Skaneateles

Skaneateles is a town in the Finger Lakes region of New York with a village center right on the lake, surrounded by hills and forested areas. The downtown has shops and restaurants, while the wider area offers forests, meadows, and direct access to the water.

The town was founded in 1830 from parts of the neighboring town of Marcellus and grew as a lakeside settlement. A strong Quaker community made it a key stop on the Underground Railroad in the decades before the Civil War.

The name comes from an Iroquois word meaning 'long lake,' expressing how Native American peoples understood this landscape for generations before European settlement arrived.

Visitors find the best starting point at the village center, where shops and restaurants are easily reached and lake access is nearby. Boating, fishing, and hiking are possible year-round, though summer brings the most activity on and around the water.

From 1843 to 1846, an experimental community operated here with its own farm and small workshops based on unconventional social ideas of that era. This project made the place a gathering point for reformers and idealists testing new ways of living and working together.

Location: Onondaga County

Elevation above the sea: 266 m

Part of: Eastern Finger Lakes

GPS coordinates: 42.94670,-76.42830

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:26