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Crusoe Lake

Coordinates: 43.09201°N 76.77690°W

Elevation: 380 feet/116 meters

Map

Google Earth View

Location

Crusoe Lake is located on the west side of State Route 89 less than 1 mi./1.6 km. from the hamlet of Savannah in Wayne County.

General

Crusoe Lake is situated on state land administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and is part of the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area. It is directly behind the Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC).

Physical Features

Crusoe Lake is fed by Butler Creek from the north. The outlet, Crusoe Creek, runs into the Seneca River at Howland Island. Crusoe Lake is a small, shallow, oval lake surrounded by a tamarack swamp. The swamp is dense, wet, buggy, and rumored to have quicksand.

Access

At the moment, there is no safe way to access the lake. According to the DEC, there are plans to build a boardwalk to the lake from its land behind the MAC. When that happens, it will be announced on this page. This photo is NOT Crusoe Lake. It is the MAC pond and could not have been taken in January as the Finger Lakes is usually covered in snow at that time.

Boating

At times Crusoe Creek is high enough to kayak down to the Seneca River. The Seneca River is always good for any kind of boating except sailing.

Biking

State Route 89 is part of the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway. It has adequate shoulders and is popular with bike riders. The land in Wayne County tends to be rather flat. In addition, a part of the Erie Canal trail runs through Savannah and is ideal for biking.

Hiking

There are hiking trails at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, but these are relatively short trails. For long hikes, consider the Erie Canal trail.

Wildlife

Wildlife abounds in this area all year long but especially when birds are migrating. There are nesting bald eagles and ospreys here, and when the young have fledged, it can honestly be said that many of each can be seen in a single day. Because of Cayuga Lake and the entire Montezuma area, this is considered the premier wildlife area in the entire region.

Photography

Photographers especially enjoy this region because of the abundance of wildlife. A long lens or a lens on a scope is helpful.

Parks, Forests and Wildlife Management Areas

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Nearby Places of Interest (a partial list)

Montezuma Winery

Accommodations

BED AND BREAKFASTS

There are no bed and breakfasts nearby, but there are a number of bed and breakfasts in Seneca Falls.

CAMPGROUNDS

Cayuga Marina and Campground

6721 River Rd.

Cayuga, NY 13034

315-0252-5754

 

Hejamada Family RV Park

McDonald Rd.

Montezuma, NY 13117

315-776-5887

 

Twin Oaks Campground

Fire Lane 14

Cayuga, NY 13034

315-889-5189

RENTALS

Eagle View Cabin

2850 Armitage Rd.

Savannah, NY 13146

315-365-2249

 

Created 9 July 2010

 

 

 

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