Pristine and Protected
Canadice Lake is the smallest of the western Finger Lakes and one of the most pristine bodies of water in New York State. Its shoreline is entirely undeveloped — no houses, no docks, no restaurants, no noise. This is not an accident. Canadice serves as a water supply reservoir for the city of Rochester, and that designation has kept development at bay for over a century. The result is a lake that looks and feels the way the Finger Lakes did before anyone built anything on their shores. If you want wilderness in the Finger Lakes, Canadice is as close as you will get.
No Motors, No Crowds
Motorized boats are prohibited on Canadice Lake, which makes it one of the quietest places you can put a canoe or kayak in the entire region. The lake is about three miles long and narrow, flanked by steep, forested hillsides that block most wind and create a sheltered, almost meditative paddling experience. The only sounds are birds, wind, and your paddle. There is a DEC car-top boat launch at the north end of the lake, but no formal marina or dock. You carry your boat in, you paddle, you carry it out. That level of effort filters out casual visitors and leaves the lake to people who genuinely want to be there.
Hemlock-Canadice State Forest
The Hemlock-Canadice State Forest surrounds both Canadice and neighboring Hemlock Lake, creating a continuous corridor of protected forest that offers some of the best hiking in the western Finger Lakes. The trails here are not heavily maintained or heavily signed — this is not a state park with visitor centers and paved paths. You will need a map and reasonable navigation skills, but the reward is forest walking that feels genuinely remote despite being less than an hour from Rochester. Deer, wild turkey, and the occasional bald eagle are common sightings.
What Canadice Is For
Canadice is not for everyone, and it is not trying to be. There are no amenities, no services, and no cell reception in much of the surrounding forest. It is for paddlers who want silence, hikers who want solitude, fishermen who want clean water and a fair fight with a trout, and anyone who needs a break from lakes that have been turned into attractions. It is the Finger Lakes’ best argument that sometimes the most valuable thing you can do with a beautiful place is leave it alone.
When to Visit
Late spring through early fall is the accessible season. May and June are beautiful, with wildflowers in the forest and the lake at its clearest. Summer brings the warmest water temperatures, though Canadice never gets truly warm — the depth and the forest shade keep it cool. Fall is extraordinary, with the surrounding hardwoods reflected in the undisturbed water surface. Winter access is limited and conditions can be harsh, but cross-country skiing through Hemlock-Canadice State Forest after a fresh snowfall is an experience that stays with you.
