ithacahikers

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.

Saturday, May 2

Black Diamond Trail, Ithaca, NY

No report was submitted for the hike.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, May 3

Bob Cameron Loop, Connecticut Hill, Newfield

Hike report by Mark Sussman

On Sunday, May 3, 27 hikers and 2 dogs met on Tower Road in Connecticut Hill WMA for a hike on the the Bob Cameron Loop. The beginning and end of the hike was nice and dry, but the middle section is very muddy. We just plowed on through.

After a decent and several stream crossings we began the switch-backs up the hill. It’s always a good workout. The loop was finished in about an hour and a half. About a third of the hikers returned to their cars, while the rest extended the hike on the Finger Lakes Trail.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, April 22

Texas Hollow State Forest, Hector

Hike report by Mark Sussman

Fourteen hikers and one dog met on Earth Day (Wednesday, April 22) at Texas Hollow State Forest for a hike up the hill. The day started out cloudy, but by the end of the hike the sun was out in full force. Two hikers dropped off quickly – one to check out Plein-Aire art possibilities, and the other to explore mosses and ferns.

We took the Blue Loop on the way out and enjoyed looking at the various ponds at wetlands and beaver activity. We rejoined the Finger Lakes Trail and started the long uphill trek. The group made it to the third logging road, where we turned around. It is quite a strenuous climb.

Since we were running a bit late, we stayed on the Finger Lakes Trail on the return and even took the road for the final stretch back to our cars. The hike lasted a little more than 2 hours.

Saturday, April 25

Cayuga Trail from Freese Rd.

Report by Jim

No hike today, but seven hikers turned out on a rainy Saturday morning for an important trail re-route of a few sections of the Varna Cliffs end of our adopted section of the Cayuga Trail. The trail has been eroding away (again) in recent months. A few weeks ago I walked through the affected area with CTC trails chair David Priester and representatives from Cornell, who identified footpath re-routes for the affected trail sections. Today was our workday to implement those trail changes

There remains one additional section to be re-routed that will require the CTC to mow a portion of open field rather than have our hikers try to cut down the section by hand. Also, because of today’s rainy weather we were unable to re-blaze the new footpath.

Until it is blazed there are temporary flags in place to indicate the new route.

Thanks to everyone who turned out this morning despite the conditions!

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, April 26

Alex & Michele Gonzalez Hiking Sanctuary & Preserve, Virgil

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Fifteen hikers and a hiker dog on a leash on Daisy Hollow Road near the western kiosk for the international loops. It was a lovely hike after the all-day rain on Saturday cleared the air. The many, jumpable streams were running fast, but the trail was dry for the most part. We returned to the cars in two hours, having hiked about 4 miles with almost 600 feet of elevation gain.

The international loops are enjoyable to get to know because there are many, well-marked and lovingly cared for trails within a smallish area. There’s no good way to describe the route we took without including a map, so a map follows my description. I refer to the trails by color.

From Daisy Hollow Rd., we went up the orange trail to the western end of the yellow-blazed Jose Trail. We took the yellow-blazed Jose Trail to the blue-blazed trail. Then we took the blue-blazed trail east all the way to its end at the orange trail. From this junction, we headed east on the orange trail until we got to the sign for the bivouac on the red trail. At this bivouac sign, we turned south on the red trail and crossed Cristina Creek. When we re-encountered the orange trail, we took it south to Adams Rd. From there, we did a road walk to follow the blazes for the orange trail east on Adams Rd. and Owego Hill Rd. We stayed on Owego Hill Rd. after the orange blazes departed Owego Hill Rd. to the east. The reason is so we could turn around where the powerline crosses Owego Hill Rd., which is an especially pretty spot. We returned the way we came until we got to the junction with the blue trail (labeled Irvin Trail in the map below). From that junction, we stayed on the orange trail and took it west, back to the cars.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.