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Viewing Wildlife on Honeoye Lake
Honeoye Lake is a playground for viewing wildlife
Honeoye Lake is an absolute playground for anyone coming to view wildlife. With a very special reintroduction a quarter of a century ago, bring your binoculars because you won’t want to miss this!
What you'll find on this page:
I know you'll want to make sure to spend some time checking out the amazing wildlife while you visit Honeoye Lake.
Read on to find out:
- The reintroduction of the river otter on Honeoye Lake
- The best spots to see wildlife on Honeoye Lake
Chances are really rather excellent you'll find one or more wildlife adventures to add to your itinerary!
The reintroduction of the river otter to the Finger Lakes
River otters can be seen in Honeoye Inlet Wildlife Management Area.100 years ago, you would not have been able to see a river otter on Honeoye Lake. Once populous across the Finger Lakes Region, around the turn of the 20th century, river otters had been completely wiped out from hunting due to the ill-conceived notion that they were competing with fisherman. This led to unregulated fur trapping of otters and local extinction.
New York State officially limited river otter hunting in the 1930’s, but by then, they had already been eliminated from the Finger Lakes.
Fast forward to the late 1990’s, when the first river otters were reintroduced into Honeoye Inlet, and monitored by Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). The last reintroduction was in 2000, at which time nearly 300 river otters had been released into the Inlet.
Shy by nature around humans, river otters are like mini torpedoes under the water, and like eels with legs on land. Resembling a strange weasel/cat mix, they slide on their bellies across the ground or lope like a living slinky. They are definitely at home in the water, able to stay underwater for 8 minutes and swim up to 8 miles per hour.
To see river otters in the Finger Lakes Region, you can canoe or kayak the Honeoye Inlet Wildlife Management Area where you have a pretty good chance of seeing these playful and athletic animals in the wild.
So, where can I watch wildlife on Honeoye Lake?
There are lots of outdoor places to go around Honeoye Lake, and each seems to cater to different usage needs - mostly based on the lay of the land and the purpose of the property. Check out these spots for otter, forest birds such as the American woodcock, songbirds, birds of prey, white-tailed deer, and more.
American Woodcock have been recorded in the Finger Lakes Region. Rodney Campbell, CC BY 2.0Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
The Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area is a 1,550 acre multi-use area located to the south of Honeoye Lake. If you're a hiker, wildlife viewer, or looking for photo opportunities this is an excellent spot to try out.
The Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area offers some stunning photo opportunities. You’ll get amazing pictures of Honeoye Lake from the hills of the recreation area. On clear days, off Overlook Rd, you might be able to see the city of Rochester - and even Lake Ontario!
Even if you don’t get a panorama, wildlife viewing is great here, including migrating birds in the spring and early fall.
Highlights
- Hiking
- Viewing wildlife
- Biking
- Running
- Snowshoeing
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Hunting
Getting there
- 📍6775 Canadice Hill Road, Springwater, NY 14560
- 📞 (585) 335-8111
- 🗺 Find on Google Maps
Features
- State recreation area: 1,550 acre
- Multi-use trails: 22.83 miles
- Panoramic views
- Peak elevation over 2,000 feet
- Max 2 leashed dogs allowed
- Free entry
Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area
A stream and wetland system that extends across townships, Honeoye Creek WMA is a 717-acre parcel that hosts woodlands, wetlands, brush fields, agricultural lands, and more.
With such varied habitats within one WMA, you are sure spot numerous species while you're out and about.
You can also access the Honeoye Creek WMA by kayak or canoe via the north end of Honeoye Lake.
Highlights
- Viewing wildlife
- Hunting
- Trapping
- Fishing
- Hiking
Getting there
- 📍9033 Ashley Rd, Livonia, NY 14487 or 8956 County Rd. 15, Bloomfield, NY
- 📞 (585) 226-5380
- 🗺 Find on Google Maps
Features
- Wildlife management area: 717 acres
- Kiosk
- Dogs allowed
- Free entry
Honeoye Inlet Wildlife Management Area
Honeoye Inlet WMA is a 2,637-acre parcel of land at the southern tip of Honeoye Lake. It has a dug channel that feeds water into the lake and is great for wildlife viewing by kayak or canoe, or for fishing.
This WMA also has an expansive silver maple stand, some steep wooded hillsides, and open areas, all good for viewing different types of wildlife, such as song birds, turkeys, and white-tailed deer.
Highlights
- Hiking
- Viewing wildlife
- Hunting
- Trapping
- Paddling
- Fishing
Getting there
- 📍6853 Co Rd 36, Honeoye, NY 14471
- 📞 (585) 226-5380
- 🗺 Find on Google Maps
Features
- Wildlife management area: 2,637 acres
- Home of New York river otters
- Dogs allowed
- Free entry
Honeoye Lake has a little bit of something for everyone.RMSC Cumming Nature Center
RMSC stands for ‘Rochester Museum and Science Center,’ which runs the Cumming Nature Center in Naples. Since it's on the western side of route 33, I personally consider it closer to Honeoye Lake, however, the town of Naples rests at the base of Canandaigua Lake.
At the Cumming Nature Center, you can hike trails, view wildlife and visit the nature center itself. The Center grounds cover 900 acres and boasts 15 miles of trails. They offer lots of outdoor activities for the whole family like guided walks, outdoor yoga, and archeological digs.
Highlights
- Hiking
- Viewing wildlife
- Snowshoeing
Getting there
- 📍6472 Gulick Rd, Naples, NY 14512
- 📞 (585) 374-6160
- 🗺 Find on Google Maps
Features
- Nature center: 900 acres
- Hiking trails: 15 miles
- Family-centered programs
- Guided hikes
- Leashed dogs allowed
- Entry fee
You can go snowshoeing at RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Photo credit: DanielPenfield.Wesley Hill Nature Preserve
The Wesley Hill Nature Preserve is operated and maintained by the Finger Lakes Land Trust, an organization that works to purchase and protect wild lands in the region. They also purchase land that has been productive and manage it as it reforests.
The Wesley Hill Nature Preserve, located in Naples, NY, is a 90-acre parcel that was purchased by three artists in 1926 after the local sawmills closed. Today, the Land Trust maintains a 5.6 mile trail that is excellent for viewing wildlife and hiking.
Keep your eyes peeled if you are an avid birder - the Land Trust has posted videos on their YouTube channel of American Woodcock in the Finger Lakes Region.
Highlights
- Hiking
- Viewing wildlife
- Running
- Cross-country skiing
Getting there
- 📍6280 Gulick Rd #6060, Naples, NY 14512
- 📞 (607) 275-9487
- 🗺 Find on Google Maps
Features
- Nature preserve: 90 acres
- Hiking trails: 5.6 miles
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Free entry
Create your own Finger Lakes adventure
Honeoye Lake has so much amazing wildilfe you won't want to miss!
Which wildlife watching option will you add to your next Finger Lakes adventure itinerary?
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