Interloken Trail/Gorge Trail

Saturday 09/17/2022 10:00 am

Hike rating:

Distance – 6 miles (long hike) or 3.75 miles (short hike); Terrain – Moderate; Pace – Moderate; Overall rating – Moderate

Event/Trailhead location:

Finger Lakes National Forest Blueberry Patch campground, Picnic Area Road: (click for map).

Hike Leader:
Tom Formanek

Contact:

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

Hike Details:

Brief Hike Details

This is an out-and-back hike on the Interloken and Gorge Trails in the Finger Lakes National Forest.

A long hike of six miles and a short hike of 3.75 miles are offered. Pick one. The short hike is rated easy and the long hike is rated moderate.

Start and end point is the Blueberry Patch campground on Picnic Area Road.

Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots, bring water and insect repellent if you use it. Bring a lunch or snacks.

If you need help navigating to the trailhead, contact the hike leader at the addess above.

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

HIKE DESCRIPTION

Today’s hike is in the Finger Lakes National Forest. The out-and-back hike starts on the Interloken Trail at the Blueberry Patch campground on Picnic Area Road and heads south. We will cross an open field with beautiful views of the Seneca Lake hillsides before crossing Mathews Road. From here we will eventually intersect with the national forest’s own Gorge Trail.

The Gorge Trail consists of a gentle descent into a beautiful glen highly reminiscent of the trails in Shindagin Hollow. We will follow the creekbed until it reaches private property and stop for lunch or snacks. We will then reverse course.

The hike has about the most gentle overall 573 feet of elevation gain imaginable with no steep climbs.

Anyone wishing for a shorter option can hike just 3.75 miles by parking on Mathews Road across from the FLT gate from the open field acrosss the road. If you are doing this shorter hike, plan to be ready to depart at 10:25 am after the longer hike group gets to Mathews Road.

From DEC: “The Fingerlakes National Forest lies on a ridge–called the Backbone– between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. New York State’s only national forest, this 16,212 acres of multi-use land is reminiscent of western national forests with a great deal of open land and free-ranging cattle. The forest has over 30 miles of interconnecting trails that traverse gorges, ravines, pastures and woodland.” There is an abundance of wildlife in this area.