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Hiking the Finger Lakes Trail

Description | Ratings

Trails: 560-mile linear trail stretches from the Catskills across the southern extremities of the Finger Lakes to the Alleghenies, forming part of the North Country Trail. At it eastern end, the FLT joins the Long Path while the western end connects to Pennsylvania's North Country Trail. Several secondary trails branching off the main route bring the total to over 800 miles. One spur connects to Ontario's Bruce Trail near Niagara Falls, another to Letchworth State Park.
Access fee: Memebership in the FLTC is appreciated
Nearest towns: Salamanca, Hornell, Bath, Watkins Glen, Cortland, Walton
Trail map: A series of 45 maps and six guidebook are available from the Finger Lakes Trail Council
Web site: Finger Lakes Trail | North Country National Scenic Trail
Points of interest: Finger Lakes
Other activities:
Lodging: Lodging is available near certain parts of the trail. A guidebook to B&Bs near the trail is available from the FLTC.
Camping: Primitive campsites and leantos are located at various points along the trail.
Weather forecast: Ithaca
Tourism info: Finger Lakes Visitors Center | Finger Lakes Tourism
Getting to the trail:
Map of local region: Salamanca | Hornell | Bath | Watkins Glen | Cortland | Walton

Rate these trails

Number of ratings: 3
Average rating: 4.33  

3        

Trail Name: Finger Lakes Trail
I have hiked there: Several times
I last hiked there in: August, 103
Trails that I hiked: much of the trail from walton to near cortland. fire tower trail (preston)
Favorite trails: part near labrador unique area
Best time to go: anytime, but mud season. Tried in winter, but it was kind of hard to follow the white blazes in the snow
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 5 stars
What I liked: easy access, very nice scenery, different kinds of walking (mountains, flats, swamps and lakes
What I disliked: at points it seems to be just a green tunnel, and yes it is a shame that the horses chew it up. However, it is proper to walk through the mud and deal with wet boots (get waterproof ones) rather than beat a new trail around, that leads to erosion
Additional comments:
Submitted by: Ricky Huggins
from: Norwich NY
Date submitted: April 14, 2004

2          

Trail Name: Finger Lakes Trail
I have hiked there: Several
I last hiked there in: Sept, 2003
Trails that I hiked: Everything from Delaware and into Cortland County. (All of Chenango County)
Favorite trails: New Michigan (Met Ed Sidote); Fire Tower in Preston (View of a 25-35 mile radius in any direction); Buckley Hollow; Jackson's Pond in Pharsalia State Land; I could keep going.
Best time to go: Summer and early fall.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: The trails were exciting for the experienced woodsman and for the novice. Wildlife was a plenty and the variety of fauna was spectacular. The trails were easily accessable from any road and visibly marked. The trails are broken up by roads just enough to allow short hikes or long weekend journeys.
What I disliked: Not enough on trail campsites and too much road walking.
Comments: See my comments of where I hiked...please note, it covers almost all of what I've hiked.
Submitted by: SlappyFlapJack, Chuck Hole, Magic, and Crazy
from: Norwich, NY
Date submitted: Feb 25, 2004

1        

Trail Name: Finger Lakes Trail
I have hiked there: Few
I last hiked there in: Oct, 2003
Trails that I hiked: burnt hill,FLT; cayuga trail,and seneca trail
Favorite trails: my most favorite is the trails off burnt hill in Bennetsburg. Very beatiful, the lean-to is very well maintained.
Best time to go: Fall, the views and colors are wonderful
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 3.5 stars
What I liked: the scenery was beauiful at all the trails i have recently been on. The lean-tos have been very ell mantained. There were men there cutting fallen trees(seneca).
What I disliked: they were muddy from the horses!!! It was bad, but we had a good time
Comments: if there is a muddy spot on the trail, make a by pass trail or the mud may swollow your shoes:)
Submitted by: Jenn and Mike
from: Corning, NY
Date submitted: Oct 5, 2003