Walk, Look and Learn Hike: Hinchcliff, High Vista, and Ripley Hill Preserves #91

Saturday 08/08/2026 10:00 am

Hike rating:

Distance – 6 miles; Terrain – Moderate; Pace – Moderate; Overall rating – Moderate

Event/Trailhead location:

This Finger Lakes Land Trust Preserve is at the dead end of Covey Rd., a gravel road in Spafford, NY (click for map). Covey Rd. is off of NY Rte. 41, 11.5 miles north of the NY 281/41 intesection in Homer. The gravel parking lot can accommodate 10 cars.

Hike Leader:
Gary Mallow

Contact:

Hike leader contact information will be sent in the email acknowledging that you have registered for this hike.

Hike Details:

Brief Hike Detrails

This is a six mile out-and-back hike rated moderate.

We will explore three land trust preserves: Hinchcliff, High Vista and Ripley.

Driving time to the preserves is 50 minutes, one way. We have a short car shuttle from the meetup location.

This is a Walk, Look and Learn Hike. We will take time to stop for interpretation and appreciation of the cultural/natural features of the landscape.

Bring water, a snack or sandwich for lunch, sturdy hiking boots, insecticide or natural repellent if you use it.

This is tick season. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirt, gaitors if you have them or tuck your pant legs into your socks. Check for ticks after the hike.

If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, email the hike leader at the address above.

Watch this space for any changes or a cancellation the morning of the hike.

Detailed Hike Description

Today’s adventure is a Walk, Look and Learn hike, a moderate hike which features a lovely Finger Lakes landscape protected by two central New York land trusts. We will visit one preserve owned by the Central NY Land Trust and two preserves owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

The preserves are: Hinchcliff, High Vista and Ripley. We will take time to stop for interpretation and appreciation of the cultural/natural features of each of the preserves and the landscape they protect for us and future generations.

The hike will be approximately 6 miles on the east side of Skaneateles Lake near Spafford NY, starting at the Central NY Land Trust’s Ripley Hill Preserve (trailhead on Ripley Hill Rd, Homer NY), and continuing to the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Ripley Hill trail, Hinchcliff Preserve, High Vista Preserve. We then loop back to the Hinchcliff parking lot. We will do a short car shuttle at the beginning of the hike to avoid a long uphill at the end.

The hike includes some steep ups and downs and numerous small stream crossings. Some features of this hike: good lake views, various waterfalls if there’s been rain, a beautiful old stone chimney with coral fossils, interesting info about the Wickwire Wire factory in Cortland, and a 1937 WWII jeep. Bring water, hiking poles, bug spray, a snack and lunch. Weather permitting, we’ll stop for lunch on the trail.

For those who like more info, see:

https://cnylandtrust.org/preserve/ripley-hill-nature-preserve/

https://www.fllt.org/preserves/hinchcliff-family-preserve/

High Vista Nature Preserve

There is a 50 minute drive to and from the preserves. Hike begins at the trailhead at 10 am.