Otisco Lake Causeway – Preble, NY

Otisco Lake is one of the smaller Finger Lakes but it has a unique feature that sets it apart from the other Finger Lakes. There is a strip of land that jets across the lake called the Otisco Lake Causeway. Once a road, it was allowed to deteriorate and has now become a place for people to visit or to fish from. We decided to check out this particular natural destination and it was definitely worth visiting.

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Picturesque View of the Lake

If you enjoy taking photographs, as we do, the vantage point here is perfect. You get a straight shot up both sides and can capture some amazing shots from the causeway. We visited on a windy day but the pictures still turned out fantastic. The Causeway was completely deserted, aside from a few fishermen, which was nice. We were able to just explore and sun ourselves on the rocks where the causeway breaks or on the path.

Beach

There are beaches on each side of the Causeway. The beach on the left side has a more private feel to it. Mainly because the other side is adjacent to the boat launch. The beach on the left side is quite shaded, but it is a nice stretch of beach to walk on or sit by the water.

Boat Launch

There is a boat launch right next to the Causeway. This is a hand launch boat launch. The section of the lake south of the Causeway isn’t large and it is surprisingly shallow. While the lake north of the causeway is on average 34 feet deep, the lake south of the causeway is on average a mere 6 feet in depth. The depth of the channel is, by all means, adequate to accommodate a decent size boat but it’s narrow and therefore best for canoes, kayaks, and rowboats.

Fishing

I’m guessing from the fishing line recycling bin and the fishermen we saw, this is a popular fishing spot. There is definitely lots of room to spread out and fish here. This area is popular for walleye fishing. There is a large variety of fish in this lake such as channel catfish, Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, tiger musky, brown trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, rock bass, white sucker, black crappie, white crappie, white perch, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, common carp, golden shiner, and alewives. This lake is considered the best place in New York State for catching Tiger Musky.

The Causeway In Winter

We revisited this unique destination in the middle of winter when the lake was frozen on both sides of the Causeway. It was very quiet and peaceful, we were the only people around. The snow on the Causeway isn’t shoveled, so depending on the accumulation, you might have to tromp through a significant amount of snow. On a sunny day, this is a great location to enjoy a spectacular view of Otisco Lake.

Out and About With Nova

Nova had a blast running through the snow at the Causeway. This area was not a bad place to bring our dog in the winter since there was no one else around. However, in the summer, when the Causeway is often used for fishing, it might be hard to walk your pet there. Although there is plenty of beach to wander.

Getting to The Causeway

Address: 1438 West Valley Rd (Route 113)

Please note: Your GPS might try to take you down Church Hill Rd (Route 246) but that road is closed to traffic. The Causeway is located on is on route 113 and can only be reached by that road.

Google Map Link

Other Places to Visit in the Area

Have you visited the Otisco Lake Causeway? What did you think of it? Was it worth the visit? Did we forget anything? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment.