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 is characterized by 11 glacially-formed lakes, scenic gorges, and valleys, offering unique aerial views but requiring pilot vigilance due to terrain.
It is a notable destination for aviation enthusiasts, featuring the National Soaring Museum at Harris Hill gliderport and the historic Glenn H. Curtiss Museum.
Beyond aviation, the region boasts diverse attractions such as the Corning Museum of Glass, a prominent wine industry with numerous vineyards and trails, and the historic Watkins Glen International Raceway.
Pilots can access the area via airports like Elmira Corning Regional (KELM), where helpful air traffic control supports navigation despite potentially challenging weather and terrain.

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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.