Finger Lakes Trail: Segment 18

Dogs Leashed

Be cognizant of deer hunting season October through December. Sections of the trail are closed during these times, with specific dates posted on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference website or on the trail.

The long and rolling Finger Lakes Trail gives users a remote, wild experience compared to many of the surrounding popular trails.

After following some roads to Hammond Hill State Forest, the trail shares markers with the forest's Yellow 4 (Y4) trail for about a mile, then continues to Red 2 (R2). After crossing Hartford Slaterville Road, continue south over rolling terrain. The Kimmie lean-to is a short ways off the trail at mile 7.3 as it makes a sharp right turn after descending into a valley. At mile 8.3 the trail meets Robinson Hollow Rd. In order to pick the trail back up, follow the road south, turn west on State Hwy 79 for about 2000 ft, then find the trail on the left.

Other road crossings are fairly straight forward until McGrath Rd at mile 13.8. Follow the road south, crossing County Rd 115 and entering Shindagin State Forest. The Shindagin lean-to is at mile 16.7. Shindagin has its own network of trails that the FLC traverses after a steep climb up to the heart of the state forest. Keep moving generally west, and a steep descent will mark the exit from that trail system.

After crossing White Church Rd, turn north onto the Ridgeway Trail, an old rail trail at mile 20.7. Follow this path for about half a mile before picking up the Finger Lakes Trail again on the left. Meeting Ridgeway Rd at mile 22, turn left onto the road, followed by an immediate right turn onto County Road 119 and another left onto Eastman Hill Rd. Find the trail again at mile 22.4 on the left as it enters Danby State Forest. Climb to the top of Eastman Hill, then descend, meeting and following Heisey Rd along the way, until meeting NY 9. Turn right, and follow the road 0.4 miles to the end of this section.