EXPLORING THE FINGER LAKES: CONESUS, HEMLOCK, & CANADICE LAKEs
Conesus Lake, the westernmost of New York’s eleven Finger Lakes, is also one of the shallower of the Finger Lakes, averaging a depth of 38 feet and a maximum of 66 feet. It has a surface area of 3,240 acres or over five square miles. Because of its shallower waters, the late tends to freeze on colder winters, making it a fun spot for ice fishing, snowmobiling, and ice skating.
Hemlock Lake is the second smallest Finger Lakes, with a surface area of 2.81 miles.
Canadice Lake is the smallest Finger Lake in western New York, with a surface area of 649 acres and a maximum depth of 95 feet. It is a 25-minute drive from Hemlock.
The Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, which surrounds the Canadice and Hemlock Lakes, comprises 6,849 acres. Some of the trees are “old-growth” (more than 500 years old), making it one of the most extensive “old-growth” forests in New York. Hikers can enjoy close to 14 miles of marked trails to explore. Most of the trails to the falls are accessible from entry points off Route 15A.
The City of Rochester and its surrounding communities use Hemlock and Canadice Lakes as water reservoirs. As such, no development is permitted along the shoreline of either lake, which is an incredible sight, especially after you experience the other lakes and their very crowded shorelines. Swimming is prohibited, though low-power engines and non-motorized activities such as kayaking are permitted at restricted locations. We’ve heard from those who enjoy fishing that these are great spots for the sport too!
However, you can swim in Conesus Lake, and Long Point Park offers the space and bathrooms for a day of swimming, picnicking, and even launching your kayak or boat. Hikers would enjoy the roughly 9 miles of maintained trails throughout the Conesus Inlet wildlife reserve.
A Short Drive Away
Rochester, NY, is no more than 30 minutes from both lakes. From the perspective of this New York City girl, Rochester feels like Brooklyn, though it is 87% smaller than my hometown borough. There is so much to do here, and I will be sure to link back to a travel guide through the city when it is complete…but if you are looking for a city vibe with a great art scene, indy feel, and cool eateries and bars, Rochester is the perfect getaway. It is, in fact, one of mine. A perfect day in Rochester for me is breakfast at Highland Diner or coffee and a light bite at Melo Coffee and Kitchen; book shopping at the Unreliable Narrator; museum hopping to start at the Memorial Art Gallery and to make sure not to miss the George Eastman Museum.
If you want to make it a later night with a lovely drink, dinner, and all the feel-good city energy, head over to Crisp Rochester, Good Luck, or Roux. And if you’re like me and love a good authentic Latin meal, head over to Pillon Criollo, D’Mangu Restaurant, or Me Gusta Restaurant.
If you want a more small-town experience, you will enjoy Naples, NY. Known as the home of the grape pie, this cute little town packs a lot in a very small radius. Our favorite eateries are the School House for brunch, Roots Cafe, and Hollerhorn Distilling for drinks and a later meal. A super cute stay is at the historic Naples Hotel, which dates back to 1895 and is the oldest operating hotel in the area. Their newer restaurant offers a beautiful dining experience, especially from their outdoor deck.
Geneseo, NY, is also the closest town to Conesus Lake (a 16-minute drive and 45-minute drive from Canadice Lake). Spend some time exploring the National War Plane Museum or the Wadsworth Homestead, the only country manor estate in New York State that has been continually owned by the original family since 1804. Or spend an afternoon tasting wine at Deer Run Winery, beer at No BS Brewery, or cider at OSB Cider Works.
A Longer (but Worthy) Drive Away
If you want to explore further from the lakes, East Aurora is a fun town to visit. Start with breakfast or lunch at Charlie’s Diner—I recommend the blueberry pancakes!
Then, head over for a tour of the Roycroft Campus. Tours are once a day, and tickets must be booked in advance. Elbert Hubbard founded the Roycroft campus, a reformist community of craft workers and artists, in 1895. It helped to form part of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. Today, it still hosts some artists’ studios and a museum. Still, guests mostly get to enjoy the shops featuring the work of local and national artists and the event spaces, which host community events throughout the year.
Renting canoes or Kayaks
There are designated kayak launch areas that are easy to find around both Hemlock and Canadice Lakes, but you can also rent them; the outfitters will drive them to a designated location for you to use. Two recommendations: Canadice Lake Outfitters and Hemlock Canoe.
CAMPING
Conesus Lake Campground hosts sites and plenty of activities right on the lake.
There is no camping allowed inside the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, however the nearby Tamarack Campgrounds (a 15 minute drive) offers RV and tent sites as well as newly cabins for overnight stays.
Stoney Brook State Park Campgrounds (a 29-minute drive) is also a popular camping spot, as is Letchworth State Park, another worthy road trip destination for epic waterfall views and hiking. Special note: reservations for camping spots at Letchworth are, on average, 9 months out, so plan ahead!
