Best Lakes Near Syracuse, NY
32 lakes within 50 miles of Syracuse ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Syracuse sit 32 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
The lakes below are sorted by composite LakeGrade rubric score. If you have a specific activity in mind — swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing — the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.
| Lake | Distance | County | Grade | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owasco Lake Platform | 22 mi | Cayuga | A | - | 0 |
| Seneca Lake Platform | 42.8 mi | Seneca | A | - | 0 |
| Jamesville Reservoir | 6.5 mi | Onondaga | NR | - | 0 |
| Pleasant Lake | 13.6 mi | Oswego | NR | - | 0 |
| Otisco Lake | 14.3 mi | Onondaga | NR | - | 0 |
| Cazenovia Lake | 15.5 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Skaneateles Lake | 16.9 mi | Onondaga | NR | - | 0 |
| Crooked Lake | 18 mi | Onondaga | NR | - | 0 |
| Tully Lake | 18.8 mi | Cortland | NR | - | 0 |
| Song Lake | 19.3 mi | Cortland | NR | - | 0 |
| Deruyter Reservoir | 20.6 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Panther Lake | 22.8 mi | Oswego | NR | - | 0 |
| Tuscarora Lake | 23.4 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Owasco Lake | 23.6 mi | Cayuga | NR | - | 0 |
| Upper Little York Lake | 23.8 mi | Cortland | NR | - | 0 |
| Eaton Reservoir | 26.1 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Lake Como | 26.8 mi | Cayuga | NR | - | 0 |
| Hatch Lake | 27.9 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Duck Lake | 28.2 mi | Cayuga | NR | - | 0 |
| Bradley Brook Reservoir | 28.7 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Kasoag Lake | 31.5 mi | Oswego | NR | - | 0 |
| Sage Pond | 34 mi | Oswego | NR | - | 0 |
| Lake Moraine | 34.5 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Earlville Lake | 35.8 mi | Madison | NR | - | 0 |
| Plymouth Reservoir | 40.5 mi | Chenango | NR | - | 0 |
| Cayuga Lake | 40.6 mi | Tompkins | NR | - | 0 |
| Genegantslet Lake | 41.3 mi | Chenango | NR | - | 0 |
| Ellis Lake | 42.3 mi | Cortland | NR | - | 0 |
| Sodus Bay Lake | 43.2 mi | Wayne | NR | - | 0 |
| Sodus Bay Lake | 44.1 mi | Wayne | NR | - | 0 |
| Chenango Lake | 48.1 mi | Chenango | NR | - | 0 |
| Seneca Lake | 49.3 mi | Yates | NR | - | 0 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Syracuse
22 mi · Cayuga County · Grade A
42.8 mi · Seneca County · Grade A
6.5 mi · Onondaga County · Not rated
13.6 mi · Oswego County · Not rated
14.3 mi · Onondaga County · Not rated
15.5 mi · Madison County · Not rated
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Syracuse?
There are 32 graded lakes within 50 miles of Syracuse, New York. 2 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Syracuse for fishing?
0 lakes near Syracuse have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 0 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Where to stay near Syracuse
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Top-rated places to stay near Syracuse
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.