#18 – 1 FLT Between Comfort and Bald Hill Rds to Michigan Hollow Road, through Danby SF
Meet-up: Dirt parking lot at the corner of Comfort Road and Bald Hill Road, Town of Danby.
Click here for the Google Maps page showing the corner, and the directions and driving time from the Ithaca library.
Click here to see a state DEC map showing the trail segment, which runs southeast across Michigan Hollow Road and then Smiley Hill Road until it meets Hill Road.
Click here and scroll down to see a good topo map of the trail. It’s labeled “Finger Lakes/North Country Trail.”
Paper and digital maps of the Finger Lakes Trail may be purchased from the Finger Lakes Trail Conference at:
About Finger Lakes Trail Maps and GPS data
Map sheet M17 depicts the area of this hike.
See here for a Youtube video that starts at Comfort and Bald Hill Rd and follows the FLT towards Diane’s Crossing and beyond:
(18) Danby State Forest – Danby, NY (May 22nd, 2016) – YouTube
This segment isn’t as dramatic as the two legs of the Abbott Loop that traverse the same area between Bald Hill Road and Michigan Hollow Road a little to the south. But it’s a delightful trail on its own, with many beautiful spots along the way. It takes us past a lean-to and an outhouse that are always fun to visit; it also takes us across Michigan Creek on a little bridge (Diane’s Crossing) that looks out onto a gorgeous small flooded area that always makes me want to go swimming there.
The leg from Bald Hill Road to Michigan Hollow Road is mainly downhill, so of course you need to climb back up on the return trip; once you cross Michigan Hollow Road the terrain heads uphill to Hill Road fairly vigorously – so overall this is a moderately strenuous hike.
In winter months wearing reliable foot traction and bringing trekking poles is advisable due to varying trail conditions.
Hike #18-2 FLT from Michigan Hollow Rd at Dianes Crossing, to Bald Hill Rd.
This is the above hike but starting from that hikes turn-around point at Michigan Hollow Rd. Some hike leaders would prefer to start the hike from Michigan Hollow Rd.
Google map pin for Dianes Crossing: Finger Lakes Trail, Abbott Loop – Google Maps
Last edit 07-17/2025 JFR