From the Finger Lakes to the Adirondack Mountains, New York State is filled with gorgeous waterways.
World Atlas, a website that publishes geography resources and recreational content, has listed seven crystal-clear lakes to visit in New York State, three of which are in the Finger Lakes region. Whether you want to enjoy pristine scenery or get on the water for some fishing or paddling, these lakes are great options.
Below is a list of crystal clear lakes in upstate New York as determined by World Atlas.
Lake George
Located in Warren and Essex counties, Lake George is one of the largest and most well-known lakes in the Adirondack Mountains. Also known as the Queen of America’s Lakes, it is 187 feet deep, nearly three miles wide, and 32 miles long, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It is one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the country. Boating is one of the most popular activities here, but visitors also regularly enjoy parasailing, swimming, and sunbathing on the lake’s Million Dollar Beach.
Lake Skaneateles
Located in Onondaga County, Skaneateles Lake is about 900 feet above sea level and is considered one of the highest lakes in the Finger Lakes. The lake is 16 miles long, 3/4 mile wide, and 315 feet deep. The lake’s water is the purest of the Finger Lakes. Fishing, boating, and swimming are popular activities on the lake.
Green Lake
According to the World Atlas, the lake is one of the few merocytic lakes in the country, meaning the layers of water don’t mix. Located in Onondaga County, Green Lake is the larger of two lakes in Green Lakes State Park and boasts beautiful turquoise water. Located at the base of a canyon, the lake is 195 feet deep and about 3,800 feet wide. Fishing, swimming and paddling are popular.
Lake Placid
Located in Essex County in the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid sits on the shores of the village of the same name. According to the World Atlas, the lake has an area of 2,170 acres, an average depth of 50 feet, and three islands: Buck Island, Moose Island, and Hawk Island. The lake is about four miles long and one and a half miles wide. Lake Placid is fed by streams and springs, which provide the village with drinking water. Boating, paddling, and fishing are popular activities.
Canadice Lake
Located in southwestern Ontario County, Canadice Lake is three miles long and one-third of a mile wide, making it one of the smallest of the Finger Lakes. It is 95 feet deep. The lake is about 30 miles from Rochester and has been the Flower City’s drinking water source for over 150 years. To protect water quality, swimming and camping are prohibited. The lake is surrounded by Hemlock Canadice State Forest, and fishing is the primary activity.
Otsego Lake
Otsego Lake, also known as Glimmergrass Lake, is located in Otsego County. The lake is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, northeast of Glimmergrass State Park in Cooperstown, and covers an area of 4,046 acres. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the lake is approximately 8 miles long and ranges from 82 feet to 167 feet deep. Boating, swimming, fishing, and ice fishing are popular activities.
Hemlock Lake
Located in southeastern Livingston County, Hemlock Lake is also in the Finger Lakes region. Like nearby Canadice Lake, Hemlock Lake is surrounded by Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. However, Hemlock Lake is larger, at 7 miles long, 0.5 miles wide and about 90 feet deep. Like Canadice Lake, Hemlock Lake serves as a water source for the City of Rochester, so boating is prohibited. Fishing is also a popular activity.
