Finger Lakes Region - State Parks, Trails and More © 2007

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The Finger Lakes region of New York is an excellent place to spend a few days of vacation. The area has it all - wonderful state parks, quality hotels and restaurants, and an abundance of wineries to satisfy your palette.

Geneva, New York is an excellent place to base your campaign of exploration. There are many excellent hotels in the town, as well as an abundance of unique eateries. A very pleasant day may be spent wandering the streets, visiting the shops and testing the restaurants. The Visitor Center is a good place to start your visit. This is located just off Routes 5 & 20, on the shores of Seneca Lake. The staff on duty is knowledgeable about not just Geneva, but the entire Finger Lakes region.

While at the Visitor Center, you may want to hike the trail which follows the shore of Seneca Lake. The trail is 2.5 miles in length and traverses Seneca Lake State Park. The trail is paved over its entire length, level and a very pleasant walk. There are opportunities for swimming and picnicking here on the shores of the lake, as well as just relaxing and watching the boats and birds on the lake. From Geneva you may plan some interesting day trips to explore the rest of the Finger Lakes region. Here are some suggestions for fully exploring the Finger Lakes region over a few days.

Day Trip 1 From Geneva you can explore the west shore of Seneca Lake by following State Route 14 South. This highway provides some very good views of the lake as it passes wineries and farms on its way to Watkins Glen. While visiting Watkins Glen, you might want to visit Watkins Glen State Park. The chief attraction here is the hike up Glen Creek Gorge. This beautiful trail follows the creek up to the Upper Entrance of the park. Along the way you will see nineteen waterfalls. The trail passes behind one of them, giving the hiker a unique experience of seeing a waterfall from the backside. On weekends there is a shuttle bus which operates that will take you from the Upper Entrance back down to the main entrance of the park. This bus does not operate during the week. The return trip has a couple of options - Indian Trail and the South Rim Trail. Both are pleasant hikes which allow you a restful stroll after the rugged trek up the gorge.

From Watkins Glen, take State Route 414 North. You will find more wineries along this road, which overlooks the east shore of Seneca Lake. At Ovid, you will want to turn left on State Route 96A for the return to Geneva. If time, you may want to stop at Sampson State Park. This State Park is a former military base. The Sampson Military Museum is located here, as well as an extensive marina. The Lakeshore Trail follows an old military road above the shore of the lake. There are some nice overlooks of the lake. The trail is 3.2 miles one way and is a level, easy hike.

Day Trip 2
From Geneva follow Routes 5 & 20 east to Seneca Falls. A morning may be spent exploring this town. The Visitor Center is located just off Water Street. It is a bit hard to find, but well worth the effort. You may walk along the canal and lunch at one of the many restaurants here.

For the afternoon, travel east on Routes 5 & 20 to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. The entrance is on the left about four miles from the outskirts of Seneca Falls. You will want to start out at the Visitor's Center. There is a viewing platform on the roof from which you can get a bird's eye view of the refuge. There are some excellent educational displays inside the Center. The restrooms are usually in good shape, too. There are detailed maps of the property, here too, so you can maximize your visit by using these.

The Auto Tour travels south from the Visitor Center and goes between the Cayuga Seneca Barge Canal and the Main Pool of Benning Marsh. There are a couple of short trails here which allow a more intimate inspection of the fauna and flora of Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. If you have the time and inclination, a few minutes spent walking these easy trails is well worth the time and effort.

From Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, take State Route 89 South for a short drive along Cayuga Lake and more wineries. A short stop at Cayuga Lake State Park for a fantastic vista of Seneca Lake is rewarding. You may return to Seneca Falls via Garden Street, just north of the State Park. Once you return to Seneca Falls, turn right on Ovid Street, then left on West Bayard Street. This follows the Cayuga-Seneca Canal to Route 96A. A right turn takes you back to dinner in Geneva.

Day Trip 3
This day's Finger Lakes excursion takes you down to two of the more spectacular State Parks in the whole region, Taughnock State Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park. Follow 96A south from Geneva to State Route 126. Turn left and follow this to State Route 96 where you will turn right. The entrance to Taughnock State Park is on the left about a mile past Trumansburg. Follow 148A through the park; turn right on Falls Road, then left on Taughnock Falls Road. There is a fantastic overlook of Taughnock Falls here. You may hike the North Rim Trail to a staircase which descends to the Falls Parking Area. The trail gives you some fantastic views of the gorge and Cayuga Lake. Take the stair down, cross the bridge and proceed up the Gorge Trail which will take you close to the base of the falls.

Alternatively, you may drive down to the parking area and hike from there, but the lower parking tends to fill up on busy days. There is also a picnic area right on Cayuga Lake and a rocky beach which is great for walking. This is an ideal spot for a picnic after an invigorating hike up the gorge.

From the Picnic Area you may travel south on State Route 89, along the shores of Cayuga Lake. Go south on 13 to Buttermilk State Park. This is another fantastic waterfall, and it is visible from the parking area. You can also hike the Gorge Trail for some more waterfalls and cascades in Buttermilk Creek. The return would be the Rim Trail.

From Buttermilk State Park, take State Route 13 North back up to State Route 96. You may follow this up to 96A for your return to Geneva.

These Day Trips will allow you to explore Geneva, New York and the rest of the Finger Lakes Region in four days. Hope you enjoy the visit.

Buttermilk Falls State Park