Read more
"The Finger Lakes and Central New York are not known for rugged mountains and their panoramic vistas which are so commonly sought in the Adirondacks to the north. They hardly could be - the area was scoured clean by glaciers millennia ago. But don't let that fool you, the region is full of natural wonders of its own. Instead of mountains and ridges, the region is known for rolling drumlins, an abundance of scenic gorges, quiet woodlands, beautiful waterfalls and picturesque lakes. Trails included in Five-Star Trails: Finger Lakes and Central New York by Tim Starmer feature a broad mixture of these landscapes and were carefully selected to give the most varied but also rewarding experience when picking a trail. Each trail has been thoroughly researched, recently hiked and includes a detailed description, trail profiles and map. At a glance ratings in important categories such as Scenery, Trail Condition, Difficulty, Solitude and appropriateness for children let you quickly select a trail that fits your tastes and ability. Other useful information such as fees, restrictions for dogs on the trail as well as advice on when to visit offers you the best information so you can plan your trip with ease. "--
List of contents
Overview Map
Overview Map Key
Acknowledgments
Preface
Recommended Hikes
Introduction
North
1. Sterling Nature Center
2. Chimney Bluffs State Park
3. Beaver Lake Nature Center
4. Howland Island
East
5. Green Lakes State Park: Lake Loop
6. Green Lakes State Park: Farmer’s Hill
7. Clark Reservation State Park
8. Baltimore Woods Nature Center
9. Rattlesnake Gulf & Adams Eden Camp
10. Highland Forest: Phil Suters Memorial Main Trail
11. Tinker Falls & Jones Hill
12. Morgan Hill State Forest: Fellows Hill Loop
13. Carpenter’s Falls Unique Area & Bahar Nature Preserve
14. Fillmore Glen State Park
15. Cuyler Hill State Forest
South
16. Taughannock Falls State Park: Gorge Trail
17. Taughannock Falls State Park: Rim Trail
18. Virgil Mountain
19. Finger Lakes National Forest: Burnt Hill Trail
20. Buttermilk Falls State Park: Gorge Trail
21. Buttermilk Falls State Park: Lake Treman Loop
22. Texas Hollow State Forest
23. Robert H. Treman State Park: Enfield Glen
24. Sweedler Preserve at Lick Brook
25. Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area: Bob Cameron Loop
26. Watkins Glen State Park
27. Queen Catharine Marsh: Willow Walk
28. Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area: Cayuta Creek
29. Shindagin Hollow State Forest
30. Danby State Forest: Abbott Hill Loop
West
31. Bare Hill Unique Area
32. Canadice Lake
33. Wesley Hill Nature Preserve
34. Conklin Gully/Parish Glen
35. High Tor Wildlife Management Area
36. Grimes Glen
37. Urbana State Forest: Huckleberry Bog
Appendixes
Appendix A: Further Reading
Appendix B: Map Resources
Appendix C: Hiking Clubs
Index
About the Author
Map Legend
About the author
Tim Starmer has always been an outdoor enthusiast and spent most of his childhood seeking out remote and wild areas whenever possible. During a brief hiatus from Brown University during 1997, he drove across the United States for six weeks, camping the entire way. Along the way he explored many of the West's national and state parks, including Canyonlands, Yellowstone, Arches, and Bryce Canyon. At the trip's conclusion, he headed down to Australia, where he backpacked for a few months exploring the eastern Outback, the Great Barrier Reef, and the caves of Tasmania, as well as traversing the Tasmanian World Heritage Area along the Overland Track. Tim currently works in upstate New York as a timber framer and can still be found exploring the wilds whenever possible.
Summary
This guide will help you discover the sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic landscape of New York’s Finger Lakes region.
