Skaneateles Lake Travel Guide & Reviews Vacation Rentals, Cabins, Condos to Rent, Holiday Homes
Skaneateles Lake , once part of the Seneca Nation, is a year round destination sitting in the eastern part of the glacial Fingers Lake area in upstate New York. Its name in the local Iroquoian language means "long lake" being nearly 16 miles long and is the sixth largest of the Finger Lakes.
The Finger Lakes are home to some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers, and trails in the United States and Seneca Lake is the largest of the eleven Finger lakes providing 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 (40 miles) |
| Nearest train station | Syracuse (28 miles) |
| Restaurants | 20+ |
| Lakeside beaches | ✔ |
| Fishing | ✔ |
| Watersports | ✔ |
| Waterparks | ✔ |
| Wine tours | ✔ |
| Farmers markets | ✔ |
| Spa & wellbeing | ✔ |
| Cruises on the Erie Canal | ✔ |
| Skiing (Song Mountain) | ✔ |
| Car recommended | ✔ |
The village of Skaneateles, along the northern shores of the lake is a charming hamlet and is widely regarded as being among the finest villages in all of the Finger Lakes. This charming hamlet is the hub of the lake and a popular past time is a stroll along the Clift Park waterfront.
Featured Seneca Lake Cabins
Skaneateles Lake Lodging
The vacation rentals around Skaneateles Lake are a mix of cabins, lodges, lakeside houses and condos with many based on the northern shore near the main town of Skaneateles. One of the 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 Skaneateles 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 Guide
Skaneateles Lake is a place to visit any time of year and there is never a dull moment. Some of the more popular activities include....
- Skiing at Song Mountain resort
- Golf
- Lake boat tours
- Water skiing, jetski & sailing
- Kayaking & Canoe
- Fishing - trout, pike, bass & perch
- Hiking in Bear Swamp State Forest
- Mountain biking
- Hunting
Top Things to See and Do
Skaneateles Lake Wine Trail
While most of the wine industry in the Finger Lakes is based around the hills surrounding Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka lakes where there are more tha 30 vineyards, Skaneateles has just one - Anyela's Vineyard. The scenery is spectacular and there are daily wine tastings and guided tours.
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 56 miles from Skaneateles Lake.
Skiing
The closest ski resort is Song Mountain (14 miles) to the south of Skaneateles Lake, largely catering for beginners and intermediates across its 20 trails. For more advanced skiers, Labrador Mountain (33 miles) is to place to head to with around a third of the 22 trails reserved for experts.
Our view on Skaneateles Lake
Skaneateles Lake is one of the most beautiful of all the Finger Lakes with its pristine clear waters and lakeside forests. A very pretty area, full of life, excellent value and a perfect family holiday destination. Skaneateles is also a great base to explore the other Fingers Lakes such as seneca Lake and Lake Cayuga.
