Oswego County lies between Great Lake Ontario, the Tug Hill Plateau, and Oneida Lake. More than 33,000 acres of publicly accessible land lie between the shores of Great Lake Ontario and Oneida Lake and the foothills of the Tug Hill Plateau. This regional overview leads to landscapes, waterways, and historical topics that appeal to a range of interests.
Dunes, Wetlands, and Waterfalls
Sandy Island Beach State Park is part of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland System. The Eastern Lake Ontario Dune System offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, canoeing, and kayaking. These four activities offer different perspectives on the natural area, from observing birdlife to traveling on the water.
The Salmon River Falls Unique Area encompasses 112 acres of land, the 110-foot-high Salmon River Falls, and a scenic gorge. The 600-foot-long Gorge Trail leads from the Falls Trail down to the bottom of the gorge. Check seasonal advisories before your visit.
The Tug Hill region includes the northern part of Oswego County. Dense forests, deep gorges, flowing rivers, and scenic waterfalls characterize this broader landscape. Adjacent to Oswego County is the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. It encompasses 41 known shipwrecks and one aircraft, representing events from more than 200 years of United States history.
Maritime Discoveries on Lake Ontario
The H. Lee White Maritime Museum at Oswego is located within Oswego Harbor and Oswego's Historic Maritime District. Its collection includes thousands of artifacts, images, archival records, and original artworks relating to more than 400 years of regional maritime history. In addition to its collections, the museum offers boat tours to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse. Check current tour dates before your trip.
The Oswego Canal also tells the story of the connection between waterways: it was completed in 1828 and connects the Erie Canal with Great Lake Ontario. The Canalway Trail Map covers the Oswego Canals and helps with both activity planning and finding attractions along the canals and associated waterways.
Forts, Refugee History, and Historic Homes
Fort Ontario is a star-shaped fort dating to the early 1840s. The present-day fort was built on the ruins of three earlier fortifications. These were the sites of three battles of the French and Indian War and two battles of the War of 1812. The history of the present-day structure thus leads to several earlier chapters of military history.
The Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum preserves the stories of 982 World War II refugees who were housed at Fort Ontario from August 1944 to February 1946. You can arrange group tours with the museum; check current visitor information before your trip.
The Richardson-Bates House Museum is an authentic Victorian-era mansion that offers guided tours. When the house was transferred to the Oswego County Historical Society in 1946, about 90 percent of the family's original furnishings were still there. Check current visitor information before you arrive if you are planning a tour.
Museums in Central Square and Pulaski offer further insights into local and regional history. The Central Square Railroad Museum has indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as a railroad library. The building that houses it was completed in 1909. The Pulaski Historical Society Museum houses artifacts, records, and exhibits on the history of the town and region. Casey's Cottage is all that remains of the elegant Club House of Orville Hungerford at Mexico Point, dating to 1906.
Another Perspective on the Region
For a different kind of activity, Battle Island State Park has an 18-hole golf course. So, alongside landscapes and history, visitors can enjoy a specific sporting option and use the Canalway Trail Map to plan activities and navigate the waterways.
Discover more destinations: Oswego, Pulaski, Fulton, Delaware County, Niagara County, Putnam County, Cayuga County, Tompkins.
For the main travel overview: New York.
