


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