Finger Lakes National Forest

Take a wine-tasting tour of the surrounding region's nearly 50 vineyards. During the autumn and winter, the lake waters warm the land and create a unique microclimate ideal for the grapevine. New York State is second only to California in wine production among the 50 states. Amish and Mennonite communities in the area offer a window into cultures that have limited their dependence on technology and reduced their impact on the earth's natural resources. At local shops, you will find a variety of quilts and wall hangings hand-stitched by Amish and Mennonite women. At the southern tip of Seneca Lake, the Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen State Park snakes its way through tunnels, deep ravines, and cascading waterfalls. The Finger Lakes National Forest is 200 miles northwest of New York City. Nearby towns include Ithaca, Watkins Glen, and Odessa.

The 13,232-acre Finger Lakes National Forest lies on a ridge between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York State. Rochester, Syracuse, and Binghamton are all within a two-hour drive of the Forest, which is easily accessed from I-90 and I-81 and State Route 17. Come explore and enjoy its history, natural beauty, and many resource uses.

Recreation

The Finger Lakes National Forest provides plenty of "room to roam," with few restrictions on recreation use. Popular recreation activities include:

Auto Travel - A trip through the Forest reveals a diverse and beautiful landscape. The ridgetop topography and open pastures provide many beautiful vistas. Forest roads are maintained for car travel in the summer. Check at the Forest Service Office for roads open during winter.

Blueberry picking - Five acres next to Blueberry Patch Campground are managed for blueberry production. Apples, raspberries, and other fruits are abundant in openings throughout the Forest.

Hunting and fishing - Woods, pastures, shrublands, and many wildlife ponds are intermingled to provide excellent opportunities for hunting and fishing. New York state hunting and fishing licenses are required and all state laws are applicable.

Observing nature and wildlife - A wide variety of birds, wildflowers, and other living creatures await discovery by the observant Forest visitor. Natural resource management is interpreted through signing and brochures. Bring your camera!

Hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling - The Forest has over 25 miles of interconnecting trails, including the 12-mile Interloken National Recreation Trail and two miles of the Finger Lakes Trail. Attractions include spacious pastures, cool ravines, and varied forests.

Camping - Three developed campgrounds are maintained on the Forest. For more information see the Fingerlakes National Forest Campground Guide.

Integrated Resource Management

The FLNF is unique among public land areas in the state for its long practice of multiple use management. Under this system forest management considers how all resources and their uses interrelate, and manage them to provide a wide variety of benefits not common on other lands. They strive to do this in a way that will protect the basic life-sustaining capability of the land for future generations. Their management decisions are guided by the Forest Plan and the feedback from active, well-informed people like you.

Note: The Finger Lakes is managed jointly with the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont.