Top Lakes in Western New York
Enjoy all that lake life has to offer. Windswept shores, beaches, and dramatic cliffs define Chautauqua County’s northern Lake Erie border. Lake Erie and its tributaries, known as Steelhead Alley, harbor abundant walleye, bass, and trout fisheries, and are also home to popular migration flyways. A great vacation destination, Lake Erie is home to numerous lake-based activities and attractions that are perfect for a Lake Erie beach vacation or fishing trip.
Inland, Chautauqua Lake has remained a destination for lake recreation enthusiasts who have enjoyed sailing, boating, fishing, kayaking, and other water fun for generations. Enjoy live music on the shore, cruise the lake’s 17 miles to discover numerous public docking points plus the beautiful Long Point State Park.
Several smaller lakes surround Chautauqua, including Findley Lake to the southwest, plus Bear and Cassadaga Lakes to the north. There isn’t a single part of Chautauqua County that is more than 20 minutes from open water.
Whether you’re fishing, boating, enjoying a family day on the beach or at a lakeside park or restaurant, Chautauqua County’s quintet of lakes features all you’re looking for and more.
