Cayuga Lake Travel Guide Vacation Rentals, Cabins, Condos to Rent, Holiday Homes
Cayuga Lake, once part of the Seneca Nation, is a year round destination sitting in the heart of the glacial Fingers Lake area in upstate New York. Self-proclaimed as the "lake trout capital of the world", it is very popular with anglers and also wine connoisseurs with over 30 local vineyards dotted around the hills surrounding the lake.
The Finger Lakes are home to some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers, and trails in the United States and Cayuga Lake is the longest of the eleven Finger lakes stretching 40 miles across the counties of Seneca, Tompkins and Cayuga. It provides a wide variety of watersports and fantastic beaches for sunbathing and swimming during the warm summer months plus easy access to the local ski areas during the winter.
| Key facts... | |
|---|---|
| State | New York |
| Nearest airport | Syracuse (70 miles) |
| Nearest train station | Syracuse (67 miles) |
| Restaurants | 30+ |
| Lakeside beaches | ✔ |
| Fishing (trout) | ✔ |
| Watersports | ✔ |
| Waterparks | ✔ |
| Wine tours | ✔ |
| Ithaca Farmers' Market | ✔ |
| Spa & wellbeing | ✔ |
| Children's camps | ✔ |
| Skiing | ✔ |
| Car recommended | ✔ |
The City of Ithaca sits at the southern end of the lake and is the main hub for shopping, cafes, bars and a very good selection of restaurants from casual to fine dining serving all types of local and international cuisine. Robert Treman State Park is just five miles south of Ithaca and offers some of the best scenic hiking trails in the area with waterfalls, gorges and spectacular rock formations.
The other main town is Union Springs on the east shore of the lake and known for its mineral springs. The town has a lovely beach and marina where you can see Frontenac Island in the middle of Cayuga Lake.
Featured Cayuga Lake Cabins
Cayuga Lake Vacation Rentals
The vacation rentals around Cayuga Lake are a mix of cabins, lodges, lakeside houses, cottages and condos. The main things people look for in a vacation rental during the summer is a BBQ and during the winter a log fire and you'll find that most cabins and lodges in Cayuga Lake are equipped with both!
Renting a cabin or condo is great value when compared to hotel prices and cater for couples on weekend breaks to family vactions and groups. Whether its a lakeside cabin or lodge in the surrounding hills looking on to the lake, there is a large selection of holiday rentals for all budgets and tastes.
Seasonal Activities
Cayuga Lake is a place to visit any time of year and there is never a dull moment. Some of the more popular activities include....
- Hunting - Northern Montezuma Wildlife Area
- Lake boat tours
- Water skiing, jetski & sailing
- Kayaking & Canoe
- Fishing - brown & rainbow trout, pike, bass
- Hiking in Robert Treman State Park
- Mountain biking
- Visit the breathtaking Ithaca Falls
- Skiing at Bristol Mountain (55 miles)
Top Things to See and Do
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
There are more tha 30 vineyards around Cayuga Lake producing international wines such as Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Honey Wines. Spend a few days on the trail and sample some of these fine wines.
Waterparks
Roseland Waterpark is a firm favourite with the younger children. This exciting Canandaigua water park is known for its sparkling clean water, lazy river, large slides and wave pool and just 45 minutes drive (42 miles) from Cayuga.
Skiing
The closest ski resort is at Bristol Mountain (55 miles) to the west of Canandaigua Lake, largely catering for beginners and intermediates across its 34 trails. For more advanced skiers, Labrador Mountain (59 miles) is to place to head to with around a third of the 22 trails reserved for experts.
Our view on Cayuga Lake
Cayuga Lake is best described as one of those lakes & mountains destinations you will go back to time after time. A very pretty area, full of life, excellent value and a perfect family holiday destination. Seneca is also a great base to explore the other beautiful Fingers Lakes such as Canandaigua Lake and Lake Seneca.
