This little harbor nestled in the small town of Ontario is probably one of the best places to watch the sunset on Lake Ontario. There is a memorial park at the harbor on the peninsula that jets out into the lake, which provides visitors with the perfect vantage point to take amazing sunset photographs.
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Boat Launch
Bear Creek Harbor is has a cement boat launch that is accessible by permit only. Visitors can obtain a one-day permit at the Town of Ontario Community Center located at Casey Park on Knickerbocker Rd or apply for an annual permit.
The boat launch can be hectic on a nice day, especially on the weekends during the height of summer. Boaters will often find themselves waiting in line. However, the rest of the time, it is a nice quiet place to launch. Boaters should be cautious of the large rocks that are mostly submerged about 25 feet off the launch.
Kayaking Lake Ontario
Bear Creek is an excellent launching spot for kayaking and canoeing. Kayakers can enjoy scenic shorelines and the crystal clear water of the lake. I have often been blown away by how much the lake here reminds me of the ocean. If you kayak here on a calm day, it is hard to determine where the lake ends, and the sky begins.
Wildlife at Bear Creek
The rocky shoreline of Bear Creek attracts lots of waterfowl and shorebirds. This is an excellent place for bird watchers. We frequently see swans, great blue heron, and various ducks both in the lagoon and on the lake.
Memorial Point at Bear Creek
When you first pull into the parking lot at Bear Creek Harbor, the memorial park isn’t clearly obvious. The park is located past the boat launch on the peninsula. Although you need a permit to launch a boat here, it is free to park and enjoy the park. There are picnic tables available for people who want to prolong their visit and enjoy a meal.
This is one of the prettiest boat launches I have seen due to this memorial park. The park is a remembrance for all the residence of the Town of Ontario who gave their lives serving their country in the United States military. There are plaques on many of the rocks with the names of servicemen and women.
The point offers a perfect and unobscured view of the nightly sunsets on Lake Ontario. We rarely see other people taking in the sunset here, unlike many piers in the area. The scenery surrounding the point is quite beautiful, and there is usually a lot of waterfowl in the area. We often see swans here.
Fishing at Bear Creek
Bear Creek is also a great place to fish. There is a lagoon where the creek flows into the lake, which is a good place to cast. Word of warning, always make sure that you have your fishing license on you as the police and DEC frequent this park quite a bit. Fishermen here usually catch brown trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and rock bass.
Off-Season at Bear Creek
The dock is pulled out of the boat launch off-season, but the park is still open. During the winter, visitors can witness some beautiful ice formations that form on the water and along with the point. If the winter is cold enough, the water here can freeze, and it is a breathtaking scene to view. Never try to walk on the ice here. The ice on Lake Ontario is never safe, especially near moving water such as a bear creek. A winter sunset here can be just as breathtaking as one in the summer.
Location: Bear Creek Harbor is located on Lake Road in Ontario between Knickerbocker Road and Furnace Road.
Do you know of other great places to catch a gorgeous sunset? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below.
The kayak launch in Mendon Ponds is a great place. I also like Webster Park, Ontario Beach Park, and atop Cobbs Hill reservoir.