Finger Lakes Trail

Total distance: 71.6 miles

Difficulty level(s): easy, moderate, moderate to difficult,

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The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) traverses Tompkins County with an 70-mile section of "New York's premier footpath." The FLT enters Tompkins county between Todd Road and Connecticut Hill Road in the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, and leaves near Lake Road in the Town of Dryden, with a 2.2 mile section crossing the northeast corner of Tioga County. The trail includes 52 miles of the main FLT and 20 miles of branch and loop trails. Statewide, the FLT is a 1,000 mile trail system of hiking trails from Allegany Start Park to the Catskills with branch trails to Niagara Falls, Letchworth Park, Bristol Hills, Corning, Finger Lakes National Forest, and the headwaters of the Tioughnioga river near Cazenovia. The main FLT is also the route of the North Country National Scenic Trail as it passes through Tompkins County on its 4,500 mile path from North Dakota to Vermont. Constructed and maintained by volunteers, the Finger Lakes Trail crosses both public and private lands with the permission of the public agencies and private landowners. In Tompkins County, the trail is managed and maintained by volunteers of the Cayuga Trails Club. This hiking treasure offers opportunities for long-distance hikers, overnight backpackers, and casual hikers, walkers, and nature lovers of all kinds.. Before hiking on the FLT, please check the official Trail Conditions and Interactive Map and the Finger Lakes Trail Website as some sections of the trail may have changed recently due to hunting closures, route changes, and other conditions.

Individual Trails at This Site

These trails have their own narrative, photos, and additional trail information.

Trail Sites

The Finger Lakes Trail encompasses trails made from multiple sites, please select among any of these sites below to learn more.

Parking Locations

Multiple parking options may be specific to certain trails within this site.

Street : Parking Lot on Braley Hill Rd and on Shindagin Hollow Rd
Street : Danby, Michigan Hollow Road, at the crossing with the main FLT. About 2.4 miles south of NY Rt. 96B
Street : Park at intersection of Comfort Rd & Bald Hill Rd, Danby. Trail is 200 yards north on Bald Hill Rd.
Street : Shoulder parking at trailhead, Parking nearby at radio towers.
Parking Lot : NY 13, 5 miles south of Ithaca, on NY 327. Lower park entrance is first and upper park entrance is further along NY 327.
Parking Lot : Parking lot on Hammond Hill Rd before seasonal use road
Parking Lot : Park on west side of Townline Rd
Street : Park on Ridgeway Rd right next to trail near the wetland or at the parking lot near the corner of Coddington Rd and take the Finger Lakes Trail to the raised RR bed that traverses the swamp
Parking Lot : Pull-off on north side of Trumbulls Corners Rd
Street : Danby, Michigan Hollow Road, at the crossing with the main FLT. About 4 miles south of NY Rt. 96B
Parking Lot : 298 S Danby Rd, Danby, NY; trail is across the road and 100 yards to the south of the parking lot.
Parking Lot : 130 Slaterville Rd.
Street and Parking Lot : see website
Parking Lot : Parking Lot marked with a sign on south side of Rockwell Rd
Street : Park on shoulder at intersection of Rockwell Rd. and Porter Hill Rd. Trail is 100 ft. up hill on right
Parking Lot : 1027 Elmira Rd.
Street : park at any of the road crossings along the roadside

Bus Stops

Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve

Directions to Trailhead from Outbound Bus Stop
TCAT Route 20, Saturday & Sunday: First trip of day, Demand Drop-off available for Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve, which the FLT traverses. Talk to bus driver to request drop-off at Preserve entrance.

Elmira Rd @ Enfield Creek Overpass

Directions to Trailhead from Outbound Bus Stop
From outbound (southbound) bus stop, go 70 ft north and then left on Park Ln past vehicle gate. Continue 250 ft to intersection with the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT), marked with white blazes. FLT EAST: (CAUTION: DO NOT WALK ACROSS RT 13. FOLLOW TRAIL UND

Enfield Highway Department

Entrance to Upper RH Treman State Park

Directions to Trailhead from Outbound Bus Stop
TCAT Route 20, Saturday & Sunday: First trip of day, Demand Drop-off at Upper Entrance of RH Treman State Park. Talk to bus driver to request dropoff. From dropoff point, go 3/4 mile south on Park Rd to trailheads of the Rim, Gorge, Red Pine, and Conse

Treman State Park

Directions to Trailhead from Outbound Bus Stop
Summer only: TCAT Route 22. Finger Lakes Trail can be accessed via multiple other trails in Park. Check map.

Caroline Turn Around

Directions to Trailhead from Outbound Bus Stop
Finger Lakes Trail, heading West: walk 600 ft east, facing traffic, on shoulder of Rt 79 (Slaterville Rd), cross highway just before the bridge. Follow short trail to sign for Tarr-Young Natural Area and the FLT. Finger Lakes Trail, heading East: walk

Trail Attributes

Good for Hiking
Good for Running
Good for Cross-Country Skiiing
Good for Snowshoeing
Lakes visible
Scenic Vistas
Unique Wildlife Viewing
Picnicking allowed
Restrooms available

More Info

Part of interconnected trail system: Yes

Trail Surface: Earth, Gravel/Stone Dust, White, Orange, Blue blazes

Trail Markers: white blaze, white, orange blazes, orange blaze, yellow trail markers, red trail markers, wayfinding signs, no, orange, white blazes, orange, blue blazes, finger lakes trail blazes, yellow blaze, yes

This trail contains a loop.

Hunting is allowed on this trail - use caution.

This trail is closed during firearm deer hunting season.

This trail is open year round.

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