Home > Basics > LakesOwasco LakeCoordinates: 42.901°N 76.538°W Elevation: 710 feet/216 meters
Finger Lakes author Arch Merrill described Owasco Lake as a "sapphire gem of purest ray serene seemingly born to shimmer unseen, away from casual tourist gaze." (Slim Fingers Beckon, 1945) But Owasco's beauty is now well known and certainly worthy of every tourist's gaze, especially those visiting Cayuga County.
Owasco Lake lies entirely in Cayuga County. Its name is thought to come either from the Indian word Osco, which means "the crossing place" or from the word Wasco, which means "outlet" or "floating bridge."
The lake is 10.7 mi./17.2 km. long and runs between the City of Auburn in the north and the Village of Moravia in the south. With a distance of about 25 mi./40.2 km. around the lake and easy to moderate terrain, Owasco is considered an ideal place to go cycling.
The maximum depth of the lake is 177 ft./60 m. The water is relatively clean and provides drinking water for the City of Auburn and several other municipalities.
Owasco Lake is mesotrophic, a clear-water lake with medium levels of submerged nutrients--in this case phytoplanton, a food source for small fish (and zebra mussels). This type of lake is usually healthy with a variety of aquatic life, and Owasco Lake is no exception.
The shore of Owasco Lake is the starting and finishing location of The Great Race. Also known as the Capt. Myles Keogh Paddle, Wheel & Run, it is the largest team triathlon event in the United States.
Like many of the Finger Lakes, much of the shoreline is developed with cottages and year-round homes, limiting public access. Here are the best ways to access the lake.
Public Access to the Lake from the SouthLike all of the Finger Lakes, Owasco Lake's water runs from south to north. At the southern end of the lake is
Just before the Inlet Creek flows into the lake, it spreads out into the Owasco Flats, a 750-acre wetland, not the cattail kind but mostly the trees and ferns of a silty flood plain forest. This is a rich and diverse ecosystem that provides important breeding
During migration, you might be able to spot tundra swans and common loons resting on the lake. During breeding season, watch for bald eagles and osprey, fishing the length of the lake. The Flats also hosts a great blue heron rookery. These are just some of 102 bird species known to breed in the Owasco Valley.
Public Access to the Lake from the NorthThe outlet for the lake at the northern end is called the Owasco Outlet, which becomes the Owasco River. The river runs through the City of Auburn, eventually making its way to the Seneca River and beyond. The easiest way to access the lake from the northern end is from Emerson Park in the Town of Owasco. Emerson Park, named for Fred Emerson, who once owned Enna-Jettick Shoes and donated the park to the county, has a boat launch for both motorized and non-motorized boats as well as parking. A parking fee is charged. The park, which has been used as a recreational facility since 1889, also has a picnic area and a pavilion and hosts special events throughout the year, including a Winterfest with rides on old-fashioned horse-drawn sleighs and great views of the lake. The outlet can be canoed/kayaked from the northern end of the lake to the first dam in the City of Auburn. This is a leisurely ride through a residential part of the city. The river is dammed in the city about 1.8 mi./3 km. downstream from the northern end of the lake. This controls the water level of the lake and makes through traffic from Owasco Lake impossible. However, canoeing and kayaking are possible for the last 9.6 mi./15.4 km., exiting into the Erie Canal/Seneca River at a spot called Mosquito Point. This section of the Owasco River should only be attempted by those of expert ability as the river can be fast flowing with riffles. (Some portage around downed trees may be required.) Access to the river is available where the river runs under Turnpike Road in the hamlet of Throopsville (Port Byron). This is not an official launch site and has steep banks.
Paddling both the inlet and outlet are more fully described with maps in Take a Paddle by Rich and Sue Freeman. See the Bookstore at the bottom of the page.
Marina & Boat/Canoe/Kayak Rentals2810 Firelane #1, Rt. 38 Moravia, NY 13118 315-497-3006 ACCOMMODATIONSLakefront Accommodations6141 W. Lake Rd. (Rt. 38 South) Auburn, NY 13021 315-252-7247 Lakeside RentalsFinger Lakes Premier Properties (formerly Rental Plus) Resort Property Rentals of the Finger Lakes
OTHER ATTRACTIONSFillmore Glen State Park1686 State Rt. 38 Moravia, NY 13118 315-497-0130 Fillmore Glen State Park is an oasis of cool, dense woods crowding into a long, narrow gorge. Its hiking trails offer spectacular views, unique geological formations, including five waterfalls, and a botanically rich glen. The park has 60 campsites and a stream-fed swimming pool. Park activities, including tours through the gorge, are offered from Independence Day (July 4) through Labor Day (the beginning of September). In the winter, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling are permitted on unplowed roads. CJS Vineyards & Aurelius Winery6900 Fosterville Rd. Auburn, NY 13021 315-730-4619
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