ithacahikers

Saturday, June 6

Arnot Teaching Forest, Newfield

Hike report by Nina F.

Thirteen hikers, including two first timers with the Ithaca Hiking Club, met at the north side of Arnot Teaching and Research Forest in Newfield. This is a 4,200 acre parcel that serves as the largest actively managed forest owned by Cornell, providing a place for Cornell faculty and students to conduct research and educational activities. The forest consists mostly of mixed hardwoods over hilly terrain, and is home to one of two maple syrup research facilities operated by the Cornell Maple Program.
We hiked out and back along a dirt road, hiking up and down hills in 

two counties – Tompkins and Schuyler. There were lovely wild flowers and lush vegetation on both sides of the road. The weather when we began was ominous and indeed, we were rained on for approximately 20 minutes early in our walk. Luckily, it didn’t last long and we had sunshine by the end of our hike, drying us all out.

Sunday, June 7

Hammond Hill, Dryden, From Time Square

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Twenty-four hikers and three dogs set out from Times Square on Hammond Hill (junction of Star Stanton and Canaan Roads) for this new hike. It’s a new hike because Star Stanton now is passable to cars and fairly wide from where it turns gravel to Times Square. This means that we can get to trails we normally wouldn’t have time to in a two-hour hike. 

There’s parking for 6-7 cars right at Times Square, but lots more good parking coming up to the top of the last hill on Star Stanton, over on the right-hand side. Our route was Yellow 4 south, to Red 4 east, to Red 1 south (through a beautiful acre or two of hemlocks), to Red 2 north (through a beautiful acre or two of lady ferns in the undergrowth), to Yellow 4 north/west back to the cars.

This approximately 4.2-mile route had about 500 feet of elevation gain, and it took us 1 hour 52 minutes. It was very pleasant for a shady summer hike and could be nice even on a hot day.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, May 27

Six Mile Creek, Mulholland Wildflower Preserve and Wells Falls, Ithaca

Hike report by Nina F.

13 hikers and zero dogs meet at the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve on a lovely spring day to hike through the preserve and wooded trails. This is hike #1 on the Ithaca Hikers list.

We walked through the Elizabeth Mulholland Preserve along Six Mile Creek. This watershed is the primary source of drinking water for Ithaca and surrounding communities and is designated a unique natural area. It’s a picturesque trail bordered by spring wildflowers (both native and non-native) and pine trees. From the lower, creek-side path, we climbed uphill to a wooded trail leading to an old service road with views over the lower reservoir. After walking the service road for a bit, we backtracked and circled back down to the preserve. After returning to the parking area, some hikers continued the hike across Giles street to the area known as “Businessman’s lunch,” or officially Wells Falls, where we observed the old and decaying remnants of industrial structures next to the waterfall, as well as the sheer cliff faces on the opposite side of the creek.

Sunday, May 31

 Lime Hollow Nature Center, Cortland

Hike report by Claire L.

23 hikers met at the Gracie Road parking lot in Cortland.  For 5 hikers it was their first time hiking at Lime Hollow.

It was a beautiful sunny and warm morning with a gentle breeze throughout most of the hike.

It was my first time leading a hike and we left 10 minutes late at 9:50 am after the group picture.

We headed west on the Lehigh Valley Trail, went north on the Fen Way Loop to reach the High Vista Loop with a view of Baldwin Pond.  We returned to the Lehigh Valley Trail and went back east up to the Fen Way Loop where this time went south.  The path was lined with Mayapples and skunk cabbages as we approached the Fen Way bridge.  

After the boardwalk, we had a short steep climb as we connected to the Mill Pond Loop.  We saw the deer exclosure which is “an area surrounded by fencing intended to keep deer out but allows other animals in to study the impacts that deer browsing has on the forest flora.”  This was an Eagle Scout project built in 2013. Several board walks and bridges at Lime Hollow were Eagle Scout projects.

We completed the Mill Pond Loop and took the Bog Spur trail to Gracie Road. After walking along the road for just a few minutes we crossed it to get back to the East side to hike the Maple Run Trail.  Some took the Esker Connector shortcut while others went all the way to the Chicago Bog which was probably the highlight of the hike. We finished the hike on the East Lehigh Valley trail and reached the parking lot at 11:40 am.

We walked 4.27 miles with an elevation gain of 467 feet.

There were many good conversations along the way and we all appreciated this beautiful spring morning.

View Claire L.’s photo album.

Wednesday, May 20

Finger Lakes Trail, Watkins Glen

Hike report by Maria M.

We were treated to good weather despite a few stray raindrops, and the group was the perfect mixture of congeniality and curiosity. Nature provided the beauty and wonders, including a fisher sighted in pursuit of a creature high up in the tree (we think, perhaps a squirrel who could be heard shortly after), a tree frog, a pair of ravens sitting on a branch so close we could almost reach out and touch them, and some cool-looking fungi that resembled poached eggs. Fortunately, we just so happened to have a mycologist on hand who identified them as Reishi mushrooms! Merlin also picked up several birds, including a red-eyed vireo, black-throated green warbler, black-capped chickadee, tufted titmouse, and northern yellow warbler. These provided the sound section for our wonderful trek!

Saturday, May 23

Dryden Rail Trail from Dryden Village

Hike report by Nancy H.

Ten intrepid hikers and one enthusiastic dog met a the Kenny Van Sickle Ballfield parking lot in Dryden for a rainy out-and-back walk on the Dryden Rail Trail. There was light rain falling and a bit of a breeze as we set out toward Freeville, and these persisted for the entire hike. No one seemed to mind though, thanks to good company and interesting conversation. We weren’t even the only ones on the trail, as we met a bird-watching club who were hoping, I was told, to spot a night heron. 

