Owasco Lake, New York, USA

Owasco Lake is the sixth largest of the eleven Finger Lakes. Its name, from a Mohawk or Iroquois term, translates to “crossing.” The Finger Lakes were formed thousands of years ago by the region’s receding glaciers. Although Owasco Lake is an impressive 177 feet deep, it is relatively shallow compared to Seneca Lake’s depth of over 600 feet! Owasco Lake is located entirely in Cayuga County. Water…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Owasco Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Owasco Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.


All About Owasco Lake, NY

Owasco Lake is the sixth largest of the eleven Finger Lakes. Its name, from a Mohawk or Iroquois term, translates to “crossing.” The Finger Lakes were formed thousands of years ago by the region’s receding glaciers. Although Owasco Lake is an impressive 177 feet deep, it is relatively shallow compared to Seneca Lake’s depth of over 600 feet! Owasco Lake is located entirely in Cayuga County.

Water in all of New York’s Finger Lakes flows south to north. Water enters Owasco Lake at the southern end through the Owasco Inlet near the Village of Moravia. Before the creek reaches the lake, it floods the 750-acre wetland called the Owasco Flats. The Flats are an important breeding habitat for birds, fish, mammals and reptiles. The Flats host a great blue heron rookery. Tundra swans and loons rest at the lake during migration, and bald eagles and osprey are spotted during breeding season. Sections of the Owasco Inlet Creek are ideal for canoeing and kayaking.

Much of Owasco Lake’s shoreline is developed with year-round homes and cottages, so public access is limited. Public access is available at in the Town of Owasco’s Emerson Park at the north end of the lake. The park provides recreational facilities and hosts special events throughout the year. The Owasco River exits the lake before flowing through the City of Auburn. Canoeists and kayakers can enjoy a leisurely ride along the Outlet through Auburn to the Owasco Outlet Dam. The dam, owned and operated by the City of Auburn, controls the outlet’s flow and water levels at the lake. Owasco Lake provides more than 70% of the drinking water for Cayuga County.

At 11 miles long and approximately 6,665 acres, the lake offers anglers a wonderful world of possibility. Truly a fishing lake, people fishing on shore often call out to passing boats, “How’s the fishing?” The answer: the fishing is great. Look forward to catches of rainbow trout, northern pike, brown trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and panfish. Fishing on Owasco isn’t popular only in the summer months; you can find dedicated anglers ice fishing all throughout the winter months, too.

If fishing isn’t your pleasure, then you’ll be drawn in by the gentle beauty of the lake and the rich activity offerings of the Finger Lakes region. Idle away your time relaxing in the blue waters, swimming in the cool depths, or canoeing along the shores. When it’s time for dry land activities, you’ll be thrilled with the possibilities: hiking, biking, golf, skydiving, hot-air ballooning, bird watching, horseback riding, and more await you. In the winter months, you’ll be greeted with a plethora of options: snowboarding, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and ice fishing are among the many cold-month activities.

Things to Do at Owasco Lake

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

  • Vacation Rentals
  • Fishing
  • Ice Fishing
  • Boating
  • Swimming
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Golf
  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Downhill Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Horseback Riding
  • Birding

What Kind of Fish Are in Owasco Lake?

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

  • Bass
  • Black Bass
  • Brown Trout
  • Lake Trout
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Northern Pike
  • Perch
  • Pike
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Trout
  • Walleye
divider

Find Places to Stay at Owasco Lake

If you’re considering a Owasco 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.

Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

More Sites to Book a Owasco Lake Vacation

Our interactive Owasco 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:

Check TripAdvisor
Check Expedia
Find a Campspot
All Travel Resources

Owasco Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

divider

Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

Water Level Control: City of Auburn

Surface Area: 6,665 acres

Shoreline Length: 23 miles

Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 712 feet

Average Depth: 96 feet

Maximum Depth: 177 feet

Water Volume: 650,603 acre-feet

Drainage Area: 208 sq. miles

Trophic State: Mesotrophic

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.

Shop Owasco Lake Gifts

Custom Lake Tumblers

Captain / First Mate Custom 20 oz Tumbler

SHOP NOW
Custom Lake T Shirt

Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

SHOP NOW
Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

On Lake Time Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

SHOP NOW
VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

More Owasco Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

  • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
  • The Owasco Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
  • New Owasco Lake photos coming soon!
  • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
  • Share this Owasco Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: