Hiking in Taylor Valley: trails, map and practical info

Taylor Valley State Forest is managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Region 7, in Cortland County. It is served by Taylor Valley Road, and the Finger Lakes Trail runs through it.

The Finger Lakes Trail in the forest

On the DEC map, the Finger Lakes Trail crosses the forest from the south, near Kiwanis Road and Telephone Road, to the Taylor Valley Road area, then continues east. At both ends, the map shows the trail continuing on private land. According to the DEC's Taylor Valley Unit Management Plan (February 2015), the unit's designated hiking trails are part of the Finger Lakes Trail and the North Country National Scenic Trail and are maintained by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.

According to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, you can combine sections of the Finger Lakes Trail with forest roads and snowmobile roads to make loop hikes. Mt. Roderick and Mt. Tego both involve substantial elevation gain. To continue east (Cuyler Hill State Forest) or west (Baker Schoolhouse State Forest), both routes cross private land and include road walking.

Parking, day-use area and camping

• The DEC map shows two parking areas: one on Taylor Valley Road, near the Cheningo Day Use Area, and one to the south, near Kiwanis Road and Telephone Road.
• The Cheningo Day Use Area has a pavilion with picnic tables, one of them accessible for people with disabilities, and a few grills. According to the 2015 management plan, it sits on the site of a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp (CCC Camp S-118).
• The camping area is across the road; the DEC map shows 6 primitive campsites there. According to the management plan, camping is not allowed at the day-use area.
• According to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, a DEC permit is required for stays of more than three nights or for groups of ten or more, and campfires are allowed only in designated areas.
• The DEC map also shows a lean-to (a three-sided shelter) along the Finger Lakes Trail, east of the day-use area, and gates on some forest roads.

The natural setting

According to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, the forest includes a glacially carved valley where a large, diverse wetland filters Cheningo Creek on its way to the East Branch of the Tioughnioga River.

Before you go

• The DEC management plan lists hunting among the activities that take place in the unit's state forests, so check the hunting seasons before you go.
• According to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, trail conditions change with weather and other factors, and visitors are responsible for their own safety.
• For current information, contact the DEC Region 7 office in Cortland: 607-753-3095.