Outdoors
Lakes, rivers and recreation areas near Syracuse where fishing is allowed, closest first.
Good to know: Anyone 16 or older generally needs a state fishing license; seasons, limits and special rules vary by water. New York license information ↗
31 mi west · Fish and Wildlife Service
Establishing the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in 1938 was the first step of many to restore the area back to its historic expanse of marshes—an area thriving with wildlife, once used by indigenous people for hunting and fishing.
49 mi southwest · USDA Forest Service
50 mi southwest · USDA Forest Service
Potomac Group Campground and Day Use Area provides a primitive camping experience for groups of 8-40 people. It is an excellent site for family events and youth group activities.
Map of 12 places loads as you scroll.
Establishing the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in 1938 was the first step of many to restore the area back to its historic expanse of marshes—an area thriving with wildlife, once used by indigenous people for hunting and fishing.
Potomac Group Campground and Day Use Area provides a primitive camping experience for groups of 8-40 people. It is an excellent site for family events and youth group activities.
The recreation area is lease to the Town of Sidney, NY. Facilities include camping, picnic area, boat launch and beach.
This Corps project located near the New York state line in North Central Pennsylvania provides a 1,085-acre lake with 17 miles of shoreline for use by campers and day trippers.
Lawrence Recreation Area is a day-use facility on the south side of Cowanesque Lake. It is conveniently located on State Route 49 approximately 4 miles west of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.
Tompkins Campground is on the north shore of Cowanesque Lake in the northern tier of Pennsylvania, less than one mile from the New York state border.
South Shore Recreation Area is located on the south side of the Cowanesque Lake along State Route 49, just five miles west of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.
Twin lakes in north central Pennsylvania with overnight and dayuse facilities in a scenic environment, southwest of Tioga, PA and north of Wellsboro on PA Route 287, which is acessable from U.S. Route 15 northeast of Tioga and U.S.
Ives Run Campground sits on the eastern shore of Hammond Lake in north-central Pennsylvania.
Canoe through rapids and quiet pools as the Delaware River winds its way through a valley of swiftly changing scenery or fish amid rolling hills and riverfront villages in one of the finest fishing rivers in the northeastern United States.
Our namesake comes from the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy, a powerful and enduring alliance that has thrived in the northeast for centuries.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Syracuse. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
An activity Short shared by ThingssToDo.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
An activity Short shared by Explore New York with Ana & Michael.
Watch on YouTube ↗
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (Fish and Wildlife Service), about 31 miles west of Syracuse as the crow flies. Next are Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests (49 mi) and Potomac Group Campground (50 mi).
Yes, anglers 16 and older generally need a New York fishing license from the state wildlife agency. Rules, seasons and limits vary by water.
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.