Seneca Lake

Seneca Lake details: 

• Length:  37.9 miles
• Maximum width: 3 miles
• Maximum depth: 618 feet
• Average depth: 291 feet
• Major cities and towns: Watkins Glen, Geneva

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Which Finger Lake is the deepest?

Which Finger Lake is the deepest, you wonder? That title goes to Seneca Lake, without a doubt. Actually, Seneca Lake is the deepest lake in New York State - and one of the deepest lakes east of the Mississippi. Maxing out at 618 feet deep, there are actually sunken boats at the bottom of the lake. 

Because Seneca Lake is so deep, the US Navy set up a sonar testing base in the middle of the lake. Described as “the Navy's primary active instrumented calibration and test facility,” the base actively performs underwater research and development.

In addition to being ultra deep, Seneca Lake is also the second largest of the Finger Lakes. Following Cayuga Lake by just one mile less, it measures 37.9 miles long - and therefore has nearly 38 miles of fun for boaters, hikers, paddlers, hunters, fisherman, and others. It's a beautiful place to visit, with a little bit of something for everyone.

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How did Seneca Lake get its name?

"Where did Seneca Lake get its name and what does it mean?" you ask?

The Native American group that lived across the Finger Lakes Region were the Seneca Indians. The name “Seneca” means, “Great Hill People,” which makes perfect sense when you take a look at the geography of the region. 

Another explanation for the name of the lake is its derived from a native word that means “place of stone.” That also makes sense. 

If you get out on the lake, even just the lake shore, you'll see the Finger Lakes are not fine sand beaches. Instead, they are formed from shale: flat, dark-colored stone that's great for skipping on the surface of the water. Seneca Lake is no different and you can easily see this from the rocky walls that lead down to the water, particularly at the southern end of the lake. 

If you're lucky, you might find a piece of shale with a fossil formed into it. So, keep your eyes peeled!

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Things to do while visiting Seneca Lake

So, you wanna visit Seneca Lake?

Seneca Lake is known for being the deepest Finger Lake, for great hiking at Watkins Glen State Park, and being the lake trout capital of the world. I don't blame you for wanting to come here. Even though I live locally, I'm planning my next trip too!

To find out more about the following activities on Seneca Lake, just click on the link. I suggest you try them all - because you just never know what kind of good stuff you might miss out on if you don't!

Boating

Hiking

Paddling

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