8 Lakes In New York That Completely Freeze Over in the Winter

The depths of certain lakes in New York State, such as Canandaigua Lake (688 feet), prevent them from freezing over. While some, like Seneca Lake, commonly freeze over at their northern and southern tips, the length and depth of many do not allow them to freeze over entirely. For example, the last time Seneca Lake completely froze over was way back in 1912! Some people claimed to have skated 35 miles across the lake that year. On the other hand, some shorter and shallower lakes tend to utterly ice over when the temperature drops. More specifically, here is a list of eight lakes in New York that completely freeze over in the winter.

1. Irondequoit Bay

Situated in northeastern Monroe County, Irondequoit Bay is fed by Irondequoit Creek to the south end. The bay spills into Lake Ontario at its northern end. Irondequoit Bay is 80 feet (24 meters) deep at its deepest point, making it one of the shallower lakes in all of New York. The size of the lake also makes it susceptible to freezing over completely during the winter months, particularly in January. However, there are still times when the bay has not entirely frozen over, such as in 2002, but this is uncommon. By and large, if you’re looking for a wholly frozen-over lake during a New York winter, Irondequoit Bay is a pretty safe bet.

2. Hemlock Lake

Just south of Rochester and Irondequoit Bay, and the first of the broader grouping Finger Lakes on this list is Hemlock Lake. This lake stretches about seven miles and holds a maximum depth of 91 feet, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Hemlock Lake is one of the only two Finger Lakes that retains a virtually underdeveloped shoreline. During the winter months, Hemlock Lake is well-known to freeze over completely, making it a hub for activities such as ice skating and ice fishing.

3. Canadice Lake

Although also a part of the Finger Lakes and much shorter than Hemlock Lake, Canadice Lake (three miles long) is a little deeper. The maximum depth of Canadice Lake is 95 feet, which is still rather shallow. This maximum depth, combined with its short distance, makes the lake prone to freezing over entirely in the winter. Located in the town of Canadice in Ontario County, Canadice Lake sees a wealth of public activity all year round. Some of the best fishing in the area is saved for this lake as it homes multiple species including both small and largemouth bass, brown bullhead, yellow perch, and lake trout.

4. Cross Lake

Moving eastwardly across New York State, Cross Lake sits just west of the city of Syracuse. The lake is situated between Cayuga and Onondaga counties, nestled between the villages of Meridian and Jordan. While running a bit longer (4.5 miles) than Canadice Lake, this body of water is even shallower (65 feet) than Irondequoit Bay. This makes Cross Lake disposed to freezing over in the winter, despite the Seneca River flowing through the bottom third of it. With walleye, catfish, rock bass, and many more species of fish regularly inhabiting the area, Cross Lake is a popular fishing spot, especially since the flow of the Seneca River brings a wide range of various breeds.

5. Onondaga Lake

Located in Central New York, along the edge of Syracuse, Onondaga Lake covers a span of approximately 4.6 square miles. With an average depth of 35 feet, the deepest point of Onondaga Lake (63 feet) is shallower than both Irondequoit Bay and the nearby Cross Lake. Although the lake stretches 4.6 miles, the entire length typically freezes over completely each winter. However, in certain years, like 2002 — a year when many New York lakes remained unfrozen — Onondaga Lake was no exception. Still, the vast majority of winters see this one completely frozen over. Onondaga and Nine Mile creeks account for about 70% of the water that flows into the lake every year.

6. Otisco Lake

As the third Central New York lake west of Syracuse on this list, Otisco Lake is known for completely freezing over each winter. This body of water has a shoreline that runs 15 miles. However, its length, according to the DEC, comes in at approximately 5.6 miles. Located in the towns of Marcellus and Spafford in Onondaga County, Otisco Lake has a maximum depth of 76 feet. Despite not being the shallowest lake on the list, the waters generally freeze over entirely during colder months — typically January and February.

7. Green Lake

Moving east of Syracuse, a bit closer to New York City, Green Lake in Green Lakes State Park is one of the most fascinating lakes in the world! This is because, unlike the majority of lakes, Green Lake is one of only a few meromictic lakes. This means Green Lake has no seasonal mixing, whereas most other lakes in Central New York are dimictic (mixing occurring in spring and fall). A trail around the lake runs only 1.9 miles. Despite the relatively small size, Green Lake is the deepest lake on this list with a maximum depth of 195 feet! Nevertheless, it is known to freeze over entirely during the winter months in New York.

8. Conesus Lake

Conesus Lake is not only the final lake on this list but also the third and final member of the Finger Lakes. Located just south of Rochester, Conesus Lake runs about eight miles with a maximum depth of just 66 feet. The lake is primarily located in the town of Livonia in Livingston County and accessible off the well-known Pebble Beach Road. Like many of the other lakes on this list, its rather short length and shallow depth make it prone to freezing over completely in winter. In fact, even in 2002, when most lakes did not freeze over in New York, Conesus Lake did, albeit only partially.

Summary of New York Lakes That Freeze Over in Winter