Best Lakes for Boating Near Rochester
New York
3 boating lakes within driving distance of Rochester, New York, ranked by water quality and boating-specific filters. Filtered for at least 100 acres and public access. The largest lakes with boat-worthy water are listed first.
Lakes near Rochester are sparser (3 graded lakes within reach), so the choices are limited. Hemlock Lake (—) is the standout.
Filtered for boating, the nearby-lake list narrows further. boating-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hemlock Lake | Livingston | NR | 29.8 mi | 12.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Canadice Lake | Ontario | NR | 30.4 mi | 18.8 ft | - |
| 3 | Silver Lake | Wyoming | NR | 38.5 mi | 8.5 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.