In New York’s Finger Lakes region, the forests, wetlands and pristine lakes of scenic Hemlock-Canadice State Forest provide visitors with wonderful hiking and paddling opportunities.
The nearly 7,000-acre forest surrounds Hemlock and Canadice lakes. It has 14 miles of woodland trails with spectacular vistas offering hikers breathtaking views of the area’s lakes and beautiful waterfalls. A four-mile-long wooded trail on the western shore of Canadice Lake offers great views of the water, while the Root’s View Trail on the southern shore of Hemlock lake is a popular place to view wildlife, including black bear, wild turkeys and deer.
While the lakes provide drinking water to Rochester, paddling is allowed in most locations on the lakes. They’re popular among paddlers for their serene atmosphere and heavily-forested shorelines. To rent paddling equipment, check out nearby Canadice Lake Outfitters.