Plan Your Visit to Chautauqua County and Make the Most of Your Summer with these Fun Lake Activities

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Chautauqua County is a fun destination for all sorts of outdoor recreation activities, including boating, fishing, kayaking, and more! With plenty of water access, spending a weekend in the region calls for catching some waves with family and friends. 

You can take in the sights and sounds as you cruise around the scenic lakes by pontoon boat, canoe, kayak, paddle board, sailboat, or fishing boat, or kick back for a relaxing day at the beach. Need help planning your day on the water? 

Here’s 4 lake activities to try when you visit Chautauqua County: 

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1. Boating

Chautauqua County is a super popular place for boating! You can bring your own boat or you can rent one when you arrive. Each of the five lakes in the area including Chautauqua, Erie, Findley, Cassadaga, and Bear have at least one boat launch. There are also full-service marinas on Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake. 

They offer half-day, full-day, or multi-day boat rental rates. Plus, most marinas will let you rent additional equipment like tubes, lily pads, waterskis, and wakeboards. 

2. Fishing 

Chautauqua County offers a world-class fishing experience. Each of the 5 lakes and waterways offers something different. 

• Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and an ideal spot for bass fishing. In fact, it was named the #3 Best Bass Lake in the Northeastern US by Bassmaster Magazine in 2021. You can find bass along the entire New York shoreline as well as trophy-size walleye in deeper waters in the eastern basin of Lake Erie. 

• Chautauqua Lake offers exceptional fishing for walleye, bass, muskellunge and several species of panfish. 

• Findley Lake has abundant beds of aquatic vegetation providing angling for a variety of sportfish and panfish. 

• The three interconnected lakes of Cassadaga have largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge and panfish. 

• The smallest of the County’s inland lakes, Bear Lake, provides an excellent habitat for bass and other predator and prey fish.

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3. Paddlesports

Did you know there is not a single part of the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region that is more than 20 minutes from open water? This makes it an ideal destination for all types of watersports. 

If you’re looking for an active way to explore the beauty of Chautauqua County, you have a lot of options, including everything from kayaking to canoeing to stand up paddleboarding. 

You can take a class to learn a paddlesport, join a tour with expert guides, or sign up for a guided sunset kayak tour. You can bring your own gear or rent from one of the stores.

4. Beaches 

Grab your suit, towel, and a beach chair before heading to any of the beaches of Chautauqua County. You can expect  beaches with parks, playgrounds, rolling waves, or shallow water.

You’ll find sandy beaches at Lake Erie’s Sunset Bay, beach glass hunting at Point Gratiot Park, and a popular splash pad at Wright Park Beach. 

You can plan your own Lake Erie beach vacation or a day trip to watch the sunset from a driftwood perch at Barcelona Harbor Beach. 

Chautauqua, Findley, and Cassadaga Lakes offer calmer waters for your little ones and village settings for quick diversions. 

Visit Chautauqua County This Summer 

All in all, there’s so many ways to explore and experience Chautauqua County this summer. If you’re looking for more ideas, contact the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau to request a free travel guide and plan your trip today!

Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau

tourchautauqua.com

This article is a paid promotion sponsored by an SOB advertiser and designed to share valuable info with our readers.