In the heart of Geneva, the Finger Lakes Welcome Center will introduce you to the area, against a stunning backdrop of Seneca Lake. Learn about Finger Lakes history and attractions while snacking from the Taste NY Café. Be sure to check for any special events or festivals scheduled during your visit. You can stretch your legs walking along the lakefront or right into town.

Head south to Watkins Glen State Park, a 40-minute drive from Geneva, to hike the magnificent trails. Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along the way. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Rim trails offer spectacular views of the gorge. With several wineries on the route, plan to stop for a tasting and tour on the way back to Geneva.

Another option is to relax at Seneca Lake State Park. Stretching the entire northern end of the lake, take a hike along the shoreline from the Welcome Center, swim at the beach, or try some paddling. Then stroll into downtown Geneva for coffee or a meal.

You’d be remiss to visit Geneva and Seneca Lake without sampling the region’s growing number of wineries. Most offer outdoor seating with stunning views of the lake. If traveling with a group, consider booking a guided day trip, with transportation and reservations at several tasting rooms. Be sure to try an ice wine, made from grapes frozen on the vine. The dessert beverage is unique to cold climates like Upstate New York.

Take in the sights and sounds of Seneca Lake from the water. Enjoy picturesque vistas and unforgettable sunsets. Learn why the lake’s depths of more than 600 feet makes it great for wine, trout – and testing military sonar!

• Finger Lakes Water Adventures: Departs from Waterloo. Narrated tour of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal takes you through Lock CS4. Cruises offered Thur.–Sun., 2pm and 4pm.

• Canal Side Experiences: Departs from Waterloo, with 1.5 to 2 hour narrated tours for small groups. Travel the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and Seneca Lake. Call to schedule: 315-781-6682.

• Captain Bill's Lake Cruises: Departs from Watkins Glen; Narrated tours and dinner cruises on Seneca Lake. Book online.
• True Love Schooner: Departing from Watkins Glen, the 67-foot sailboat, featured in the 1940 film “The Philadelphia Story,” sank during a hurricane, was salvaged, and is fully restored.

Launch at the Geneva Waterfront Docks where you'll find a kayak dock, ramp and floating dock available. Paddle east across the top of the largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes. To your left is Seneca Lake State Park, along the north shore. With heavy powerboat activity and winds out of the south, be cautious of big waves and exercise good judgment when paddling. Enter the Cayuga-Seneca Canal from the northeast corner of the lake.

In approximately 5 miles, you’ll reach Oak Island Park in the Village of Waterloo. A great time for a bathroom break and bite to eat, take out at the Oak Island Park boat ramp and walk to nearby shops and restaurants. Known as the birthplace of the Memorial Day holiday, Waterloo was also a hotbed of social reform movements in the 1800s. Many houses in town were stops on the Underground Railroad and residents played an active role in demanding women's rights.

Back on the canal, go through Lock CS4, with a drop of 14.5 feet. Paddle downstream and just before you arrive in Seneca Falls, look to your right along the south bank of the canal for a glimpse of the Ludovico Sculpture Trail. The series of works are by female artists, inspired by the women’s rights movement. Next, dock at the Seneca Falls Boat Ramp, just past the Parks and Recreation building on the left (north) side of the canal. It's a short walk on Water Street to restaurants and overnight lodging in Seneca Falls. See the Accommodations section for full camping and hotel options.

Start the day at the Seneca Falls Heritage & Tourism Center, which includes the Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry. Exhibits illustrate how the Seneca River and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal powered the rise of business, fostered cultural development, and spread social reform.

Don’t miss the Women's Rights National Historical Park to learn how Seneca Falls launched the Women’s Rights Movement in 1848. Start at the Visitor Center and Wesleyan Chapel to set the stage. Then, head to the nearby waterwall at Declaration Park to read the Declaration of Sentiments. After touring the historical park, draw inspiration from the stories of great women in American history at the National Women’s Hall of Fame, just across the canal in the restored Seneca Knitting Mill.

Seneca Falls offers many dining options on Fall Street, which runs parallel to the canal between Ovid St. and the It’s a Wonderful Life bridge. Try Parker's Grille and Tap Room, Fall Street Brewing Co, Sackett's Table & Market, or 84 Fall. Stroll the promenade after dinner to see the evening sky reflected in the canal.

Launch at Seneca Falls Boat Ramp and head east. You'll soon enter the wide waters of Van Cleef Lake, created in 1915 when the Seneca River was dammed as part of the expansion of the canal system. Look for Trinity Church on your left. It’s one of the most photographed spots on the canal -- especially when the light reflections are just right. In another mile, you’ll approach Locks CS3 & CS2, which form a tandem or staircase lock with a combined lift of 49 feet. There is a low floating dock and gravel beach launch to the right of Lock CS3. Consider getting out here for a bathroom break, as it is the last opportunity for several miles.

Paddling from Lock CS2 to Lock CS1 is serene and natural, with beautiful big trees and lots of wildlife. In about 5 miles, you’ll see the junction of Cayuga Lake and the canal, which turns north here. Just before the lock, the river divides into two channels. Pay attention to the buoys and stay to the right bank as you approach Lock CS1. The western channel dead ends at a dam. Mud Lock Boat Ramp is just before the lock if you need to stretch or use the restroom. Lock CS1 is known locally as “Mud Lock” because it was built on the soft soil of the Montezuma marsh.

Just after the lock, you’ll continue paddling through the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. This 9,800-acre wetland complex is a prime stopover for migratory waterfowl and songbirds. Keep an eye out for great blue herons, ospreys, swallows, and bald eagles. The Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Boat Ramp is a good place to get out for a bathroom break or to stretch your legs.

Your next stop is a triangular island, marking the junction of the Erie Canal and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Stay to the left as you paddle past it and enter the Erie Canal. In about 2 miles, you'll pass through Lock E25. Your final destination is on the right. River’s Crossing Campground and Marina has a concrete ramp and kayak dock for easy takeout.