Otisco Lake Preserve – Skaneateles, NY

We have visited a few lakeside nature preserves, and none of them can hold a candle to the Otisco Lake Preserve. This is a must-visit destination, especially if you love relaxing on the beach and taking in the gorgeous scenery. The Otisco Lake Preserve features 1,300 feet of shoreline on the west side of Otisco Lake. This preserve provides a habitat for Bald Eagles and other shorebirds.

Please note: some posts may contain affiliate links which means we could earn a small commission if you purchase products from our site, at no additional cost to you.

Hiking

Warning: This preserve is definitely not for novice hikers or people with serious physical problems.

While the trail itself is only 1/2 of a mile, it feels like 100 miles on the way back up the hill from the lake. The trail is extremely steep, and on the way down, I could really feel it in my knees, which were taking a pounding. However, it was the way back up where I thought I was going to die. It felt like the incline was straight up and down. Even though the path weaved back and forth to decrease the incline, it was still super steep.

We visited very early on a Saturday morning, and there was nobody else around. That made our time at the bottom, on the beach, even better. Only when we were ready to leave and head back up the hill did people start showing up at the preserve. I was doing everything in my power not to sound like I was gasping for my last dying breath as I crawled up the hill. Pretty embarrassing to see all the fresh-faced, smiling hikers heading down, throwing out greetings, and here I was dripping in sweat, and all I could do is nod in answer and try not to look like I was about to face plant into the gravel.

The Beach

We visited the Otisco Lake Preserve in the early fall after an arid summer, and the lake level was extremely shallow. Under normal circumstances, there isn’t as much beach as we were treated to. I can’t even explain the outstanding beauty of this preserve and do it justice. There are small cliff walls that line the beach, and they have clearly been cut and eroded by the lake. It is truly just spectacular to walk along the beach with the cliffs as a backdrop and the crystal-clear lake in front of us.

If you look around at the shale on the beach, you can often find fossils. Please do not take anything from this preserve. It is fun to look for fossils and neat rocks but leave them for the next person to find. Removing rocks from the preserve is prohibited.

Know Before You Go

If you plan to bring anything down to the beach, such as a chair, remember that you will have to haul it back up the hill.

Dogs are allowed at the preserve but must be on a leash. Please clean up after your dogs.

This is a carry-in/carry-out park and there are no garbage receptacles.

This is obviously not a stroller-friendly trail. Frame packs would be fine but keep that steep incline in mind when you head back up the hill.

I highly recommend that you carry some water with you, especially on a hot day. There is a bench to rest on at about the 1/2 waypoint.

Getting to Otisco Lake Preserve

Address: 1729-1585 Willowdale Rd.

From Skaneateles, turn east onto U.S. Route 20 and follow for approximately half a mile to turn right onto New York State Route 41 south. Take Route 41 for 5.5 miles and turn left onto Eibert Road/New York State Route 174 East in the hamlet of Borodino. After 2 miles, turn right onto Willowdale Road. Continue south on Willowdale Road for approximately 3 miles to the preserve entrance on your left.

Other Places to Visit

Have you visited the Otisco Lake Preserve? What did you think of it? Do you have a favorite preserve? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.