Important Tips
Hiking Trails
Download Pocket-sized Hiking Trails Brochure
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- Hikers can expect to encounter hunters during fall months in areas where hunting is permitted. Wear a bright-colored jacket or shirt and stay on designated foot paths or trails.
- The following trails range in difficulty from easy to moderate. To make your trip safe and enjoyable: wear proper clothing; tell someone where you are going and when you will be back; and hike with at least one other person.
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Amboy 4H Environmental Education Center:
NYS Rte. 183, Amboy
3 miles hiking trails through 150 wooded acres. 3.5 miles north of Amboy Center. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, 315/963-7286.
Chateaugay State Forest:
Co. Rtes. 2 and 50, Orwell
Network of 7 miles marked trails and 8 miles unplowed roads for hiking and cross-country skiing. 7.5 miles east of Pulaski.
Curtiss-Gale Wildlife Management Area:
Co. Rte. 57, Granby
45 acres on east side of Oswego River. Birding, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. 1 mile south of Fulton.
Deer Creek Marsh:
Rainbow Shores Road, Richland
1,195 acres of wetland and uplands between Lake Ontario and NYS Rte. 3 in town of Richland. Viewing tower, parking area, handicapped access. Scenic vistas, bird watching, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing.
Derby Hill Bird Observatory:
Sage Creek Road, Mexico
Prime location for viewing migrating birds of prey and waterfowl. More than 40,000 counted annually. Owned by Onondaga Chapter of the NYS Audubon Society. Weather/hawk hotline, early March to late May: 315/963-8291. Off NYS Rte. 104B in Town of Mexico.
Fallbrook Recreation Center:
Thompson Rd., Oswego
Trails connect to Rice Creek Field Station trails, for a combined total of 20 miles of trails. (315) 341-2106.
Great Bear Springs Recreational Area:
City of Fulton and Town of Volney
Comprised of 236 acres owned by the City of Fulton and the 78 acre Town of Volney Park. For more information, visit http://web.mac.com/oswegocountygreen.
Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area:
NYS Rte. 104, Albion, Williamstown; Co. Rte. 26, Parish, Amboy
8,645 acres of uplands, wetlands, ponds. Hiking, birding, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. No off-road motor vehicles allowed.
Hastings Town Park:
Wilson Rd., Hastings
100 acres of park land, 3 miles of marked trails. (315) 668-2456, (315) 668-6191
Independence Park Trail
Scriba
Short trail just east of Sithe Energies, off Co. Rte. 1. Leads to beautiful view of Lake Ontario. 315/349-3451.
Klondike State Forest:
Amboy
875 Acres. 5 miles of ungroomed trails. Surrounded by numerous ponds. Off NYS Rte. 69, corner of Tanner and Starks Rds., Amboy. (607) 753-3095
Littlejohn State Wildlife Management Area:
Co. Rte. 17, Boylston and Redfield
8,020 acres of uplands and wetlands, with 18.8 miles of trails. Hiking, birding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
Mexico Point State Park:
Mexico Point Drive, Mexico
Nature trail. Medieval-style cottage open for tours by appointment. Off NYS Rte.104B. 315/963-8216 or 963-7657.
Oswego County Nature Park at Camp Zerbe:
NYS Rte. 104, Williamstown
Offers nature enthusiasts hundreds 364 acres of wilderness, and includes beautiful and unique glacier-made "kettlehole" lakes which attract a variety of wildlife. The park features 3 miles of marked nature trails, interpretive center, pavilion, educational exhibits, and a meeting center. Hiking, canoeing, birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. Camp Zerbe is open from dawn to dusk. The meeting center and interpretive center are open by appointment. Pets and motorized vehicles are not allowed in the park. For more information, call (315) 349-3451.
Oswego County Recreation Trail:
Maple Avenue, Volney to NYS Rte. 49, Cleveland
26 miles. Ideal for hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling. Parking access at Co. Rte. 6, Volney; Toad Harbor Road, West Monroe; and North St., Cleveland.
Oswego East and West Riverwalks:
City of Oswego
Paved walkways stretch along both sides of the Oswego River from the harbor to Lock 7. The paths are connected by a pedestrian bridge that crosses the river near Utica Street.
Rice Creek Biological Field Station:
Thompson Road, Oswego State University
An instructional and research unit of the State University of New York College at Oswego, the state property consists of the 26-acre Rice Pond surrounded by 400 acres of land in several stages of growth from open fields to mature forests. Trails provide access to the various habitats around the station. The building contains two lab/classrooms, a lecture room, and exhibit areas with an indoor viewing gallery. Hiking, birding, exhibits, lectures and workshops. Rice Creek Field Station is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. 315/312-7961
Salmon River Falls Unique Area:
Falls Road, Orwell
110-foot waterfall provides a breathtaking view any time of the year. Areas of gorge are restricted and visitors should use extreme caution. Footpath to the bottom of the gorge open May 1 to Nov. 15. Owned by NYS DEC. 1.4 miles northeast of Co. Rte. 22. 315/298-7467.
Salmon River State Forest:
Co. Rtes. 2 & 17, Redfield
3 miles of trails. (607) 753-3095
Sandy Creek Community Park:
U.S. Rte. 11, Sandy Creek
1 and 1 /2 miles of marked trails, other unmarked trails. (315) 387-3445
Sandy Island Beach State Park:
3387 Co. Rte. 15, Sandy Creek
11 acres of sandy beach on Lake Ontario. Part of the unique Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland System. Swimming, fishing, birding, hiking, canoeing, kayaking. 315/387-2657.
Selkirk Shores State Park:
7101 NYS Rte. 3, Pulaski
980-acre multiple-use park overlooking Lake Ontario. Swimming beach, camping, fishing, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling. Includes day-use picnic area, pavilions, nearby Pine Grove boat launch, and woodland trail. 315/298-5737.
Sunset Bay Park
E. Lake Rd., Scriba
1 mile of marked trails. (315) 343-1853
Three Mile Bay/Big Bay State Wildlife Management Area:
Off NYS Rte. 49, West Monroe and Constantia
3,500-acre wetlands area. Hiking, boat access, birding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, trapping. 6 miles east of Central Square. Access from NYS Rte. 49 via Toad Harbor Road or Lower Road to Wheeler Road and West Road.
Trout Brook State Forest:
Off Co. Rte. 22, Bremm Road, Sandy Creek and Boylston
3 miles of trails. (607) 753-3095
Vanderkamp Center:
Off NYS Rte. 49, Martin Rd., Constantia
18 miles of trails, rentals available. Trail fee. (315)675-3651.
Winona State Forest Recreation Area:
Center Road, Boylston
9,233-acre state forest area on western edge of Tug Hill Plateau. Contains 31 miles of trails through unplowed roads and state and county forests. Skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, trapping, dog sledding, birding, horseback riding. Parking on north side of Center Road at Wart Road intersection and Bargy Road intersection, in Boylston. 315/376-3521; More information also available at www.tughillskiclub.com