Upstate NY Info Request

[pilgrim]

We'll be staying in Verona, NY for the weekend. Are there any good dayhikes nearby? I don't want to do a lot of driving.

 

[Peakbagr]

How far do you want to drive and do you want to do mountain hiking? The area around Verona is pretty flat. The southern ADKs are about 45 min away and there is a lot of hiking in the Old Forge area.

 

[pilgrim]

How far do you want to drive and do you want to do mountain hiking? The area around Verona is pretty flat. The southern ADKs are about 45 min away and there is a lot of hiking in the Old Forge area.

Mountains preferred, but not a requirement. I definitely wouldn't want to drive any more than 45 minutes.

Thanks.

 

[Jay H]

Old Forge and Inlet (and many towns in the ADKs) publish free hiking trail info at their visitors or community center, at the very least, you could stop by and pick one up. Having said that, there have been requests for hiking information around this website and on adkhighpeaks.com, you could search for them, put perhaps do a search for old forge and you might find some recommendations...

Jay

 

[Nessmuk]

Very close by Verona are the Rome Sand Plains, about 15 minutes away. No mountains, but many miles of beautifully maintained hiking trails through forests and bogs.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8082.html

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8080.html

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newyork/preserves/art11832.html

http://www.northcountrybirdclub.org/trips/index.html

Whetstone Gulf State Park is north of Rome about 40 minutes. It has a spectactular deep gorge with a 5 mile rim hiking trail.
http://www.stateparks.com/whetstone_gulf.html
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=42

 

[Grumpy]

Off Route 28 on the way to Old Forge you might find something of interest in a Middle Settlement Lake loop hike, or hikes in the direction of Woodhull Lake out of McKeever.

Check out the Adirondack Mountain Club's West-Central Region guidebook and map for these and other possibilities. The area also is covered by the National Geographic Adirondack Park map series -- Old Forge / Oswegatchie, #745.

This isn't big time peakbagging country, but it does have its hiking delights.

G.

 

[bignslow]

Chittenango Falls is about 30 minutes away:
http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/waterfalls/chittenangofalls.html

It's not much of a hike but the scenery is pretty cool.

 

[WalksWithBlackflies]

A couple of local gems:

Green Lakes State Park near Fayetteville
Morgan Hill State Forest near Fabius, Truxton, and Labrador
Highland Forest near DeRuyter

Not mountains, but good steep hills (you'll be able to gain a minimum of 1,000 feet in 10 miles), pristine glacial lakes and streams, and old growth forests.

Some other interesting areas:

Bignslow mentioned Chittenango Falls... beautiful area, but not a lot of hiking opportunities

One of the locals may be able to direct you to some hiking trails near the intersection of Hamilton and Marble Street in Sherrill. We used to call it Witches Hollow... I don't know if it's still called that. Probably only 2 miles tops, but a very pretty area.

Another short hike is around Sunset Lake on the south side of Sherrill. Check out the Oneida Community Mansion House while you're there.

North Country Trail - Both the Canastota and Cazenovia sections are complete, but I'm not sure if the connector between them is 100% cleared yet.

 

[pilgrim]

Thanks to all for your responses. Green Lakes State Park and Rome Sand Plains look like the top choices.

 

[escapee]

Green Lakes has some interesting geology, a few old growth trees, some clear, high ground that used to be pastureland and which has some nice views, and a swimming beach.

From Verona you can take NY 365 east to NY 12 north, to BREIA (Black River Environmental Improvement Area) trails a little south of Boonville. Not mountains, but some good up & down.