About the Cayuga Trails Club
Welcome!
Cayuga Trails Club welcomes everyone to join our hikes, work parties, and social events, including people of all races, ages, genders, sexual identities, religious affiliations, or national origins. We strive to make our hiking trails and our activities safe and welcoming for all.
Mission
The Cayuga Trails Club is a non-profit, 501(C)(3) volunteer organization, founded in 1962 “To encourage appreciation of nature through hiking, outdoor recreation, and the stewardship and conservation of foot trails.“
The bylaws of the club are available here.
Activities
- Route scouting, construction, and maintenance of more than 100 miles of trail, including a 75-mile section of the Finger Lakes Trail from Watkins Glen to Caroline, 15 miles of FLT spur trails, and the 10 mile Cayuga Trail through the Cornell campus, Botanic Gardens, and Natural Areas along Fall Creek.
- Group hikes every Tuesday and Saturday, year around.
- Special Walk, Look & Learn Hikes focused on the natural and human history along the trail.
- Excursions to regional points of interest for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, or kayaking.
- Social Events: dish-to-share dinners and picnics, slide shows, and annual banquet.
Publications
- Cayuga Trails — Newsletter, published four times per year, with stories and photos about trail-building projects, hiking adventures, wildflowers and other topics of interest, and reports from the CTC Executive Board. Digital copy is distributed by email; hard copy is mailed to landowners hosting the Finger Lakes Trail and to members by subscription.
- Cayuga Trails Club Weekly — every Thursday email with a list of upcoming hikes, trail-work parties, social events, and special notices.
Membership
Anyone interested in hiking and the out-of-doors is invited to join the Cayuga Trails Club. Members are encouraged to participate in trail upkeep and/or other activities.
Affiliation
CTC is affiliated with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC), the coordinating organization for the Finger Lakes Trail System. The 586-mile main trail extends from Allegany State Park on the west to the Catskill Mountains on the east. Branch and side trails extend the total FLT system to more than 1,030 miles. The CTC section of the Main Finger Lakes Trail is officially designated as the route of the North Country National Scenic Trail.
The following neighboring clubs are also FLTC affiliates:
- Bullthistle Hiking Club – Norwich, NY
- Triple Cities Hiking Club, Binghamton – Johnson City, NY
- Adirondack Mountain Club – Onondaga Chapter – Syracuse, NY
Event Announcements
Cayuga Trails Club events are announced on this website, in the Weekly email sent to members, and on local media websites. Information about past events can also be viewed on the Events page of this website.
