Morgan Hill State Forest

Saturday 09/07/2024 10:00 am

Hike rating:

Distance – 7 miles; Terrain – Moderate; Pace – Moderate; Overall rating – Strenuous

Event/Trailhead location:

Spruce pond parking at 615 Herlihy Road (click here for map). This lot is just off Herlihy Road and is next to the pond.

Carpool:

Carpool Meeting Time: September 7, 2024 9:00 am

Carpool Meeting Place:

EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. (click for map). Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store.

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:

Carpool meetup: 9:00 am

Trailhead meetup: 10:00 am

Gear up for an adventure with Gary Mallow on a seven-mile trek through Morgan Hill State Forest, nestled in the heart of Onondaga County. We’ll meander by Spruce Pond, waltz through a pine-scented forest to Fellows Hill, and tackle a climb that’s as steep as a Monday morning. At the peak, the hang glider launch site awaits, promising breathtaking views of the valley below—weather permitting, of course. Celebrate your conquest with a lunch and a view of the valley below and Labrador Pond. Then, we’ll have an easy downhill stretch to our cars, full of food and pride.

Choose your own adventure: carpool from Ithaca or meet us at the trailhead. Carpoolers meet at Eastern Mountain Sports in Ithaca at 9:00 am, ready for the hour-long drive to our starting point. If you’d rather drive alone, meet us at the trailhead at 10:00 am. Dress for success with sturdy, waterproof boots, pack a lunch worthy of a hiker’s appetite and bring water.

Multiple trailheads dot Shackham Road, but our journey begins at the Spruce Pond trailhead on Herlihy Hill Road. Got questions? Fire off an email to our fearless hike leader. And remember, check back here on hike day for any eleventh-hour changes or if Mother Nature decides to rain on our parade.