ithacahikers

Wednesday, July 22

Finger Lakes Trail from White Church Rd., Brooktondale

Hike report by Kathy K

8 hikers and 1 dog met at the parking area 4 miles south of Brooktondale area, where the FLT crosses White Church Road.

Lovely day for the classic hike #24: a big T-shaped out-and-back hike.  FLT west across the field to the old railroad path, a mile south on FLT to end of White Church Rd where it ends at Coddington Rd, turn around and go north on the railroad path about 2 miles (a mile past the turn to the field)  to Ridgeway Rd (second mile is no longer part of FLT after it was rerouted), then back a mile to the path to the field and our cars

Very pretty scenery and views of the swamps next to the trail. But the paths is all somewhat overgrown with invasive honeysuckle and wild rose and ,,, Jim will reach out and find out who/if the trail is being maintained; some of us may go do some pruning…

The rail trail portion will eventually become part of the Coddington Valley Rail Trail as it gets completed from Burns Road to White Church  Rd. We did peek at the path heading north from Ridgeway Road. It’s been covered in water for years now; will be interesting to see how the rail trail gets connected there.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Saturday, July 25

Finger Lakes Trail through Lower Treman

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Sixteen hikers and two dogs on leashes did all or part of this annual 5.25-mile, pre-cookout hike. This circle route starts at the parking lot for the Tappan Mitra preserve off of 13, goes west on the FLT to the picnic shelter (to bypass the campground), and cuts over to the Treman south rim trail. From there, it goes west to the bridge near the base of Lucifer Falls, crosses the bridge, and takes the gorge trail all the way to where it ends at the parking lot for the lower falls. Then we walk back to the FLT on the road that leads through the campground and take the FLT back to the cars. This hike has about 775 feet of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours 15-20 minutes to do, depending on how many stops we make. But this slightly longer hiking time works great for arriving at the cookout at noon.

Here are some pictures I took at the cookout:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/gDBk8HJAoTp7WUKy7

Roger and Gunilla, thanks for opening your home and your gorgeous lands to the hikers for yesterday’s cookout, to the many people who helped with set up, cooking, and clean-up, and to the many new and old friends who were there. It was a beautiful day for this cookout, too: no thunderstorms or smoke.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, July 26

Roy H Park Preserve to Hammond Hill State Forest, Dryden

Hike report by Nina F.

Eleven hikers and four dogs met at the north parking lot of the Roy H. Park Preserve to hike out to Hammond Hill State Forest. Fun fact: Roy Park provided a grant to hike leader (Nina) for bat research that she and husband/co-hike leader Steve conducted many years ago on Rafinesque big-eared bats in Virginia. Mr. Park apparently was a bat enthusiast.

The beginning of the hike is gorgeous, taking you along boardwalks above the marsh before leaving the Preserve and moving into the state park, where we followed the red DEC trail marker discs. The trail is lovely there as well, with pine needles covering the path and nice pine trees throughout.  After a mile and a quarter, we crossed Hammond Hill Road to continue on more wooded trails. After checking with everyone’s schedules, we walked a slightly longer than usual route, so the hike ended about 15 minutes late and was over five miles. Luckily, the trail was shady for most of the hike, which was helpful as the temperature climbed.

There are a fair number of people who use this trail system and we passed quite a few other hikers and dogs.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, July 15

South Hill Rec Way/Six Mile Creek

Hike report by Kathy K

Twelve intrepid hikers and one dog met for a hike near South Hill Recreation way before the air quality got really bad.   Hike #2-1 from Crescent Place. 

We went down in the woods, admired the views from two overlooks, and continued on to the southern end of the trails to rejoin the railroad path; being short of an hour we continued south a few minutes on the railroad path, then turned around and walked back on the railroad path arriving at the cars about 15 minutes early.

Happily, Jim knew the hike well! (he was already on the trail waiting for us, so isn’t in the photo).

Welcome  to new hiker Mary! and visiting hiker Trey (the tallest hiker).

Saturday, July 18

Finger Lakes Trail east from Lake Road, Dryden

Hike report Nina F.

Four hikers and one dog met on an extremely rainy morning to hike the Finger Lakes Trail east from Lake Road in Dryden. The entire trail is on private property. Per the FLT website, this hike is extremely underrated, and I would agree. Despite being close to Dryden and Ithaca, it barely receives any traffic and it’s quite gorgeous along all segments of the hike. The walk starts along the road from the parking lot next to the Jim Schug Trail, then turns into a lovely field that you walk through to get to Havington Hill. Past the field, the trail becomes very steep for nearly a mile as you climb Havington Hill. There are switchbacks, but it’s still quite steep. Usually, hikers are rewarded with great views of the valley once they get to the other side of the Hill. However, on our rainy morning, the views were somewhat limited (though pretty in their own, foggy way). From there the trail continues through gorgeous woods filled with many different types of ferns until the turn around point. The rain really started coming down on our return trip, leaving us all soaked by the time we were back to the cars. Nonetheless, it was a lovely hike with good company.

