Cayuga Inlet

About

Introduction:

Cayuga Inlet is located at the southern end of Cayuga Lake and allows access to the city of Ithaca, NY. Ithaca is located in the central Finger Lakes Region of New York State about five hours from New York City, three hours from Niagara Falls, two hours from Rochester and five hours from Philadelphia. Ithaca is home to the prestigious Cornell University.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Charts 14786 and 14791.

From Cayuga Lake, set a course to first intercept flashing red “146” about one mile north of the inlet. Once you have cleared the flashing red light, head toward flashing red “148” on the lighted breakwater near the entrance, and after you have cleared that, pick up and pass flashing green “147” on the stone breakwater extending north from the inlet’s eastern shoreline. Both of the breakwaters and their respective lights are visible in the image above.

There are a few good boating facilities in Ithaca, but the largest is Allen Treman State Park Marina, which is conveniently located right near the Cayuga Inlet. There are limited transient facilities here. Another marina is located farther up to port on a small branch of water off the inlet, and yet another facility is situated even farther up past the Cornell Boating Facility. Depths in the inlet are at least eight feet from the breakwaters all the way to the sets of fixed bridges (nine-foot vertical clearances) near Oldport Harbor.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.