Monday, April 11, 2011

Owasco Flats

It's spring and with the recent warmer temperatures we are all thinking about getting outside for some recreation. One pretty neat place to visit to fish, hike or canoe/kayak is the Owasco Flats Preserve at the south end of Owasco Lake. If you go you may see heron, muskrat, beaver, deer or turkey. The Owasco Flats is a unique area that you really need to get out and see. The Owasco Flats are located off of Rt. 38 north of Moravia - see the directions below:

Directions:
From Rochester or Syracuse: Take the New York State Thruway to Weedsport (Exit 40). Take Rt. 34 South to Auburn. Follow Rt. 34 & 38 South (South Street) to Swift Street (Rt. 38 South). Take Swift Street East to Lake Ave. Turn right and continue South on Rt. 38 past the High School to the traffic circle. Continue around the traffic circle and to Route 38, to Moravia. Turn left on Fire Lane 2A, veer to the right at the bottom of the hill and take the dirt road in to the Cayuga County Park. The launch is at the end of the road. 

From Ithaca: Take Rt. 34 North to Route 90-East to Route 38-North. Take Route 38 through the Village of Moravia. Turn left on Fire Lane 2A, veer to the right at the bottom of the hill and take the dirt road in to the Cayuga County Park. The launch is at the end of the road.



Check out the links below to learn more about the Owasco Flats:

Owasco Flats blog:  http://owascoflatsnaturereserve.blogspot.com/

Cayuga County Parks and Trails web site:
http://www.cayuganet.org/canoe/owasco_inlet/index.html

Link to the Owasco section of the I Love the Fingerlakes web site:
http://www.ilovethefingerlakes.com/lakes/Owasco.htm

Link to proposed NYSDEC Owasco Flats Management Plan:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/regions_pdf/owasco.pdf

Link to CNY Regional Planning Owasco Flats study:
http://www.cnyrpdb.org/fingerlakes/docs/2007-07-05_OwascoFlatsReport.pdf

Guidebook to hiking Owasco Flats Trail:
"Take A Hike - Family Walks in New York's Finger Lakes Region"
http://www.footprintpress.com/FingerLakes/TAHfingerlakes2Preview.htm
Guidebook to paddling Owasco Inlet through Owasco Flats :
"Take A Paddle - Finger Lakes New York Quiet Water for Canoes & Kayaks
"
http://www.footprintpress.com/paddling/TAPfingerlakesPreview.htm

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