Penn Yan Recreation Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
The Penn Yan Recreation Area, located in the state of New York, is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Summary
The park offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and boating. One of the main draws of the park is the beautiful Keuka Lake, which is known for its clear water and excellent fishing.
Visitors to the park can explore several points of interest, including the Keuka Outlet Trail, which offers scenic views of the lake and surrounding countryside. The park is also home to several historic sites, including the Crooked Lake Canal Historic District and the Keuka Lake Outlet Historic District.
Interesting facts about the area include its rich history as a center for boat building and shipping, as well as its importance to the Seneca Nation of Indians, who once inhabited the land.
The best time of year to visit the Penn Yan Recreation Area is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the lake is ideal for swimming and boating. However, visitors can also enjoy the park's beautiful fall foliage and winter sports, such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing.
Overall, the Penn Yan Recreation Area offers a wide range of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages and interests, making it a must-visit destination in the state of New York.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Keuka Lake State Park
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Camp Whitman
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Sampson State Park
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Penn Yan Baseball Complex
Indian Pines Village Park
Red Jacket Park
Larhams Park
Yates County Fairgrounds