Sunday, July 19

Shindagin Hollow State Forest, Brooktondale

Hike report by Kathy K

7 hikers and 2 dogs enjoyed the cooler weather to  hike in Shindagin Hollow state forest from the north end of Braley Hill Road to the west.  Moderately hilly hike with some trails (no serious water crossings) and some very rural road walk in forest. This is a modified version of Hike #28-3.

We did a big clockwise loop: started by going up the yellow trails (#8, #6) made for mountain bikers, with gorgeous stands of ferns,  to upper Bald Hill School Road.  Then north over to top of Leonard Rd and down that mile-long dirt road with lovely scenery & water running down beside the road (second photo). The bottom of Leonard Rd meets up with Chapel Hill Road. From there you can walk back along Central Chapel Rd (about 4 1/2+ miles total).

Next time we’ll try going counterclockwise to do the boring road part (Central Chapel Rd) first.

Wednesday, July 8

Mundy Wildflower Gardens (Forest Home) to Beebe Lake Loop, Ithaca

Hike report by Margaret

On July 8, 2026, 17 hikers and 1 dog met at the Mundy Wildflower Gardens parking lot (hike 4.4. at hike #4 – Forest Home Hikes – ithacahikers). The morning was sunny and very warm as the hikers headed into the Mundy Wildflower Gardens. Vegetation in the wildflower garden was lush. The group climbed the steps out of the wildflower gardens and crossed Judd Falls Rd. to enter the Cornell Botanic Gardens Nevin Welcome center area (Cornell Botanic Gardens | Cornell Botanic Gardens) and enjoyed wide array of flowers in full bloom there. The group continued across Forest Home Dr. and made a counter-clockwise loop around Beebe Lake enjoying the shade as the heat and humidity increased. The group headed up the trail behind Mann Library and into the Cornell Campus to visit the Polyform (PolyForm — Jenny Sabin Studio) sculpture, enjoy pocket gardens along Tower Rd and visit the Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory Greenhouse | CALS. On such a perfect summer day, a stop at the Cornell Dairy Bar was welcomed. To complete the hike, the group zipped down the Botanic Buzzline | Cornell Botanic Gardens towards the Nevin Welcome Center and back into the Mundy Wildflower Garden.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Saturday, July 11

Cayuga Trail South Loop

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Seventeen hikers and one dog on a leash did part or all of this hike. From Stevens Suspension Bridge, it went east on the northern side of Fall Creek, crossed the Creek at the old Freese Rd. Bridge, and hugged the creek all the way to the high bluffs on the red trail. We returned the same way. This was beautiful day, and the 4.8-mile hike was nearly flat. With that said, it felt about 10 degrees hotter in the fields than in the woods, which was too hot for complete comfort (and one very hot dog). Thanks to everyone for the happy birthday wishes – and happy birthday to Elizabeth R., Jack V., and Jim R., whose birthdays are also within the same two-week stretch.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, July 12

Black Diamond Trail from Kraft Road

Hiker report by Kathy K

Black Diamond Trail from Kraft Rd.  #58-1

16 hikers met on a perfect summer morning.  Welcome to new hiker Robert!

The group set out North towards upper Taughannock; many made it to metal bridge over the creek and down the north rim some, turning around and getting back to cars at exactly two hours and over 5 ½ miles.  The group had all kinds of conversations going on, and discovered a lot of crazy connections.

Saturday, July 4

Monkey Run from Hanshaw Road

Hike report by Nina F.

Eleven hikers and two dogs met on an extremely hot and humid Independence Day to hike Monkey Run trail. This trail is part of the 550 acre Monkey Run Natural Area that forms a long corridor protecting Fall Creek on its route to Cayuga Lake. The trail follows the creek from the rims of forested banks and, at creek level, through rich floodplain forest and wet meadows. We had some lovely views from on top of the bluffs, and also wound our way down to the Creek (where the dogs cooled off on such a hot day).Though there was rain in some areas prior to our hike, and we felt raindrops as we returned to the parking lot, we managed to miss being rained on. Despite temperatures approaching the 90s before the end of the hike, an occasional strong breeze helped make the hike bearable.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, July 5

Upper Buttermilk Falls State Park from Yaple Road

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Seventeen hikers and four dogs on leashes met where the Buttermilk Spur Trail crosses Yaple Rd. for this out-and-back hike into Buttermilk Falls State Park. The previous day I pre-hiked the original route for this hike, which led around the east side of Treman Lake and up to La Tourelle and found that it is not as appealing as it used to be. The trail is more overgrown than in years past, and there are new Danger signs along the route. For example, there is one Danger sign at the start of the spur trail up to La Tourelle and another on the trail leading down to the dam from the east. My guess is that the park is trying to get people to use the trail on the west side of the lake for out-and-back hikes because the footbridge at the northern end of the park remains washed out.

