While we all enjoy a beautiful summer day, the nice weather can be a problem in the Finger Lakes- it’s hard to decide what to do first! If you are having trouble deciding how to spend your day, consider going for a hike. The Finger Lakes Region has a variety of scenic trails to choose from, but one of my favorites is The Keuka Outlet Trail.

This 7-mile trail runs along the Keuka Outlet stream which connects Keuka Lake to Seneca Lake. Along the way, the trail passes by all kinds of great scenery including remnants of sawmills, distilleries, and bridges, and majority of the path is also lined with trees and plants, making this a great place to see some of the area’s wildlife up close. While the entire trail is picturesque, my favorite part is the number of gorgeous waterfalls which offer spectacular views and great opportunities for photos.

Growing up, my family and I were frequent visitors to the Outlet Trail, it was one of our favorite places to spend a day outdoors. Normally, we would hike only a section of the trail, but on a few ambitious occasions we took our bikes and rode the entire thing, from the mill in Penn Yan all the way to the ice cream shop in Dresden. Along the way, we would stop to eat our lunch- usually a picnic at one of the waterfalls. A few times, we even brought our two horses along for a trail ride. While our horses enjoyed lots of attention from fellow trail-goers, we were able to have an easy-going ride thanks to the smooth footing and beautiful surroundings.

Whether you are looking to hike, bike, or horseback ride, I would definitely recommend putting a visit to the Keuka Outlet Trail on your summer bucket list.  The stunning scenery and gorgeous views along the trail are just another part of what makes the Finger Lakes so unique.

Jenna Chapman