Owasco Lake, New York, USA

Owasco Lake is the sixth largest of the eleven Finger Lakes. Its name, from a Mohawk or Iroquois term, translates to “crossing.” The Finger Lakes were formed thousands of years ago by the region’s receding glaciers. Although Owasco Lake is an impressive 177 feet deep, it is relatively shallow compared to Seneca Lake’s depth of over 600 feet! Owasco Lake is located entirely in Cayuga County. Water…
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    • All About Owasco Lake, NY

    Lake Locations: USA - US Mid-Atlantic Region - New York - Finger Lakes Region, NY -

    Owasco Lake is the sixth largest of the eleven Finger Lakes. Its name, from a Mohawk or Iroquois term, translates to “crossing.” The Finger Lakes were formed thousands of years ago by the region’s receding glaciers. Although Owasco Lake is an impressive 177 feet deep, it is relatively shallow compared to Seneca Lake’s depth of over 600 feet! Owasco Lake is located entirely in Cayuga County.

    Water in all of New York’s Finger Lakes flows south to north. Water enters Owasco Lake at the southern end through the Owasco Inlet near the Village of Moravia. Before the creek reaches the lake, it floods the 750-acre wetland called the Owasco Flats. The Flats are an important breeding habitat for birds, fish, mammals and reptiles. The Flats host a great blue heron rookery. Tundra swans and loons rest at the lake during migration, and bald eagles and osprey are spotted during breeding season. Sections of the Owasco Inlet Creek are ideal for canoeing and kayaking.

    Much of Owasco Lake’s shoreline is developed with year-round homes and cottages, so public access is limited. Public access is available at in the Town of Owasco’s Emerson Park at the north end of the lake. The park provides recreational facilities and hosts special events throughout the year. The Owasco River exits the lake before flowing through the City of Auburn. Canoeists and kayakers can enjoy a leisurely ride along the Outlet through Auburn to the Owasco Outlet Dam. The dam, owned and operated by the City of Auburn, controls the outlet’s flow and water levels at the lake. Owasco Lake provides more than 70% of the drinking water for Cayuga County.

    At 11 miles long and approximately 6,665 acres, the lake offers anglers a wonderful world of possibility. Truly a fishing lake, people fishing on shore often call out to passing boats, “How’s the fishing?” The answer: the fishing is great. Look forward to catches of rainbow trout, northern pike, brown trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and panfish. Fishing on Owasco isn’t popular only in the summer months; you can find dedicated anglers ice fishing all throughout the winter months, too.

    If fishing isn’t your pleasure, then you’ll be drawn in by the gentle beauty of the lake and the rich activity offerings of the Finger Lakes region. Idle away your time relaxing in the blue waters, swimming in the cool depths, or canoeing along the shores. When it’s time for dry land activities, you’ll be thrilled with the possibilities: hiking, biking, golf, skydiving, hot-air ballooning, bird watching, horseback riding, and more await you. In the winter months, you’ll be greeted with a plethora of options: snowboarding, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and ice fishing are among the many cold-month activities.

    Things to Do at Owasco Lake

    These are some activities in the Owasco Lake, NY area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Golf
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Horseback Riding
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Owasco Lake?

    Owasco Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Brown Trout
    • Lake Trout
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Trout
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Owasco Lake

    If you’re considering a Owasco Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Owasco Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Owasco Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Owasco Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: City of Auburn

    Surface Area: 6,665 acres

    Shoreline Length: 23 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 712 feet

    Average Depth: 96 feet

    Maximum Depth: 177 feet

    Water Volume: 650,603 acre-feet

    Drainage Area: 208 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Owasco Lake Map
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