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Round Lake

Coordinates: 42.32174°N 77.17997°W

Elevation: 1074 feet/327.3 meters

Round Lake in Birdseye Hollow State Forest in the Town of Bath in Steuben County, New York.

Location

Round Lake is located on the east side of Round Lake Road in Steuben County town of Bath just north of the Village of Savona and south of the Hamlet of Sonora.

Physical Features

Like all the other Round Lakes in the state, and there are many, this one is a glacial kettle. It is 13 acres in size.

Access

Access is on Round Lake Road near a roadside mailbox marked 6637. Park along the road as much off the pavement as possible without damaging the roadside vegetation. This relatively narrow access point is part of Birdseye Hollow State Forest (3,446 acres) and is managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). You will know the boundaries of the access point by the DEC signs posted along the road.

Most of the shore of Sanford Lake and part of the shore Van Keuren Lake are also in the forest. There is public access to both of these lakes, and they and the forest can be enjoyed while enjoying Round Lake.

Camping

Wilderness camping is permitted at the Sanford Lake Day Use Area (on the west side of the Round Lake Road) at designated campsites by permit only. Portable toilets are provided, but there is no running water or other amenities.

Boating

Boats, except those powered by gasoline motors, are permitted on the lake. There is a narrow and slightly steep dirt trail of about 100 ft./30.4 m. from the road down to the lake. There is no trailer access to the lake. The dirt trail to Round Lake is short and slightly steep.

Swimming

Swimming is not permitted in the lake.

Biking

The roads in and around the forest are mostly gravel. They are appropriate for mountain bikes and some hybrid bikes, however, in dry weather, road dust may be a problem. State Route 226, off of which Round Lake Road (paved) runs, is good for touring and has paved shoulders. Touring bikes coming from the direction of Savona to the Sanford Lake campground should have no trouble with roads.

Mountain biking is also permitted on the multiple use trail through the forest. Trail map (pdf)

Hiking

The Finger Lakes Trail runs through Birdseye Hollow State Forest. It doesn't run next to the lake or campground but is within hiking distance of the lake. Trail map (pdf) See also map

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is permitted on the multiple use trail in the forest. Trail map (pdf)

Winter Activities

There is a specific snowmobile trail in the forest and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on the multiple-use trail in the forest.

Wildlife

Because Steuben is a large and relatively undeveloped county, it has abundant wildlife, including black bears. The forest is part of a self-guided, forest stewardship demonstration tour. The tour brochure discusses how the forest is being managed and what types of wildlife you can expect to encounter.

Photography

Photography is good in the area and especially around Sanford Lake. The lake is picturesque and there are plenty of native wildflowers to photograph. Photographing birds is a little difficult as the trees are rather tall and the understory is good.

Parks, Forests and Wildlife Management Areas

Birdseye Hollow State Forest is next to Moss Hill State Forest (1,815 acres). Nearby, too, is Birdseye Hollow Park on Birdseye Hollow Road in the Town of Bradford (north of Round Lake). The day-use park has a 68.5-acre pond, a picnic area, a pavilion, and a playground. It is managed jointly by the state and the county. The Finger Lakes Trail runs through the park.