Trip to Finger Lakes - Itinerary

Finger lakes are a group of 11 long, narrow lakes which run south - north direction in northwestern New York state of US. These lakes were formed about two million years ago from glaciers. Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake are two of the largest finger lakes. Both are about 38 miles long (South-North), and Cayuga lake's largest width is 3.5 miles, while Seneca lake's max width is 3 miles. Both are among deepest lakes in US as well. Canadice Lake is the smallest finger lake, the 3rd from west in the following map.

The area has many gorges, water falls. Of course it is a good place for water activities, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing. 

Finger Lake Region

I heard about finger lakes before, and intrigued by the name, and finally made the trip to Finger Lakes the week of August 28, 2022.

For travel, the nearby major city is Syracuse, NY, and a small city Ithaca, NY, where Cornell University is located, which is at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. We visited Finger Lakes from Pittsburg, PA, which is ~ 300 miles from Ithaca. The following is our trip itinerary.

Day 0 Flight to Pittsburg

Panther Hollow lake at Schenley Park. A small pond nested by tall trees, with good hiking trails around.

Panther Hollow, Schenley Park

Day 1 Moraine State Park

This park is 40 miles north to Pittsburg, on Lake Arthur. A good place for kayaking, hiking and picnic.

Lake Arthur

Picnic lunch at Waterfowl observation deck @ Lake Arthur,  Dinner at Hunan Cuisine in Pittsburg

Day 2 Travel to Finger lake:  layover at Cherry Spring State Park

As always, for long road trip, we always split it with stop overs along the way:

Day - Kinzua Sky Bridge, Kinzua Creek Trail, Picnic

Night - Cherry Spring State Park for star gazing 

Sunflower Field at Kane, PA on the way to Kinzua bridge

Stayed at Penn Wells Hotel at Wellsboro, PA

Day 3 Buttermilk Falls and Taughannock Falls @ Cayuga Lake

Morning - Buttermilk Falls State Park - beautiful gorges and water falls

Afternoon - Taughannock Falls State Park - small park with tallest single drop water fall in eastern US (east of Rocky mountains)

Picnic for lunch,  dinner at Old Mexico

Stayed at Quality Inn Ithaca

Day 4 Watkins Glen @ Seneca lake

Morning - Watkins Glen State Park - Stunning Gorges, beautiful water falls. 

Afternoon - Cornell University Campus - a beautiful park in itself

Side trip to Hector Falls and Clute Park, both are on the shore of Seneca Lake

Lunch at Curly's Family Restaurant, Dinner at friends' house

second night at Quality Inn

Day 5 Enfield Glen @ Treman State Park

Hiking into Enfield Glen from lower fall side - the views become increasingly beautiful, especially Lucifer Falls

Lunch at Nickel's Pit @ Corning, Dinner at Chili @ Butler

Drive back to Pittsburg, stop at Town of Corning and stayed Butler Holiday Inn

Day 6 Butler - Pittsburg

Shopping at Outlets, picnic at North Shore of Lake Arthur

Stayed at Hyatt at Airport, returning home on a 6am flight next day 

Picnic by the Lake