---
title: Visit Owasco Lake — Visitor Guide to Owasco Lake, Emerson Park & Auburn, NY
url: https://visitowascolake.com/
updated: 2026-10-24
site: Visit Owasco Lake
---

# Visit Owasco Lake

Owasco Lake is one of the six major Finger Lakes. FingerLakes.com calls it the smallest and warmest of them, and that makes it a natural playground for swimming, paddling and boating. At its north end is **Emerson Park**, and just beyond is **Auburn**, "History's Hometown," home of William H. Seward and Harriet Tubman.

![Owasco Lake](https://visitowascolake.com/images/owasco-lake.jpg)
*Photo: Visit Finger Lakes (https://www.visitfingerlakes.com/plan-your-trip/finger-lakes-facts/owasco-lake/)*

## Owasco Lake at a glance

| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 11.1 miles | FingerLakes.com |
| Width | 1.3 miles | FingerLakes.com |
| Depth | 177 feet | FingerLakes.com |
| County | Cayuga County | FingerLakes.com |
| Lakeside towns | Auburn, Fleming, Moravia, Niles, Owasco, Venice | FingerLakes.com |
| Rank | 6th largest Finger Lake | Visit Finger Lakes |
| Drinking water | Supplies more than 70% of Cayuga County | Visit Finger Lakes |
| Fish | Walleye, perch, smallmouth bass, trout, northern pike, salmon | Visit Finger Lakes |

More in [The Lake](/the-lake).

## Top things to do

1. **[Emerson Park](/emerson-park):** 135 acres at the lake's north end, with boat launches, paddlecraft rentals, disc golf and the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.
2. **Get on the water.** Rent a kayak, canoe or SUP from Owasco Paddles at Emerson Park, or use the four boat launches and two marinas.
3. **[Auburn's history](/auburn):** the Seward House Museum, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and the Harriet Tubman Home.
4. **Head south** to the Owasco Flats for birding and paddling, and to Fillmore Glen State Park near Moravia, with its gorges and 5 waterfalls.
5. **Ice fishing in winter,** especially at the lake's northern end.

## Where to stay, marry or celebrate

![Springside Inn, across from Owasco Lake](https://visitowascolake.com/images/springside/exterior.jpg)
*Photo: Springside Inn (https://springsideinn.com/)*

**Springside Inn** (6141 West Lake Road, Auburn) is across the road from Owasco Lake's western shore, about 4 minutes from Emerson Park. It offers:

- 7 guest rooms plus the Holland House rental
- Weddings for up to 220 guests
- Private events
- Select public events, such as holiday dinners, brunches and clambakes

Springside does **not** run a public restaurant. [More on Springside →](/springside-inn)

---
Other pages: https://visitowascolake.com/the-lake.md, https://visitowascolake.com/emerson-park.md, https://visitowascolake.com/auburn.md, https://visitowascolake.com/springside-inn.md, https://visitowascolake.com/faq.md, https://visitowascolake.com/sources.md
Related sites: https://getmarriedinthefingerlakes.com/, https://getmarriedinskaneateles.com/, https://stayinthefingerlakes.com/, https://stayatowascolake.com/, https://enjoythefingerlakes.com/, https://springsideinn.com/