Keuka Lake, New York, USA

Keuka Lake, nicknamed Lady of the Lakes for its vast natural beauty, boasts two unique characteristics that set it apart from its sister Finger Lakes: First, rather than being long and narrow, Keuka Lake is Y-shaped. This characteristic lends accounts for the lake’s old nickname of Crooked Lake. Second, Keuka empties into Seneca lake-the only Finger Lake that empties into another Finger Lake. At 20 miles long,…
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All About Keuka Lake, NY

Keuka Lake, nicknamed Lady of the Lakes for its vast natural beauty, boasts two unique characteristics that set it apart from its sister Finger Lakes: First, rather than being long and narrow, Keuka Lake is Y-shaped. This characteristic lends accounts for the lake’s old nickname of Crooked Lake. Second, Keuka empties into Seneca lake-the only Finger Lake that empties into another Finger Lake. At 20 miles long, and up to 2 miles wide, 11,584-acre Keuka Lake is the the third-largest of the Finger Lakes.

Lake levels are controlled by Keuka Lake Outlet Compact, comprised of representatives from eight municipalities around the lake, to prevent flooding around the lake and downstream from the lake. The Keuka Lake Outlet, which drops down 270 feet between Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake, was used for industry and transportation for almost 200 years until 1968. Today the Outlet Trail provides scenic beauty for hikers, bikers, and cross country skiers.

The microclimate caused by Seneca Lake’s deep, cool waters puts Keuka Lake in the middle of wine country. The gentle hills and mountains covered in vineyards create the vistas seen on many postcards of the area. Scenic day trips around the area to view the ever-changing panorama are always popular. Between April and November, visiting local wineries and attending local wine festivals and events is a an annual summer excursion among many familiar with the region.

Keuka Lake State Park provides the perfect launching ground for your vacation, both figuratively and literally. If you own a boat, you can launch it from their marina and temporarily dock it as needed. If you don’t plan to bring your boat with you, rent a power boat and head out into the sparkling waters to enjoy your day. When boating isn’t your pleasure, take a sun nap on the park’s sandy beach or enjoy an afternoon picnic at its picnic tables. If you want to get your heartbeat up, hike the park’s trails and enjoy the wildlife and scenery all around you.

Anglers find themselves dreaming of the record-breaking brown trout, lunker lake trout, rainbow trout and landlocked salmon that the lake offers up to the determined. Fishermen salivate over the excellent smallmouth and largemouh bass fishing that the lake promises. Children delight in the small panfish they catch. Ice fishermen wait all year to cut holes in the ice and take home winter catches of perch and northern pike. Whatever your angling pleasure, Keuka Lake is sure to scratch the itch.

No matter what your pleasure or recreational taste, Keuka Lake offers myriad options that will please every visitor.

Things to Do at Keuka Lake

These are some activities in the Keuka Lake, NY area visitors can enjoy:

  • Vacation Rentals
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • Swimming
  • Beach
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • State Park

What Kind of Fish Are in Keuka Lake?

Keuka Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

  • Bass
  • Brown Trout
  • Lake Trout
  • Northern Pike
  • Perch
  • Pike
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Salmon
  • Trout
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Find Places to Stay at Keuka Lake

If you’re considering a Keuka Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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More Sites to Book a Keuka Lake Vacation

Our interactive Keuka Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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Keuka Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

Water Level Control: Keuka Lake Outlet Compact

Surface Area: 11,584 acres

Shoreline Length: 59 miles

Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 714 feet

Average Depth: 101 feet

Maximum Depth: 183 feet

We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

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