Outdoor Adventures

ANGLING

Some of the best fishing spots in upstate are found in Oneida County. Oneida Lake is a bass master’s dream and a special destination for walleye and perch. Fly fishing? Cast for brook and brown trout in over 100 miles of public fishing rights on 14 trout creeks and rivers. West Canada Creek is regarded as one of New York’s top trout streams. See millions of trout nurtured at Rome Fish Hatchery.

CANOEING | KAYAKING | TUBING

Seven lakes and numerous waterways offer on-water experiences from a placid paddle on the historic Erie Canal, tube float down West Canada Creek to Class III whitewater kayaking on Fish Creek.

BIKING | HIKING | WALKING

Black River Environmental Protection Area (BREIA) Trails offer year-round adventure for mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. BikeThruHistory.com provides curated rides to historical sites in the region. Pixley Falls State Park’s main attraction is a 50-foot waterfall. This picturesque park features a picnic area, wooded hills and a mountain stream. Find more waterfall hikes in the Tug Hill Region at visittughill.com/waterfalls.

CAMPING

With nearly 2,000 campsites, you’ll find the picture-perfect spot to pitch a tent, park the RV and relax around the campfire at 19 locally owned campgrounds and two State Parks, Delta Lake State Park and Verona Beach State Park.

WATCHABLE WILDLIFE

Utica Marsh, a unique urban wetland, accessible from the Erie Canalway Trail, offers up-close views of habitats and a variety of plants and animals, especially birds. An observation tower provides the perfect bird’s eye view of the abundant wildlife! Rome Sand Plains is one of only a few inland pine barrens in the nation, teaming with watchable wildlife.