Labrador Hollow Unique Area

Labrador Hollow Unique Area encompasses 1,474 acres and is located in the towns of Fabius and Truxton on the borders of Onondaga and Cortland County. It is well known for its diverse recreational activities, some of which include hiking, fishing, hunting, trapping, bird watching, nature viewing, canoeing, and even hang gliding. Labrador Hollow includes a number of unique resources including an accessible trail into a waterfall, an accessible boardwalk of nearly 2000 feet in length and a picturesque pond with accessible access for canoes, or row boats.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/37070.html

Labrador Hollow

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.

Restricted Use Area

At Labrador Hollow, there are three places you will want to check out:

  1. Labrador Pond
  2. Jones Hill Hang Gliders Cliff
  3. Tinker Falls

There are plenty of signs to guide you to the Labrador Hollow Parking area by the pond.

Labrador Hollow Sign

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.

Marshland

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.

Labrador Hollow Sign

Looking at Labrador Pond through the marshlands.

Labrador Pond

There used to be a firetower on Jones Hill, which is now a nature center down by Labrador Pond.

Relocated Ranger's Cabin

Inside Rangers Station

An open section is mowed, so you can sit dwon by the lake and enjoy the views.

 Clouds Hang Low Over Labrador Pond

Then I drove over to the Kyack/Canoe launch for the pond, on the western side along Labarador Hill.

Clouds Coming In

Besides the kyack launch, there is a series of benches and a boardwalk that extend out into the lake.

Bench on Pond's Edge

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.

Looking West on Table Rock Road

Tinker Falls Trail

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.

Looking West on Table Rock Road

Falling Water

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.

Looking Over Tinker Falls

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.

Wetlands

You can also follow the old woods road, which goes directly up to Hang Gliders spot on Jones Hill.

Descending the Trail

Part of the Finger Lakes Trail runs along the edge of Jones Hill, although there aren’t any real views this time of year.

Along the Edge of Long Hill

Arriving at Hang Gliders clearing. It was very hazy out, with limited views.

North Through Hollow

Looking down at Labrador Hollow and towards Labrador Hill.

Looking Down at Edge of Pond

Farms in Fabius, with very poor views.

Farms in Fabius

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.

Trees Along Southern Edge of Pond

Here is a map of the hike.


View Labrador Hollow 6-26-10 in a larger map