We returned to our cars at the two-hour mark, having walked 5-ish miles (I forgot to log the hike on my fitness tracker).

Sunday, May 24

Shindagin Hollow Road east to South Road on the FLT, Brooktondale

Hike report by Kathy K.

Lovely out and back hike through the woods on the FLT from the south end of Shindagin Hollow Road east to South Road.  4.3 miles round trip in a bit under 2 hours at a leisurely steady pace (Leanne was out of town so no super- fast group!).

The first half was near the creek and we could hear the water!  The trail was easy to follow and although somewhat wet after a lot of rain, was easy walking, gentle uphills.  I’d forgotten how pretty this hike is- thanks Jim for putting it on the schedule!

The trillium are still in bloom on the west side of Shindagin Hollow for the last ½ mile at the south end- worth the trip in the next few days.

Nine hikers turned up just as the rain stopped! Photo below (overlooking Shindagin Falls which cascades down to the left) is missing Roger and Casey, and Mark’s son Isaac.

This is an ever-changing rock “sculpture” near the South Road end of our hike:

Wednesday, May 13

“Two Preserve Hike”

Hike report by Mark Sussman

On Wednesday, May 13, nine hikers and one dog met at Stevenson Preserve for the Two Preserve hike. It was drizzling through most of the Stevenson hike, but not at all bad. Hikers enjoyed the view from the overlook and the magnificent Hemlock groves.

Two hikers declined a visit to the second preserve due to previous commitments. Five cars with seven hikers set off on the 15-minute drive on lovely back country roads to Martin Preserve.

At Martin Preserve we enjoyed the dumbbell hike with no rain. The highlights were the giant mother Oak and the abundant Skunk Cabbage along the streams. Despite the overnight rain there was almost no mud on either hike.

We finished just a few minutes short of 2 hours, even with the 15-minute drive between preserves.

Saturday, May 16

Long Point State Park, Aurora

Hike report by Nina F.

Eleven hikers, three dogs and a whole heap of insects met at Long Point State Park on a beautiful spring day to hike the upper fields and forests of this 296 acre park. The hike winds through grasslands, brush land, spruce plantations, intermittent creek ravines and mature forests, and though the path was often soggy from all our recent rain, we were rewarded with beautiful scenery, including nice views of Cayuga Lake. Because the hike is fairly short (despite criss-crossing on all the available trails), most of the group finished the hike by walking down to the Lake, allowing muddy dogs to clean off while we enjoyed the welcomed sunshine.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, May 17

The Pinnacles from Bald Hill Rd., Danby SF

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Twenty-two hikers and one dog met at the corner of Bald Hill and Station Roads for this hike. From the meet-up spot, we went south on Bald Hill Rd. to its northern crossing of the Abbott Loop. We turned west on the Abbott Loop to go up to the Pinnacles and admire the view.

This is a well-drained hike and the trail was nice and dry. On this warm morning, the view from the Pinnacles was gorgeous and you could see the different shades of spring from Kelly green in the valley to chartreuse on the hill tops.

From the Pinnacles, we kept going until we got to the Abbott Loop’s southern crossing of Bald Hill Rd. This was a little less than an hour into the hike, and ten hikers chose to head north on Bald Hill Rd. from there so they could get back to the cars by about 11:00. The rest of the group walked south on Bald Hill Rd. about ¼ mile, then retraced our steps over the Pinnacles to return to the cars. We arrived at exactly 11:40, after approximately 4.75 mile and 900 feet of elevation gain.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Saturday, May 9

Spur trail from upper Lick Brook/Townline Road to upper Buttermilk Falls SP/Yaple Road

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Nine hikers showed up for this rainy, muddy hike east from Townline Road through the Thayer Preserve, over West King Rd., and on the Buttermilk Spur into Buttermilk Falls Park. I think every year for the past few years we’ve done this hike at about this time in May and found the Buttermilk Spur unremittingly wet and slippery with mud, to the point that we always decide to do a road walk back to King on Comfort Rd. From there, the trails are fine.

I chose to do this hike at this time because I forgot. My hope is that next year, I’ll remember to put this hike a little later in May or in early June when the trail might be a little dryer.

Spirits were high, all things considering, and we certainly felt like we were tough for making it through this hike. Aside from the mud, it was nice, in a soggy, gooey, mid-spring way.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, May 10

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

Hike report by Margaret

On May 10th, 2026, 23 hikers and 1 dog met at the Mundy Wildflower Gardens parking lot (hike 4.4. at hike #4 – Forest Home Hikes – ithacahikers). New hiker Sharon joined the group with her dog Muni. The morning was overcast and Fall Creek was burbling as the hikers headed into the Mundy Wildflower Gardens. The group was treated to a wide array of early spring blooms including jack-in-the-pulpit, multiple types of trilliums, and many more. 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 enjoy the lilacs, tulips, azaleas and others there. The group continued across Forest Home Dr. and made a counter-clockwise loop around Beebe Lake where a few goose families were celebrating Mother’s Day with their goslings. The sun came out as Margaret F. led the group into the Cornell Campus to visit the Polyform (PolyForm — Jenny Sabin Studio) sculpture and peak into pocket gardens along Tower Rd. To complete the hike, the group circled back towards the Nevin Welcome Center and back into the Mundy Wildflower Garden. Signs of spring were everywhere on the hike. Margaret F. plans to lead this hike again in the summer when everything is in full bloom.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.