Spring may have finally arrived! The last time we hiked this section of the Dryden Rail Trail we were starting to embrace twenty degree temperatures and frozen precipitation. Today, we had abundant sunshine, and the temperature was approaching sixty degrees for the ten hikers and two dogs. The welcoming weather, lively conversations, and relatively flat trail, provided motivation to cover more distance and make it to Freeville. We had a quick history lesson of railroading in the area at Station Park, before returning to the trailhead, having logged around 5.5 miles.
Photo by Jim
Saturday, April 26
James Kennedy State Forest
Hike report by Jim
Several members of both Ithaca Hikers and Cayuga Trails Club joined the Triple Cities Hiking Club which led a Howard Beye Founders Day hike within James Kennedy State Forest. This was a loop hike that included parts of the Finger Lakes Trail, the Swedish Loop and the Spanish Loop.
Today’s hike took place on FLT map sheet M19. There are several more detailed FLTC maps such as the International Trails, Swedish Loop trail map etc that depict areas hiked today. These maps may be purchased in paper or electronic formats at: https://fingerlakestrail.org/…/purchase-individual-maps/
Weather conditions were mostly cloudy, with intermittent rain. Oh yes, it rained. And wind, in parts of the hike.
Trail conditions were mostly good, with the standing water and mud in several places that would be expected given the weather conditions of the day.
For those hikers who are tracking their FLT miles towards a 2025 FLT50 or FLT100 award, todays hike was 7 FLT miles.
The Ithaca Hikers trail maintenance day originally scheduled for today has been moved to May.
Photo by Jim
Sunday, April 27
Logan Hill Nature Preserve, Candor
Hike report by Leigh Ann
Nineteen hikers and five leashed dogs hiked up the seasonal road to the eastern end of the Logan Hill yellow trail, followed the yellow trail back to the seasonal road, and took the road back down. This 4.4-mile hike is satisfying any time of the year, and most of the steepness is in the first mile. The weather today was windy throughout. We noticed that there are a lot of dead trees along the seasonal road, a few of which we could hear come down in the wind. By 11:30, right near the end of the hike, the wind truly picked up, along with brilliant sun, but some hikers near the end actually saw some trees come down. Happily, all the hikers made it safely to their cars and on with the rest of their day.
Weather conditions certainly changed overnight. The marina didn’t have the thin layer of snow that I woke up to in Freeville, but the cold wind coming off the lake as well as the freezing rain reminded me that winter had come back to haunt us on one final hike of the season.
The group broke up into different groups over the course of the hike, even as small as our group was today. Chip mentioned to me after the hike that he had made a second lap around the north point of the marina after getting back to the parking lot sooner than expected.
Photo by Jim
Saturday, April 19
Lloyd Starks Road and Connecticut Hill Road
Hike report by Leigh Ann
Nineteen hikers met at the eastern intersection of Connecticut Hill and Boylan Roads for a hike led by Dave G. Initially it looked like there would be rain, but the rain held off and the morning heated up nicely. This butterfly-shaped hike led us past several ancient homestead foundations, numerous creeks, and a few large ponds. We arrived back at the cars in exactly two hours, just before the rain truly showed up.
Fifteen hikers and three dogs met at the fisherman’s pull-off on route 13 just east of Lower Creek Rd, for a loop hike of the Monkey Run trail system. This is hike #6-2 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-6. At our parking area there was a very noticeable whirlpool in the water currents that several people commented on before or after the hike.
Weather was overcast, cool and breezy throughout the hike, which made it more comfortable than it otherwise might have been.
After a quick group picture the group set off, crossing under the Route 13 bridge and quickly traversing the open field to the red-blazed trail that for much of our first hour very closely followed the course of Fall Creek. The creek itself was flowing well, the water levels high after the previous day’s rain.
There were relatively minor elevation changes throughout the route today. Trail conditions were generally good, although with recent rains there were a steady supply of muddy spots along our route.
The red blazed trail offers views of Fall Creek at a variety of elevations, with some sections of the route being nearly at water level, while others are from bluffs high above the creek.
We reached the mid-point of our hike where the red blazed trail meets the yellow blazed trails at a high bluff above the creek. People paused there for a few photos, and then we took the yellow blazed trail to the Monkey Run parking lot we often meet at for other hikes in the area.
Crossing over that parking lot we continued on the Monkey Run Trail system, stopping to make a trail journal entry before finally coming out on the Dryden Rail Trail that still bears Monkey Run orange trail blazes.
The group walked the Dryden Rail Trail towards Route 13 before turning back into the woods to take the orange blazed trails back to our vehicles.
