Brief Hike Detrails

Carpool at 9 am from EMS parking lot. Hike begins 10 am at the trailhead.

This is a six mile out-and-back hike rated moderate.

We will explore three land trust preserves: Hinchcliff, High Vista and Ripley.

There is a carpool from Ithaca available for those who want it. We have a short car shuttle once we reach Hinchcliff. Driving time to the preserves is 50 minutes, one way.

This is a Walk, Look and Learn Hike. We will take time to stop for interpretation and appreciation of the cultural/natural features of the landscape.

Bring water, a snack or sandwich for lunch, sturdy hiking boots, insecticide or natural repellent if you use it.

This is tick season. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirt, gaitors if you have them or tuck your pant legs into your socks. Check for ticks after the hike.

If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, email Gary Mallow at the address above.

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

Detailed Hike Description

Today’s adventure is a Walk, Look and Learn hike, a moderate hike which features a lovely Finger Lakes landscape protected by two central New York land trusts. We will visit one preserve owned by the Central NY Land Trust and two preserves owned by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. 

The preserves are: Hinchcliff, High Vista and Ripley. We will take time to stop for interpretation and appreciation of the cultural/natural features of the landscape.

The hike will be approximately 6 miles on the east side of Skaneateles Lake near Spafford NY, starting at the Central NY Land Trust’s Ripley Hill Preserve (trailhead on Ripley Hill Rd, Homer NY), and continuing to the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Ripley Hill trail, Hinchcliff Preserve, High Vista Preserve and looping back to the Hinchcliff parking lot. We will do a short car shuttle at the beginning of the hike to avoid a long uphill at the end.

There is a 50 minute drive to and from the preserves. We are offering a carpool at Eastern Mountain Sports in Ithaca to reduce our carbon footprint. If you wish to take advantage of the carpool, meet at EMS at 9 am. Hike begins at the trailhead at 10 am.

Bring water, a snack or sandwich for lunch, sturdy hiking boots, insecticide or natural repellent if you use it.

This is tick season. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirt, gaitors if you have them or tuck your pant legs into your socks. Check for ticks after the hike.

If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, email Gary Mallow at the address above. 

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