Finger Lakes Trail - Italy Hill to Urbana

Dogs Leashed

Much of the Finger Lakes Trail tracks through private land. Please respect private property, following leave-no-trace practices, so that this trail remains open to the public.

For much of the trail, expect loose, flat, and often slippery, rocky single- or doubletrack. The entire section is marked with orange blazes. During the spring and early summer, the trail can be significantly muddy.

Starting from the parking area along Italy Valley Road (42.6239, -77.2815), begin with a 1,000-foot climb up Italy Hill over 3 miles. At mile 4, descend due south on a rocky road that turns into Dunn Road. Turn right (west) on Italy Hill Turnpike, picking up the trail again on the left in less than 0.5 miles.

The trail crosses Emerson Road, Wetmore Road, and Italy Hill Road in quick succession. There may be many blue maple sap lines crossing the trail in this area; just duck under them. When the trail intersects Pulteney Road, turn right and follow the road down the hill about 0.3 miles, re-entering the trail on the right.

At about mile 19, Bud Valley Campground is on the left. This is the site of a major aid station for Twisted Branch 100k every year, so it's very friendly toward hikers. Around mile 20, as you follow blazes east along Faber Road, do not follow orange blazes right where they quickly dead end in a small clearing with a wooden shack. Instead, continue down Faber Road another 0.5 miles until the trail turns right.

At about mile 22, there is one final major climb of about 600 feet. The rest of the trail to the end of the section is a relatively easy cruise.

On this FLT section, there is parking available along Italy Valley Road (42.6239, -77.2815), Dunn Road (42.6207, -77.2586), the shoulder of Italy Turnpike (42.5993, -77.2629), the shoulder of Italy Hill Road (42.585, -77.2569), the shoulder of Pultney Road (42.5765, -77.2391), Glodes Corners-Browns Corners Road (42.531, -77.2659), the shoulder of Prattsburg-Pultney Road (42.5077, -77.2718), and the shoulder of Elmboise Road (42.4876, -77.2413).

Summer presents persistent mosquitoes and deer flies. Greenery can grow thick on some sections of trail and be thorny and damaging to hikers' legs. During early and late summer, respectively, keep an eye out for wild strawberries and blackberries.