We ended up getting back to our cars about 15 minutes early. I know a solution to that which will be incorporated into the next time we do this hike.
On a beautiful cool Wednesday morning, April 9, 16 hikers and 2 dogs met at Lyndsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve. This is one of the most attractive hikes in the area. There are no waterfalls or gorges, but lovely open fields, hills and ponds. The group covered almost all the trails in the preserve walking around the perimeter and weaving our way between the beautiful ponds. We finished in just under 2 hours. A couple of hikers took the south trail after arriving back at our cars for a 10-minute mini-loop.
Photo by JimPhotos by Mark Sussman
Saturday, April 12
Taughannock Falls SP from Rice Hill
There was no hike on Saturday, April 12 due to the rain that lasted through the morning.
Sunday, April 13
Spur trail from upper Lick Brook/Townline Road to upper Buttermilk Falls SP/Yaple Road
Hike report by Leigh Ann
Thirty hikers and three dogs on leash met where Townline Road crosses Lick Brook for this hike. It was a sunny and highly motivating Sunday after a week of rain and snow. Although this is a hike that goes up and over a hill, there were plenty of big puddles to navigate around and the creek was seasonably high – a choose your own adventure to hop across. The group got all the way to the western side of Treman Lake where the washed-out stone footbridge is. This out-and-back hike was five miles and took almost exactly two hours.
South Hill Rec Way/Six Mile Creek, south side, rim trail
Hike report by Jim
Eighteen hikers and one dog met on Crescent Place in the city of Ithaca for a hike of the South Hill Rec Way trail system led by Chip McA. This is hike # 2-1 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-2.
The timing for this hike was good, as the street was signed for street closure starting tomorrow for street work.
Trail conditions were generally good, with little mud on the upper level of trails near the Rec Way trail. I didn’t try to hike the lower level of trails that go down to the waterway, although Nancy L hiked those lower trails on her own separate from the group hike and didn’t report having any difficulties.
The water crossings all had water flowing well enough for this time of year. The group stopped along the route to walk down the old stone stairs and at the second dam overlook.
The group completed the trail loop and arrived back at the rec way. We skipped the short rec way hike we normally do towards Burns Rd and instead headed directly back to the cars. As a result, we arrived back at Crescent Place a full thirty minutes early today.
The south hill rec way itself is due for some TLC work. While the trail surface isn’t muddy, the rock dust surface is either heavily worn or missing entirely. Time, I think, for the Town to invest in some trail upkeep. Hopefully when they extend the Rec Way towards the Town of Caroline in the coming years, the existing trail will get some touch-up work as well.
Warm welcome to Samantha, Margaret R and Jordan on their first hike with the group!
Photo by Jim
Saturday, April 5
Lloyd Starks Loop, Connecticut Hill, Newfield
Hike report by Nancy Lorr
Seven hikers met at the junction of Boylan, Lloyd Stark and Connecticut Hill Rd in Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management on a wet, chilly Saturday morning. The hikers were dressed for the rain in ponchos and rain pants ( I forgot the rain pants) bravely anticipating and game for a hike in the rain. We started off heading up Lloyd Stark Rd. After passing a pond on the right we cut into the bushes on a trail that led up hill to the long plateau top of Rowell Hill. After reaching the North end of the ridge we cut back on the other side, spotting the remains of a foundation. This trail brought us to a trail back to Lloyd Starks rd. We crossed this road and made our way back down to the bottom of the hill where there is a piney beaver pond with several quite evident but old beaver work. It wasn’t far back from there to the cars for a neat 4 miles.
Fifteen hikers and three dogs met on Houghton Rd in the Town of Ulysses for a northerly out-and-back hike on the Black Diamond Trail led by Anne B. This is hike # 58-4 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-58.
The morning was overcast as the group set out, the sun being barely visible behind heavy cloud cover. During our hike the weather alternated between windy, sporadic rain and a short session of sleet.
Despite the weather we encountered several bicyclists and joggers on the rail trail over the course of the hike
With everyone setting their own pace for this hike the distances covered varied within the group, The faster hikers reported having covered a little over 7 miles during the hike.
A warm welcome to Patty on her first hike with the group!
Finger Lakes Trail from White Church Rd., Brooktondale
Hike report by Jim
Sixteen hikers and two dogs met on White Church Rd for an out-and-back hike of the current and former FLT footpath between White Church Rd and Ridgeway Rd. This is hike #26 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-24.
The entirety of this hike took place on map sheet M18. FLT map sheets are available in paper or electronic formats at: https://fingerlakestrail.org/store/maps-and-gps/purchase-individual-maps/. Proceeds from sale of the map sheets offsets the on-going costs associated with trail maintenance.
