Paddling Keuka Lake

For a delightful paddle through Sugar Creek that empties into the northwest branch of Keuka Lake, you can launch your kayak or canoe from the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum in Branchport.

The branch through Sugar Creek butts against the Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve, a 16-acre tract of land that includes part of the NYS Birding Trail and acts to protect the Keuka Lake watershed. 

The Saunders Finger Lakes Museum also hosts an annual Paddle Keuka 5K. This 5K makes a loop around the northwest branch of the Keuka Lake, and offers exhilaration and companionship with other paddlers.

Highlights

• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife
• Paddling

Getting there

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

Features

• Museum: 30 acres
• Paddling on Sugar Creek to Keuka Lake
• Paddle Keuka 5K

• Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve
• NYS Birding Trail
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

This state forest between Keuka and Seneca Lakes is part of a large wetland system, great for paddling. With small craft launching docks, Sanford Lake, within the state forest, is easy to access with a kayak or canoe. 

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 head to Birdseye Hollow Park, complete with picnic areas, a pavilion, a playground, and room to fish. There’s also great hiking and camping in Birdseye Hollow.

You can also take the Forest Stewardship Auto Tour, which describes different ways state forests are used in New York State.

Highlights

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

Getting there

• 📍7603 Birdseye Hollow Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840
• 📞 607-622-8282
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Accessing Sanford Lake:

• 📍Round Lake Rd to Sanford Lake Rd, Savona, NY 14879

Features

• State forest: 3,446 acres
• Kayak and canoe launch

• Portion of Finger Lakes Trail
• Picnic areas
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

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

Titles aside, these two lakes offer excellent paddling, and you can access one from the other via a joint stream that runs through the Waneta-Lamoka Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

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

Located in Hammondsport, Depot Park offers paddlers and boaters alike a launch site from the southern tip of Keuka Lake. Operated by the Town of Urbana, this park also features restrooms, swimming, and picnic areas.

Highlights

• Boating
• Swimming
• Paddling
• Viewing wildlife

Getting there

• 📍7 Water St, Hammondsport, NY 14840
• 📞 (607) 569-3743 
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal park
• Hard-surface launch area
• Facilities
• Swimming area with lifeguard
• Dogs allowed
• Free entry

At Indan Pines Park, one of two public parks in Penn Yan, you can launch your kayak, canoe, or SUP directly from the shore. 

This park offers other facilities, such as a pavilion, swimming area with lifeguards, bathrooms, a playground, and free entrance. 

Please note: The channel where the lake meets the Keuka Outlet has strong undercurrents and is extremely dangerous for swimming and wading. 

Highlights

• Paddling
• Swimming
• Viewing wildlife

Getting there

• 📍69 Old Pines Trail, Penn Yan, NY 14527
• 📞 (315) 531-1567
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal park
• Launch from the shore

• Swimming beach with lifeguard
• Playground
• Facilities
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

A site that has a little bit of something for everyone on Keuka Lake, Keuka Lake State Park is located near Branchport, on the northwest part of the lake.

This park offers a boat ramp and docks for loading and unloading.

Additionally, Keuka Lake State Park has hiking trails, camping and RV sites, swimming areas, facilities, playgrounds, and fishing access.

Highlights

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

Getting there

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

Features

• State park: 621 acres
• Boat launch

• 8 hiking trails
• Shoreline
• Swimming area with lifeguard
• Pavilions
• Picnic areas
• Max 2 dogs allowed on leash
• Entry fee

The Penn Yan Village Boat Launch will put you into the water on the Keuka Outlet. From there, you’ll veer to your right and head out to the open water. 

This is a shared recreation area, with bathrooms, playgrounds, a skate park, and a section of the Keuka Outlet Trail. You’ll find it has a large lot for parking your trailer, but on busy weekends, it can fill up quickly, so go early.

Please note: It's extremely dangerous to swim in an outlet or inlet due to strong undercurrents where the stream and lake waters meet. Do not attempt to swim in the Keuka Outlet. 

Highlights

• Boating
• Paddling
• Hiking
• Viewing wildlife

Getting there

• 📍 290-298 Water St, Penn Yan, NY 14527
• 📞  (315) 536-3015
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal park
• Hard-surface boat launch
• Dock for temporary portage

• Playgrounds
• Portion of Keuka Outlet Trail
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Entry fee

At Red Jacket Park, one of two public parks in Penn Yan, you can launch your kayak, canoe, or SUP directly from the shore. 

This park offers other facilities, such as a swimming area with lifeguards, bathrooms, a playground, and free entrance. 

There's a statue of the Seneca Indian Red Jacket at Red Jacket Park. A gifted orator, Red Jacket was a peacemaker that spoke for the rights of his people.

Getting there

• 📍309 Lake St, Penn Yan, NY 14527
• 📞 (315) 536-3015
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

Features

• Municipal park
• Launch from the shore

• Swimming beach with lifeguard
• Playground
• Facilities
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Free entry

Located right on the bluff of Keuka Lake, you can rent a kayak, pontoon or fishing boat from East Bluff Harbor. 

And if you like dogs, there’s always one waiting at the shop to greet visitors. 

Getting there

• 📍6508 E Bluff Dr, Penn Yan, NY 14527
• 📞 (315) 536-8236
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

A small, family-run business, you can rent a kayak, paddleboard, or lily pad from Keuka Kayak and they'll deliver to you.

Getting there

• 📞 Phone: (607) 377-7843

Located at the southern tip of the lake in Hammondsport, Keuka Watersports has a selection of kayaks and paddleboards to choose from.

They also offer motorized boat rentals, a surf charter for you to learn to surf in the wake of the speed boat, and a 5 o’clock cruise. 

With multiple locations on Keuka Lake, I suggest you check out their website to figure out where you need to go.

Getting there

• 📍7 Water St, Hammondsport, NY 14840
• 📞 (607) 569-2889
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

In addition to getting your boat serviced, you can reserve a kayak or SUP for a 1/2 or full day at Morgan Marina. 

Launch from the marina, or next door at Red Jacket Park.

Getting there

• 📍2 NY-54, Penn Yan, NY 14527
• 📞 (315) 536-8166
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

This livery is located near Seneca Lake, but they deliver to Keuka, Canandaigua, Cayuga, Waneta, and Lamokas, in addition to Seneca. 

They offer a variety of solo or tandem craft you can choose from.

Getting there

• 📍440 Hall Rd, Himrod, NY 14842
• 📞 (607) 243-9100
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps

At Shoreline Rentals, located in Penn Yan, you can rent a kayak and then head down the Keuka Outlet to the greater lake. You can also rent a SUP, or a bike with them. 

Shoreline Rentals is the only spot on Keuka Lake to rent electric bikes, too. 

Getting there

• 📍111 Liberty St, Penn Yan, NY 14527
• 📞 (315) 521-9257
• 🗺 Find on Google Maps