A Skaneateles Lake Vacation Rental with Dock, Kayaks and Paddleboards
Skaneateles Lake is famous for water so clear you can count the stones on the bottom from the end of the dock. At Sunset Side Cottage, that water is a three-minute stroll down a quiet paved lane, waiting at a renters dock that is yours to use all day.
Your Lake Setup at Five Mile Point
The cottage sits up a gentle hill on the east shore, about five miles south of Skaneateles village. Walk (or pedal one of the cruiser bikes) down the lane and you reach a small shared waterfront with a dedicated Renters Dock on the left as you face the lake. Our sturdy lake wagon and lake towels make the trip easy, even with coolers and kids in tow.
- Dedicated renters dock for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and launching paddle craft
- A small beach with a shallow, pebbly entry that little swimmers love
- 2 kayaks and 2 stand-up paddleboards included with your stay
- Boat mooring for renters about 30 feet off the dock: bring your own boat and keep it there overnight for your whole stay, or tie up a rental for the day
- Bass fishing off the renters dock in the clear shallows, especially on summer evenings
- Sunset views straight down the lake from the water's edge
Docks on Skaneateles Lake are seasonal. Ours typically go in around Memorial Day and come out in early October, so plan dock days for late May through September.
Nearby Lake Guide
Drive times are from the cottage, checked in Google Maps in October 2026.
- Skaneateles Marina, Mandana (18 min): rents motorboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards by the hour or day. Book ahead for summer weekends. Bring your rental back to our mooring for the afternoon.
- NYS DEC boat launch on Route 41A (15 min): concrete ramp with parking for about 30 cars and trailers if you tow your own boat. New York law requires boats and trailers to be cleaned, drained and dried before launching.
- Clift Park and the village pier (10 min): the village's lakefront green, with a lifeguarded swim area from roughly late June to late August and a long pier for sunset strolls.
- Mid-Lakes Navigation (10 min): narrated sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises on classic boats from the village dock, typically mid-May into early fall.
- Emerson Park on Owasco Lake (23 min): a county park with a summer swimming beach and paddle rentals when you want to explore a second lake.
Skaneateles Lake is also the unfiltered drinking water supply for the City of Syracuse, which is part of why it is so clear. Please keep soaps, sunscreen spray and trash out of the water.
A Sample Lake Weekend
Friday
Check in after 4 PM, unload, and walk straight down to the dock for a swim. Grill dinner on the deck, then carry a blanket back to the water for sunset.
Saturday
Coffee and a paddleboard loop along the shoreline while the lake is glassy. Late morning, pick up a rental boat at Skaneateles Marina and run the 16-mile length of the lake. Tie up at the mooring for a lazy afternoon of swimming off the boat. Dinner in the village at The Sherwood Inn or a casual basket from Doug's Fish Fry eaten by the pier.
Sunday
Doughnuts from Skaneateles Bakery, one last kayak before the wind picks up, and a final cannonball off the dock before 11 AM checkout.
Lake Questions
How far is the cottage from the water?
About a 3 to 5 minute walk down a paved lane. The cottage itself sits up the hill among the trees, so you get glimpses of the lake from the yard rather than a full view from the deck.
Can I bring or rent a boat?
Yes. Renters can keep a boat on the mooring about 30 feet off the renters dock, overnight for the length of their stay. Launch at the DEC ramp on Route 41A or rent from Skaneateles Marina. The owners' dock to the right is private, so please use the renters dock only.
Are life jackets provided?
Please message us through Airbnb before your stay to confirm sizes. We recommend bringing well-fitted jackets for young children.
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