There were a lot of large snowflakes falling as hikers arrived at the parking lot on White Church Rd. The chickens at the farm next to the parking lot grew louder and more agitated as the parking lot filled up; I can only assume that they aren’t used to that much activity in their proximity. The snow slowed and eventually stopped once the hike commenced.
After a quick group picture the group set off, crossing White Church Rd and entering the FLT footpath that winds across the open fields towards the wood line. Entering the trees, the FLT snakes towards Wilseyville Creek, making a couple of twists and turns along the way. We passed an observation area for the creek where we’ve often taken our group photos in the past. The wind was visibly roiling the surface of the water, and with the high water levels we saw today there was no sign of the stagnant water we usually see later in the year here.
Turning onto the recently re-routed FLT footpath we proceeded towards the junction of White Church and Coddington Rds, passing along the edges of open fields. The former railbed that is now the FLT passes between some high embankments in this section before arriving at the end of White Church and Coddington Rds.
Trail surfaces were good throughout the hike. I last hiked this section about three weeks ago when there was still a good amount of snow on the ground which has long since departed.
Reaching White Church Rd we immediately turned around and made our way back northwesterly. We by-passed the northerly turn we had hiked on our way in from the cars and continued on the former footpath of the FLT towards Ridgeway Rd that will eventually be re-purposed at an extension of the South Hill Rec Way.
Reaching Ridgeway Rd we paused for a minute before returning towards the FLT and the footpath back to our cars.
We arrived back at the parking lot about ten minutes earlier than planned. This was fortunate, as no sooner had we departed the parking lot but a heavy sleet began to fall.
For those who are trying to earn their FLT50 or FLT100 patches, today’s hike is estimated to have covered 2.8 FLT miles.
A warm welcome to Jenny on her first hike with the group!
Leigh Ann led the hike today, with the overall group breaking down into fast and slow groups over the duration of the hike. During the hike we encountered equestrians, bicyclists, dog walkers, trail runners, other hikers, etc Hammond Hills trails were very busy today!
Weather was cool, and we only encountered intermittent rain during the second hour of the hike. Trail conditions were excellent.
This is one of the rare hikes we do that I intentionally plan to run beyond our normal two-hour hike duration. I believe that there are so many really nice sections of trail on this route that I hesitate to cut any of them from this hike. Because it IS a hike that runs longer than average, I try to not schedule it very often.
The trail route today was as follows: from Star Stanton Rd the group took trail G1 to Y1 to Y2. Y2 comes out at the junction of Star Stanton and Canaan Rds, otherwise known as ” Time Square”. Passing through Time Square the group took Y4 until it merges with the FLT footpath. The hike continued on the FLT until we reached the junction with Y5, which we took back to Canaan Rd. Crossing Canaan Rd we jumped onto Y6, which passes through some stands of large pine trees just west of Canaan Rd; this is easily my favorite area on all of Hammond Hill State Forest. Y6 transitions to Y1, which we took back to Star Stanton Rd and our cars. Leigh Ann estimated that the fast subgroup of hikers was finished and at the cars about 20 minutes later than normal.
For those hikers attempting to get their 2025 FLT50 or FLT100 patches, todays hike included only approximately .5 FLT miles.
Warm welcome to new hikers Lynn, Renee and her K9 hiking partner Sammy, Christina, Israel and Jay on their first hike with the group!
The day was overcast, and intermittent rain fell during the morning.
Our hikers posed for photos before traversing the wooden bridge at the parking lot to access the Bear Trail. The group hiked to the dam at Treman Lake, where we found access to the path across the top of the dam still closed for the season. Continuing on the Treman Lake loop trail the hikers walked to Yaple Rd, then walked to Comfort Rd and walked back into the state park from the access road into the park. The group hiked to the base of the long set of wooden stairs before turning around.
The only item of interest along this section of trail was a fairly large blow-down tree that we had to climb over or around
On the return leg of the hike Leigh Ann led the group, re-tracing the same route we had taken in the first hour. A small group of hikers opted to not remain with the main group and instead ford the stream by the stone arch bridge that’s still too damaged to use.
Arriving back at the cars with some time to spare Leigh Ann opted to take the group across West King Rd and hike towards the lower park on the Rim Trail for a few minutes to use up some remaining hike time.
We were sharing the trails today with a good number of other hikers and dog walkers while we were on the trails.
Water levels were high and the streams were flowing well.
Welcome to new hikers Elanore and her K9 hiking partner Ez, Will, Romaine and K9 hiker Suki on their first hike with the group!
