Flying the Finger Lakes Region of New York

Winemaking, museums, and aviation history highlight the Finger Lakes corner of New York.

Jonathan Welsh

Friday, February 23, 2024 at 10:24 AM ET

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We chose Elmira Corning Regional Airport (KELM) as a starting point for exploring the area. [Stephen Yeates]

Key Takeaways:

The Finger Lakes region in upstate New York consists of 11 glacially-formed lakes, characterized by their impressive size, north-south orientation, and scenic, often challenging, terrain.
The area offers a diverse range of attractions, including significant aviation history at the National Soaring Museum and Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, as well as cultural sites like the Corning Museum of Glass and a renowned wine industry.
Flying provides an exceptional way for pilots to explore and appreciate the region's unique geography and attractions, with helpful air traffic control services, though vigilance for terrain and traffic is essential.

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As you fly north across the middle of upstate New York on a clear day toward places like Ithaca (KITH), Cortland County (N03), or Corning-Painted Post (7N1), you will see them on the horizon: the Finger Lakes.

You are likely to spot Seneca Lake first, as it is 38 miles long and covers the greatest area of the 11 bodies of water that make up the Finger Lakes region. Just to the east is runner-up Cayuga Lake, with the city of Ithaca at its southern tip. It is huge, too, and it can be difficult to tell which of the top two is larger. Cayuga is 2 miles longer, but Seneca covers more acreage. The lakes have a roughly north-south orientation and fan out across the state’s midsection, seeming to point toward Lake Ontario.