Back to Plan Your Visit

Fish - Boat - Camp - Hunt

Create an overnight adventure and enjoy your choice of over 50 shaded lake view campsites - spaces for tents and self-contained RV's and sites with electric and water, all with individual parking areas, picnic tables, grills and hot showers, plus free beach and boat launch access during beach hours, are all available for your convenience. Click here to reserve a site online today or call (315) 676-7366 for reservation information. Sites are available a year ahead.

Visit the Oneida Shores page to find out more!

Explore the new inner harbor and all the beauty of Onondaga Lake or fish the bountiful waters of Oneida Lake.

Onondaga Lake Park Marina has a total of 90 slips with various utility services to meet the needs of any cruiser, sailboat or jet ski. Season slip rates begin at $600, depending on the size of the boat and utilities and operate throughout the season. A limited number of transient slips are also available for short stays. The marina also offers boat lovers the only paved launch on Onondaga Lake, and operates daily throughout the season.

Oneida Shores boat launch offers your most accessible route to New York State's largest inland lake. Less than a mile off I81 in Brewerton, the paved launch provides multiple entry ramps for boats of all sizes, ample nearby parking, picnic facilities, rest room and ranger patrols.

Season Boat Launch Passes, good at both Onondaga Lake Park and Oneida Shores Park, are available. Click here to download an application (pdf).

For information on boating rules and regulations and a current schedule of boater safety classes, click here to go to the New York State Parks Boating Education page.

Fishing

New York State is one of the top three fishing destinations in America, thanks in part to the 100 miles of streams, rivers, and Finger Lakes in and surrounding Onondaga County. Over 70,000 trout, many over 15” long, are stocked by Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery in productive streams highlighted by Nine Mile Creek (Marcellus), Butternut Creek (Jamesville), and Limestone Creek (Manlius). Onondaga Lake Park’s outlet is the best area spot for shoreline casting for panfish, bass, and carp. Otisco Lake is home to ferocious tiger muskie and large walleye pike, with Oneida Lake’s walleye and smallmouth bass fishery of national caliber.

Onondaga Lake

 

Fishing Links:

• The Post-Standard Outdoors Page - fishing reports, forums, maps, photos & more from Syracuse's local newspaper
• NYSDEC Region 7 Hotline & Carp Fishing Info
• FishingCNY.com
• Salt City Bassmasters

Fishing Economic Impact Information

Click here for the latest stocking report - Courtesy of Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery

Fishing with young children...

Looking to take the kids or grandkids out fishing, the staff at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery suggests the following locations:

• Webster's Pond, located in Valley Section of Syracuse, call 469-8027.
• Spring Pond Fisheries, located in Fayetteville, call 637-6311.

 

Hunting

Permits for Highland Forest bow season (fall) and turkey hunting (spring) can be obtained by contacting the park at 683-5550. Duck hunting is productive along the West Shore of Onondaga Lake, though access and shooting are not allowed on or through park lands. DEC managed hunting areas include Cicero Swamp, Cross Lake Islands, Hamlin Marsh, and Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area.