Cayuga Lake is located in Ithaca, New York. It is the longest of the Finger Lakes. Cayuga Lake stretches across three counties (Tompkins, Seneca, and Cayuga). The lake stretches from Seneca Falls to Ithaca, which is a distance of almost 40 miles. Cayuga Lake has the largest surface area of any of the Finger Lakes. It is second in volume. Seneca Lake is the only one of the Finger Lakes larger in volume. Cayuga Lake's widest point is near Aurora, and it is three and a half miles wide at this point. The lake is 1.7 miles long, and the deepest point of the lake is about 435 feet.
There are only two islands on the Finger Lakes, and Cayuga Lake is home to one of them. This island is called Frontenac Island, and it can be seen from the shoreline at Union Springs. For visitors interested in paleontology, there are stromatoporoids on Frontenac Island that may be of interest.
There are several activities available at Cayuga Lake and in the surrounding area of the lake. Bicyclists that are familiar with road riding may be interested in biking the area around Cayuga Lake. While there are not any biking trails at the lake, there is a circuit around the lake that is popular with cyclists. The circuit is a total of 101 miles. This circuit is included in the Annual Cayuga Lake Triathlon.
Sailing and other forms of recreational boating are permitted on the lake. There are public boat launches and docks available at the Allan H. Treman State Marine Park. This is a popular site for boats, and transient slips go quickly. As a result, it is recommended that boaters call ahead. The Allan H. Treman State Marine Park can be reached by calling 607-237-3440. There are several other public and private marinas located around Cayuga Lake as well. For those wanting to boat on the lake without bringing their own boat, cruises of all types are offered. One of the biggest cruise operators on the lake is Cayuga Lake Cruises, and they can be reached by calling 607-256-0898.
Cayuga Lake offers visitors the opportunity to fish. The lake is particularly good for trout fishing, especially lake trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. In the shallow areas of the lake and in the warmer waters of the lake, northern pike, small-mouth bass, large-mouth bass, and pickerel can be found. Perch and bullhead are common in the southern end of the lake.
The north-western shore of the lake is home to the Cayuga Lake State Park. The Cayuga Lake State Park features a public boat launch and offers camping opportunities and fishing opportunities. In addition, it has picnic tables and a playground.
Another popular activity in the area is hot air ballooning. There are several companies that offer balloon rides, such as Finger Lakes Ballooning (315-594-8946), High Hopes Balloon Co. (585-377-7768), Liberty Balloon Company (800-777-2FLY), and Sunset Adventures (315-252-7768). The Cayuga Wine Trail, which is the oldest wine trail in the United States, is another recreational activity available to visitors. Information about the Cayuga Wine Trail can be obtained by calling 800-684-5217.
The area around Cayuga Lake is known for its farmland. Many farms in the area offer tours. There are also several you-pick farms in the area, such as the Silver Queen Farm, which is located on the west side of the lake. On the east side of the lake, there are organic farms and orchards. Other farms in the area include alpaca farms and specialized cheese makers.
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