The Y-Shaped Lake With a Character All Its Own
Keuka is the only Y-shaped lake in the Finger Lakes, and that geography gives it a personality you will not find anywhere else in the region. The two northern branches split at Bluff Point, creating a peninsula that feels almost wild, while the main body of the lake runs south to Hammondsport, a village so perfectly charming it has been named one of America’s “Coolest Small Towns” more than once. Where Seneca and Cayuga can feel like destinations, Keuka feels like a secret — the kind of place locals talk about in hushed tones because they do not want it discovered.
Hammondsport: Birthplace of American Aviation
Hammondsport is where Glenn Curtiss, the father of naval aviation, built and flew his early aircraft. The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in town is a genuine treasure, full of original aircraft, motorcycles, and artifacts from a man who was every bit as consequential as the Wright Brothers but never got the same press. Beyond the museum, Hammondsport’s village square is lined with restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and shops that manage to be inviting without being precious. The town sits right at the southern tip of the lake, and the view up the water from the village park is one of the best in the Finger Lakes.
Wine With Deep Roots
Keuka Lake is where the modern Finger Lakes wine industry truly began. Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Ukrainian immigrant, proved in the 1960s that European vinifera grapes could survive New York winters, and his winery on the west side of the lake is still family-owned and still producing some of the finest wines in the region. The Keuka Lake wine scene is smaller and more personal than Seneca’s — you are more likely to meet the winemaker, more likely to taste in a barn than a tasting room designed by an architect. Ravines Wine Cellars, Heron Hill, and Pleasant Valley Wine Company (the first bonded winery in the U.S.) are all here.
What to Do on Keuka
The lake itself is outstanding for boating and swimming. The water is clean, the coves are sheltered, and the Y shape means there is always a calm side no matter which way the wind blows. The Keuka Outlet Trail runs seven miles from Penn Yan to Dresden, following an old canal bed past waterfalls and mill ruins — it is one of the best easy hikes in the region. Penn Yan, at the northeast branch, is a working agricultural town with an increasingly interesting food scene and the best buckwheat pancakes you will ever eat at the Birkett Mills.
When to Visit
Keuka is a four-season destination, but summer is when it shines brightest. July and August bring warm water, full tasting rooms, and long evenings on the lake. September is harvest season on the vineyards, and the color starts early on the steep hillsides. The Hammondsport area stays lively through October with fall festivals and winery events. Winter is quiet, but that is part of the appeal — if you want the Finger Lakes without the crowds, Keuka in January will give you exactly that.
