Eastman Hill Rd at the Tioga/ Tompkins County Line into the Eberhard Nature Preserve
Meet: End of maintained portion of Eastman Hill Rd, Tioga County line.
Directions:
From Ithaca, travel south on Danby Rd, State Route 96B, into Tioga County.
After crossing the county line, approximately one mile into Tioga County you’ll see Eastman Hill Rd on the left ( easterly ) side of the road.
Turn onto Eastman Hill Rd and travel to the end of the maintained portion of the road.
Park along the shoulder but not in the snowplow turn-around, at the request of area residents.
See map with approximate parking area here:
See more information on Danby State Forest and the Eastman Hill Rd area here:
This hike includes a portion of the Finger Lakes Trail that was re-routed in 2022. The re-route has removed some parts of the old footpath through pine forests that were quite enjoyable.
For the new hike:
Leaving the parking area, walking in a northerly direction on the seasonal portion of Eastman Hill Rd.
The first unsigned intersection you come to is with the seasonal end of Heisey Rd, just before a metal gate with stop sign on Eastman Hill Rd. Hikers will notice that the Trail blazes both turn left onto Heisey Rd, or continue straight on Eastman Hill Rd beyond the metal gate. For the purposes of this hike, continue beyond the metal gate.
A short distance further down Eastman Hill Rd, the FLT crosses Eastman Hill Rd. Turning right takes hikers to the re-routed section of the FLT, which circles the top of Eastman Hill via several old logging roads before crossing into the Eberhard Preserve and starting downhill towards Coddington Rd.
See the Eberhard Trail map here:
For the purposes of our two hour hike duration we continue on the FLT until reaching either the blue or green blazed size trails. Using a combination of those trails turns the hike into a lollipop route that brings hikers back to the FLT and a return trip to our vehicles.
Portions of the FLT on Eastman Hill are subject to hunting season closures. Before hiking this section always check the appropriate FLT map sheet available here:
About Finger Lakes Trail Maps and GPS data
Check current trail conditions here:
Trail Condition Notices – Fingerlakes Trail Conference
Always respect the private property rights of land owners who have allowed the trail to cross their property.
Revised 01/2023 JFR