Brief Hike Details

This is a 4-5 mile point-to-point hike in Arnot Forest rated easy.

We will hike gravel roads in Cornell’s Arnot Forest.

We start at the Arnot Forest parking area, on Banfield Road, just off County Route 13 in VanEtten. There will be a short car shuttle from there.

Dress in layers for the weather, wear sturdy hiking boots, and bring water.

If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, contact the hike leader at the adddress above.

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

Detailed Hike Description

This hike is easy, mostly downhill and approximately 4.5 miles long. The Arnot Teaching and Research Forest is located in the hilly, forested Southern Tier region of New York State.

If we have timed our hike at the ideal time, this hike should feature some great fall foliage and at least one nice lookout. (A lot depends weather and the timing of our first frosts).

We’ll meet at the lower entrance (that hunters use) and leave some cars there and then shuttle cars up to the upper entrance (near Greensprings) and hike back to the cars from there. 

If you are driving from Ithaca, head south on Route 13. Exit onto Main Street in Newfield. Turn left off Main onto VanKirk Road heading south. Van Kirk Road changes names and becomes County Route 13. Banfield Road is a short drive after the road changes names. Turn right on Banfield Road, which is the entrance to Arnot Forest.

The “Arnot” is owned by Cornell University and managed by the Department of Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It is the largest actively managed forest owned by Cornell. In addition to 2,400 acres of mature forest, the Arnot includes some 100 acres of open land (grass and goldenrod), 1,345 acres of old fields, saplings, brush, and pole timber, 170 acres of softwood plantations, 40 acres of sugarbush, 20 acres of field campus, 10 ponds, and Banfield Creek. More than 400 species of vascular plants and 135 species of birds, in addition to numerous amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, inhabit the Arnot. Approximately 100 contiguous acres of grassland are maintained to provide habitats for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

There are no maintained hiking trails in the Arnot. However, old used and unused roads are great for hiking. They pass by one of the best autumn views in the area.

Dress in layers for the weather, wear sturdy hiking boots, and bring water.

If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, contact the hike leader at the adddress above.

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