Cannonballs in Seneca Lake ~ August 19

Upstate NY

Today’s goal: immerse ourselves in at least one Finger Lake. After a weekend of funking it up, the fresh air of the forest is most welcome. It is approximately 130 miles to the Finger Lakes National Forest and Justin takes the first leg as I happily relax in the passenger seat and provide navigation. We stop for groceries in Ithaca and I take the wheel. Twenty miles later we are wandering along dirt roads looking for somewhere to camp in the National Forest. Dispersed camping is free in most National Forests so it's a great option for budget travelers.

Smith Park, Hector NY

After an hour of dirt roads we hit a main road that heads for the lake. I test my luck. Fortunately we come across a Park Ranger Office but it's Sunday, so the office is closed. We are able to get our hands on a few maps so we head back to the Forest to try again. But a sign for Smith Park catches our eye that indicates swimming is available. We are eager to fulfill our goal, so we take the detour. Smith Park is a public campground overlooking Seneca Lake and it has a lovely little beach with a pier. Unfortunately the invasive zebra mussels keep you from wading into the water, but we cannonball off of the pier and rinse the festival funk off in that cool fresh water. Follow that with a picnic of hummus wraps and chocolate and we have a great afternoon. The lifeguard tells about the area, which is rich with wineries, and makes a few recommendations. 

Camping in Finger Lakes National Forest

Dusk is advancing quickly though, so we decide to postpone any wine tasting until the next day and go make camp. The map indicates a few dispersed camping locations and we head down a road with 3 or 4 options. The first site is occupied, but the second is secluded and seems to have had many previous visitors which makes set up pretty easy. We hang the hammock, pop our tent, start a fire and put dinner together. Half an hour later we are planning our next steps over a few Lord Chesterfields and an arugula salad. Darkness comes quickly and there are a few curious animals at the edge of the woods, so I’m happy to curl up in our tent and catch a few z’s.

Wagner Vineyards

It's already 11am when we open our eyes... we are way behind schedule. A quick breakfast of wraps and tea before breaking down our camp. First stop - Smith Park to fill our water bottles and use the camp showers, which were cut short due to the icy cold water... But hey, they are free. Our first winery stop is Hazlitt Vineyards, self proclaimed “Home of the Red Cat”. It’ has a very laid back vibe and we enjoy a quick flight and some popcorn. The region is known for its Riesling, and many of the wines share the same sweet, light quality. Not our favorite but delicious nonetheless. 

Next stop is Wagner Vineyards, one of the oldest wineries in the region. This is a larger operation that includes a restaurant, vineyard, and brewery. We share a wine tasting but forgo a beer flight; instead deciding to take a pint outside and enjoy the gorgeous lake view. We could easily spend a week in this region visiting the many wineries and swimming in the lakes, but we have dates with future CS hosts to make. So after meandering through the vines, we feel energized enough to hop in the car and travel 225 miles to our next destination.... Canada!