As winter gives way to spring, Oswego County becomes a playground for adventure-seekers eager to experience the best of both seasons. Late winter still brings plenty of action as snowmobilers cruise miles of groomed trails that weave through forested paths and open fields. Ice anglers chase their final catches on Oneida Lake and Sandy Pond, while winter hikers explore snow-covered trails in the county's state forests.

Oswego County occupies the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario, and the lake shapes the county's character in profound ways. The lake's moderating influence creates a climate that is milder than the surrounding region in winter and cooler in summer, and the lake's fishery is one of the most productive in the Great Lakes system.

The spring salmon run on Lake Ontario's tributaries is one of the most spectacular fishing events in the Northeast. Chinook and coho salmon, along with steelhead trout, run up the rivers in enormous numbers, and anglers line the banks of the Salmon River and other streams for weeks during the peak of the run.

The Salmon River — which flows through Oswego County to Lake Ontario — is one of the most celebrated fishing rivers in the eastern United States. The river's fall and spring runs of salmon and steelhead draw anglers from across the country, and the river's clear, cold water provides exceptional fishing conditions.

The Salmon River Fish Hatchery, operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, produces millions of salmon and trout annually to support the lake's fishery.

The city of Oswego — the county seat — is a historic port city on the shores of Lake Ontario. The city's Fort Ontario State Historic Site preserves a star-shaped fortification that has been continuously occupied since 1755, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied military sites in North America.

For more information, visit visitoswegocounty.com.