Saw a few people on the boardwalk of the Adirondack Visitors Interpretive Center at one point, but for the most part, this area was completely remote and quiet.
Taken on Friday July 1, 2011 at Barnum Pond.
After the first ladder, the trail flattens out for a half mile, for a delightful walk past several small marshlands.
Taken on Sunday July 5, 2009 at Crane Mountain.The most popular area in Ferris Lake Wild Forest is to camp along the 20-mile long Piseco-Powley, a spectacular seasonally-gated, state truck trail. Other roads in area provide more remote roadside camping opporunities and are listed below.
The Ferris Lake Wild Forest Unit Management Plan mentions the following about Roadside Camping in the area…
“The FLWF provides a variety of different camping opportunities. The interior portion of the unit contains numerous primitive tent sites that are located along the shores of the more popular lakes. These sites are designated with a yellow camping disk and often contain a fire ring. There are also a number of car accessible sites located along secondary access roads, such as the Powley-Piseco Road, G Lake Road, Mountain Home Road Extension and Edick Road. Most of these sites can accommodate small camper trailers. There are no lean-tos within the unit.”
— NYSDEC Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.
| Road | Number of Campsites |
|---|---|
| Edick Road | 2 |
| G-Lake Road | 3 |
| Jerseyfield Road | 2 |
| Mountain Home Road Extension (Rough Truck Trail Past the Floe) | 6 |
| Powley-Piesco Road (Open Late Spring-December) Northern Hardwoods Section Near Mud Pond Central Section Near Marshlands of Powley Place Southern Section Near Potholers |
Total: 22 5 10 7 |
|
This map is from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.
Please note that the roadside campsites are noted by “GLR”. The “GL” sites are traditional primative tent sites, beyond the gated end of G Lake Road, that you have to backpack into. This map is from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.
These maps are from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.
This map is from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.
Labrador Hollow is a deep valley surrounded by large hills on both sides. It’s located on the border of Fabius in Ondondoga County (south of Syracuse), and Truxton in Cortland County.
At Labrador Hollow, there are three places you will want to check out:
There are plenty of signs to guide you to the Labrador Hollow Parking area by the pond.
Through the marshy area, there is a 1/4 mile board walk which provides up close and personal views to the unique wildlife of the area.
You usually don’t get a chance to be right up in a marsh like this, unless your deep in the mud with your boots, or it’s less grown up and you could paddle a canoe or kyack. So despite being a little out of place, it does give you a unique experience.
Looking at Labrador Pond through the marshlands.
There used to be a firetower on Jones Hill, which is now a nature center down by Labrador Pond.
An open section is mowed, so you can sit dwon by the lake and enjoy the views.
Then I drove over to the Kyack/Canoe launch for the pond, on the western side along Labarador Hill.
Besides the kyack launch, there is a series of benches and a boardwalk that extend out into the lake.
Later I drove around to the Eastern side of the lake, then hiked down to Tinker Falls, an accessiable water falls. The trail is an easy 1/4 mile walk that is only slightly inclined.
The falls aren’t big, being maybe 60 feet at the most, but they are still pretty and simple. I wouldn’t confuse it with Niagara Falls or even the Kaaterskill Falls. By afternoon, a lot of people where playing in the falls, trying to stay cool.
Here is the view from the top of Tinker Falls, accessed from the Finger Lakes Trail or the orange spur to the Finger Lakes Trail.
I then proceeded to hike up to the Hang Gliders launch spot by the Orange Blaze Connector trail which hooks up with the Finger Lakes Trail. This is route I took, it’s slightly longer and steeper then the old woods road route.
You can also follow the old woods road, which goes directly up to Hang Gliders spot on Jones Hill.
Part of the Finger Lakes Trail runs along the edge of Jones Hill, although there aren’t any real views this time of year.
Arriving at Hang Gliders clearing. It was very hazy out, with limited views.
Looking down at Labrador Hollow and towards Labrador Hill.
Farms in Fabius, with very poor views.
I want to come back on a clear fall day. Maybe this fall I will go back out and explore this area again in the future.
Here is a map of the hike.