Jim Moore / December 28, 2025
The Finger Lakes region continues to shine as a premier destination for nature lovers, offering a spectrum of outdoor experiences from expansive wetlands to rich forest preserves. According to a recent guide from Go Finger Lakes, several biodiversity hotspots stand out for their ecological value and recreational opportunities. The Braddock Bay Wetland Complex near Rochester provides thousands of acres of marshes, woodlands and open water that support a remarkable variety of bird species along the Atlantic Flyway, while nearby Clark Reservation State Park features six miles of trails and an impressive diversity of plant life that captivates both casual visitors and botanists.
Other notable sites include the Conesus Inlet Wildlife Management Area, where broad floodplains offer prime birdwatching and wildlife observation year-round, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, which boasts four miles of interconnected trails through varied habitats teeming with wildlife. The Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve and the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge further add to the region’s ecological tapestry, providing sanctuaries for river otters, herons, kingfishers and nearly a million migrating birds.
In addition to these biodiverse locales, the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s recommendations highlight aquatic and forested environments like the Saunders Finger Lakes Museum access point on Keuka Lake, which invites paddlers and birders alike to explore quieter corners of the region’s natural world. Outdoor sites such as the Cornell Botanic Gardens and Tanglewood Nature Center round out the list, offering accessible trails and educational experiences for visitors of all ages.
Learn More at https://www.gofingerlakes.org/best-spots-in-the-finger-lakes-for-nature-lovers/
