Finger Lakes, United States travel guide

New York's wine country of gorges, waterfalls, and glacier lakes

Best time to visit: May to October
Average daily budget: $150 to $240
Ideal trip length: 3 to 5 days

Eleven long, narrow lakes carved by glaciers fan out across upstate New York, and between them lies one of America's great under-the-radar wine regions. The Finger Lakes produce world-class Riesling on steep lakeside slopes, while over 150 waterfalls pour through shale gorges, most famously at Watkins Glen and Taughannock Falls. College towns like Ithaca bring farm-to-table food and a creative energy, and the lake shores are dotted with wineries, breweries, and sailboats. It is a destination that combines serious wine tasting with serious hiking, often on the same afternoon.

Finger Lakes itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: Walk the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen. Two miles of stone paths pass 19 waterfalls, including the iconic Rainbow Falls where you walk behind the cascade. Go early to beat the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Ithaca, The lively southern base on Cayuga Lake, with gorges, Cornell University, and the region's best food scene.

Evening: Sail or cruise on a lake. Schooner cruises on Seneca and dinner cruises on Skaneateles show the lakes from the water they are named for.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: Taste Riesling on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Dr. Konstantin Frank put Finger Lakes Riesling on the world map. Combine it with Hermann J. Wiemer and Ravines for a masterclass in cool-climate wine.

Afternoon: Explore Seneca Lake, The deepest lake and the heart of the wine trail, with the most wineries along its shores.

Evening: See Taughannock Falls. At 215 feet, it is taller than Niagara and drops into a dramatic gorge ten minutes from Ithaca. The rim and base trails are both easy.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: Explore Ithaca's gorges and farmers market. Cascadilla and Buttermilk Falls gorges sit right in town, and the weekend Ithaca Farmers Market on the Cayuga inlet is a regional institution.

Afternoon: Explore Geneva, A historic town at Seneca's north end with a lovely lakefront and Belhurst Castle.

Evening: Grimes Glen in Naples, a creek-walk gorge where you wade between two waterfalls. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Best neighbourhoods

Ithaca: The lively southern base on Cayuga Lake, with gorges, Cornell University, and the region's best food scene.
Seneca Lake: The deepest lake and the heart of the wine trail, with the most wineries along its shores.
Geneva: A historic town at Seneca's north end with a lovely lakefront and Belhurst Castle.
Skaneateles: The jewel-box village on the clearest lake, upscale and walkable, closest to Syracuse.

Must-do experiences

Walk the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen: Two miles of stone paths pass 19 waterfalls, including the iconic Rainbow Falls where you walk behind the cascade. Go early to beat the crowds.
Taste Riesling on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail: Dr. Konstantin Frank put Finger Lakes Riesling on the world map. Combine it with Hermann J. Wiemer and Ravines for a masterclass in cool-climate wine.
See Taughannock Falls: At 215 feet, it is taller than Niagara and drops into a dramatic gorge ten minutes from Ithaca. The rim and base trails are both easy.
Explore Ithaca's gorges and farmers market: Cascadilla and Buttermilk Falls gorges sit right in town, and the weekend Ithaca Farmers Market on the Cayuga inlet is a regional institution.
Sail or cruise on a lake: Schooner cruises on Seneca and dinner cruises on Skaneateles show the lakes from the water they are named for.

Hidden gems

Grimes Glen in Naples, a creek-walk gorge where you wade between two waterfalls
The Corning Museum of Glass just south of the region, worth the detour
Anyela's Vineyards for sunset tastings over Skaneateles Lake

Daily budget

$150 to $240 per day.

What to eat

Moosewood in Ithaca, the legendary vegetarian restaurant that changed American cooking
FLX Table in Geneva for a chef's counter tasting menu
Stonecat Cafe on Seneca Lake for seasonal lakeside dining
The Ithaca Farmers Market for a DIY lunch of local everything

Getting around

A car is essential, as wineries and gorges are spread across a large rural region. Designate a driver or book a wine tour shuttle. Ithaca and Syracuse have small airports.

Safety

Very safe rural region. Gorge trails can be slippery after rain and close in winter; wear proper footwear. Swim only in designated areas, as some gorges have dangerous currents.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit the Finger Lakes?

May to October, with September and October ideal: harvest season at the wineries, warm days, and spectacular fall foliage around the lakes. Summer is best for swimming and boating.

How many days do you need in the Finger Lakes?

Three to five days. Three covers one wine trail, Watkins Glen, and Ithaca. Five lets you add a second wine trail, a lake cruise, and Skaneateles or Corning.

Which Finger Lakes wine trail is best?

The Seneca Lake Wine Trail has the most wineries and the strongest reputation for Riesling. Cayuga Lake is great combined with Ithaca's gorges, while Keuka Lake is smaller and more scenic.

Where should you stay in the Finger Lakes?

Ithaca for food and gorges, Geneva or Watkins Glen for the Seneca wine trail, and Skaneateles for an upscale lakeside village feel. Lakeside inns book up months ahead for summer weekends.

Is the Finger Lakes good for non-drinkers?

Yes. The gorges and waterfalls are world-class, plus there are breweries, distilleries, cideries, farmers markets, sailing, and the Corning Museum of Glass, so wine is only part of the story.

How do you get to the Finger Lakes?

It is about 4.5 hours from New York City, 2 hours from Niagara Falls, and 1.5 hours from Rochester. Syracuse and Ithaca have airports, but a car is essential for exploring.

What is the most famous waterfall in the Finger Lakes?

Taughannock Falls, at 215 feet one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls east of the Rockies. Watkins Glen's Rainbow Falls is the most photographed, with a trail that passes behind the water.

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