TRAILHEAD MEETING TIME: 10am

CARPOOL (EMS) MEETING TIME: 9:30am  (Note: to participate in the carpool, you must be vaccinated and boosted, and wear a mask while in the car.)

HIKE DESCRIPTION   At 11,237 acres, Connecticut Hill is the largest Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in New York State and Connecticut Hill itself is the highest point in Tompkins county (2093 ft).  The WMA is managed primarily for deer, bear, and game birds, and thus has constructed ponds, areas logged to create open meadows, natural streams, and mature and successional forests.  

The Finger Lake Trail traverses the area, as well as two Finger Lakes Trail System Loops: Bob Cameron and Van Lone.

LONG HIKE OPTION (5-6 miles): On this hike, we will take a lollipop route that includes lesser known, unofficial trails and seasonal gravel roads.  We will start on Carter Creek Rd (the section off of Rt 13) where it is closed to traffic.  After walking a 0.7 miles up Carter Creek Rd, alongside the Cornell Botanic Gardens’ Carter Creek Natural Area, we will enter Connecticut Hill WMA, heading uphill to the western ridge.  Our loop will eventually bring us back to Carter Creek Rd, and we will take that back to our parking area.

SHORT HIKE OPTION (2-3 miles): The shorter hike will be an out-and-back hike on Carter Creek Rd, which follows the lovely creek with steep, wooded valley walls rising on both sides.  The gravel road starts quite level and then transitions to a gradual uphill.

Wear layered clothing appropriate to the weather, sturdy hiking boots, and carry lunch/snack and water. Hiking poles are strongly recommended.

IMPORTANT TRAILHEAD NOTE!  We will meet at Carter Creek Rd, accessed from Rt 13 in Newfield.  (Do not go to the other, northern end of Carter Creek Rd.  See trailhead location, above.)