Great Hiking Trails of Upstate New York

With summer in full swing in Upstate New York and vacation time being there for a lot of people, it's time to figure out what you want to do with your free time. One of the great things about Upstate New York is the variety of hiking trails that crisscross the state. Lets take a tour together of some of my favorite trails and maybe you can find somewhere in Upstate New York that you'll love as much as I do.

My first pick for great hiking trails is the trail at Park Station in Erin New York. They have approximately 6 miles of trails winding around the perimeter of the park and through the hills. You can take a self-guided tour of the flora and fauna of the area while you hike, learning about nature while you enjoy your time on the trail. If you're with people who don't enjoy hiking as much as you do, Park Station has a 100 acre lake for boating and swimming along with a playground and beach.

Another great hiking trail is located at Buttermilk Falls state park in Ithaca New York. This isn't your traditional hiking trail, however. You can follow the trail to the top of the falls and be dazzled by the most spectacular view you've ever seen. You can watch the falls cascading down into Buttermilk Creek and enjoy the peacefulness of hiking without leaving the city. There are also several more hiking trails in the city of Ithaca, including but not limited to Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Lighthouse Point, Cornell Arboretum, Ithaca Falls / Fall Creek Gorge and Robert Treman State Park.

Another great set of hiking trails are located in the Adirondack region. The Adirondack Trails are split into 6 regions, each with it's own unique features. For instance, the Southeast Adirondacks includes the Adirondack Forest Preserve and the lake George Wild Forest while the Central and Southern Adirondacks also includes the Adirondack Forest Preserve along with easement lands in most of Hamilton County and Fulton County, and a some Forest Preserve lands in western Essex County. This just covers a small region of the Adirondack Trails. There are far more trails than we could ever consider listing in an overview.

One more set of great hiking trails in Upstate New York is the New York State Canalway Trail System. With over 260 miles of multi-use trails across Upstate, major segments of the Canalway Trail System are adjacent to the waterways of the New York Canal System or follow the original canals of New York. The trail system is split into four major segments, each with it's own history and unique features. The Erie Canal Heritage Trail is a 100 mile trail between Tonawanda and Newark in Western New York that allows hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling and cross country skiing, depending on which section of the trail you're on. The multi-use trails allow you to enjoy all four segments year round.

Not all hiking trails have to be as large as the Adirondack Trails or Canalway Trails for you to enjoy a good hike; they can be something as small as the Park Station or Buttermilk Falls trails. It all depends on how extensive you want your hiking adventure to be and where you want to go. Remember, though, before going hiking anywhere to make sure you hike safely and that someone knows where you're going. Too many hikers get lost and aren't found until it is too late because no one knew where they were. Also remember to check out the hiking trails before setting out on your adventure so that you know what to expect before you get there.

Sources:
http://www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/trail/index.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html