The Owasco Flats are a beautiful hidden gem. I love it when we stumble upon fantastic places like this. We saw the placard for the trail from the road and decided to explore. It was such a welcome surprise. We visited on a crisp day, early in the morning, and the fog was clinging to the top of the water. It was indescribably beautiful. This wild area is surrounded by enormous, old trees hanging over the water. This outstanding spot is a haven for anglers, paddlers, and hikers alike.
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Hiking
This is an easy hike on flat ground. Perfect for any skill level. The path is wide and grassy from the parking lot down to the water. From that point forward, it thins out considerably and twists and turns through the high grass. It follows the water all the way down to the lake. There are places along the trail where there is a boardwalk. I would recommend wearing long pants and boots because this area is known for ticks and poison ivy. If you don’t wear protective clothing, be sure to check yourself thoroughly.
Paddling
This is one of the best places to paddle in the Finger Lakes. Not just for the stunning scenery but because the Owasco Flats is also a wildlife management area and is part of the Summerhill Important Bird Area. Important Bird Areas or IBA’s are sanctuaries for the nesting grounds of rare and endangered birds. The forest and wetlands surrounding the inlet are teeming with wildlife. When the water table is high, canoers and kayakers can travel quite far up through the Inlet.
You can easily carry a kayak or canoe down the short trail to the water, where there is a small dock. There is also a road that leads down to the lake where you can launch at the mouth of the Inlet.
Fishing
As we walked down the trail that followed along the inlet, we noticed tons of shorter trails that shot off the main trail and lead down to the water. These were clearly fishing spots and many of these spots had the remanence of a firepit. It seems like people spend a great deal of time here and cookout on the banks while they fish. The fishing here is fantastic and anglers can catch brown trout, rainbow trout (especially in the spring), smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bullhead, panfish, and white suckers.
Know Before You Go
As this is a shaded area, surrounded by water and wetlands, it can be very buggy at times. Make sure to bring bug repellent to apply if necessary.
There is a nice picnic area by the parking lot on Route 38. This is a carry-in/carry-out area. We did see some trash on the trail and that is not just disappointing, but disgusting. Please be conscientious of not only nature and the wildlife that lives here, but other people who will also hike, fish, and paddle here in the future.
Dogs are welcome here but they must be leashed. Again, please be courteous and pick up after your pet.
Getting to the Owasco Flats
To launch a kayak or canoe from the mouth of the inlet: Take West Lake Rd (Route 38) down to the south end of the lake. Almost near the end of the Lake, turn left onto Fire lane #1 and follow this road all the way to the preserve.
Google Map Link
To walk the trail: Take West Lake Rd (Route 38) down to the south end of the lake. Near the end of the Lake, you will see a placard from the road and a parking area on the left-hand (lakeside) of the road.
Google Map Link
Other Places to Visit in the Area
Have you visited the Owasco Flats? Where are you hiking, paddling, or fishing? What did you think of the Owasco Flats? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.