So, this Sunday hike was an out-and-back from the meet-up spot to the bear trail to King Road. From King Road, people went various ways as it suited them. Most of the group chose to go down the gorge trail, turn around at the top of the very long stairs beside the lower falls, cross the creek at the mid-way foot bridge, and return to King Road on the rim trail. Some of the group chose to go all the way down to the bottom of the lower falls to get more steps. Others chose to hike just on the rim trail. 

Most of the group returned to the cars in two hours, after about 4.25 miles and 600 feet of elevation gain. Although the weather was cooler than the previous day, it was more humid, and it felt like a drippy sauna the whole way.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, June 24

Monkey Run Natural Area, south side of Fall Creek, Varna

Hike report by Claire L.

Eleven hikers and one dog met at the Monkey Run Northeast Parking, east of Ithaca, at the intersection of Route 13 and Lower Creek Road on a beautiful summer morning. 

Privets were in full bloom.  Their scent is so pleasant.  It’s unfortunate that privets are not native and considered invasive.  Various birds were chirping or otherwise busy like the downy woodpeckers.

We followed Fall Creek downstream at a moderate pace. It was an out-and-back hike in the woods with an elevation gain of 244 feet.  We started at the level of the creek and slowly walked up with beautiful views of the meandering creek before turning around.

On the way back the trail branches out at the level of the Monkey Run bridge with one trail going straight back to the Northeast parking lot on Route 13 while the other one goes to the Monkey Run road parking area near Route 366. They are both marked with red blazes and there is no sign to indicate which parking lot they lead to. One hiker who had decided to turn around earlier made an unfortunate mistake at that junction.  She eventually found her way back after hiking 8 miles while the rest of the group did about 4 miles.  “All’s well that ends well!”

View Claire L.’s photo album.

Saturday, June 27

Abbott Loop east from Michigan Hollow Road to Hill Road and beyond, Danby SF

Hike report by Nina F.

21 hikers and 3 dogs met at the Abbott Loop trail on Michigan Hollow Road to walk in Danby State Forest. It was a beautiful, sunny morning. We started with quite a vigorous climb on Abbott Loop trail from Michigan Hollow Road to Hill Road (a gain of 500 feet). We crossed Hill Road and continued on Abbott Loop’s wooded trail to a portion of the Finger Lakes Trail, crossing small bridges that helped avoid muddy spots. This “lollipop loop” brought us back around to Hill Road, which we followed back to Abbott Loop trail and retraced our steps back to the cars. Cayuga hikers were hiking the same trail an hour after us and we saw a few Cayuga hikers in the parking area who had arrived early for their hike. Other than that we only encountered one other hiker along the trail. Wildlife highlight: Finding feathers of a barred owl and a turkey.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, June 28

Hammond Hill, Dryden

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Nineteen hikers and one leashed dog met at the North Hammond Hill parking lot for this snail-shaped hike. I was as surprised as anyone that it turned out to be snail shaped. (You can see the screen shot from my Pacer app in the Google Photo album.)

I’m a fan of the newer red and blue trails on Hammond Hill, which often don’t look like “Hammond Hill” trails. They tend to have more ferns and denser forest. If you want to explore them, it’s a good idea to download a recent map, such as the one below from https://dec.ny.gov/places-to-go/maps/hammond-hill-state-forest-map.

Here’s the snail-shaped route.

• We started at the parking area on north Hammond Hill Road and headed east on Y1, then turned right to continue on Y6.
• At Canaan Rd., we continued across to Y5, then turned left to go uphill on R5.
• R5 is very pretty (follows a stream bed), and we continued it to where R5 ends at R4.
• We turned left on R4 and took it about 0.05 miles to where it ends on Y4.
• Then we turned left on Y4 and took it to Y8.
• Next, we turned left on Y8 and took it down to Y3.
• We turned right on Y3 and took it across Canaan to B3.
• B3 is gorgeous, and we took it around the top of a lovely hill with lots of dark woods and ferns.
• We ended B3 almost exactly where Y3 crosses Canaan Rd. and got back onto Y3 heading west toward the parking lot.
• On the way to the parking lot, Y3 ends and you keep hiking west on what is now Y1, which goes all the way back to the cars.

This is a nice hike for a hot summer day. Except for the crossings of Canaan Rd. and a little bit of open area near the parking lot, this is a completely shady hike. Additionally, elevation gain is front-loaded, from the parking lot to Y6. This 4.3 mile hike had only about 560 feet of elevation gain, and we finished it in two hours.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.