Check out this quiet lake with a navigable outlet in western New York!
How to get to Bear Lake
Bear Lake is the smallest of the 5 lakes located in Chautauqua County. It also has a shoreline that is bordered mostly by undeveloped wetlands. This beautiful, quiet setting is perfect for a kayak trip!
To get to Bear Lake, travel north of Stockton, New York on Rt 380. After about 1.5 miles, veer right onto Bear Lake Road as Rt 380 turns left. Bear Lake Road turns left after about 1 mile and the parking lot will be visible on the left as you begin to see the lake in front of you. Parking here accommodates 10 vehicles.
From the parking area, there is a very short paved walk to the launch. The new launch is accessible and very easy to use. After launching, we paddled by some lake front cottages along a narrow passage before the lake opened up before us.
Bear Lake is a kettle lake which means it formed at the end of the last ice age when a large block of ice melted over the area. According to the DEC website the average depth is only about 15 feet but the lake provides excellent habitat for a variety of fish.
What we enjoyed most about kayaking Bear Lake was exploring the undeveloped wetlands surrounding the lake. At around 140 acres with 2.5 miles of shoreline, it was the right size for kayak exploration. We could see it all without a lot of other boat traffic. Motor boats are permitted and many of the houses had pontoon boats docked there, but we saw only one motor boat with a water skier during our outing.
Our favorite part of the adventure was exploring the outlet. It was thick with water lilies and ended at a beaver dam. There were lot’s of birds to listen to and as it twisted and turned it made you wonder what was around each bend.
We spent about 3 hours on the water. The time passed quickly, it was one of those activities where one is completely present in the moment. Pure bliss.
All good things come to an end, but this is an adventure that I will seek out again for the peace and tranquility it offers.
Follow along with us!
