The 5507 acre Cuyler Hill State Forest is located in the towns of Cuyler and Taylor on the Northeastern border of Cortland and Chenango County. It is a popular area for activities like hunting, hiking, snowmobiling, fishing, camping, bird watching and nature viewing.

This state forest doesn't receive the traffic as it's nearby neighbor, Morgan Hill State Forest, making Cuyler Hill State Forest a great place to get away from it all and explore.  Good seasonal dirt roads travel into the state forest making it easy to access this scenic place.

History

New York State purchased most of the land that is now called Cuyler State Forest between 1933 and 1965 plus a recent addition purchased in 1991. During the 1930's, programs initiated by the Roosevelt Administration were an attempt to create new jobs and counteract the effects of the Depression.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked diligently on a massive tree planting campaign to combat serious soil erosion that resulted from poor agricultural practices in the past. The CCC planted more than 3 million trees in Cuyler Hill State Forest between 1936 and 1979.

FLT Trailhead The FLT/NCT at Stoney Brook Road in Cuyler Hill State Forest.	FLT/NCT At Stoney Brook Road.	View From along the North Country Trail in Cuyler Hill State Forest.	View From along the North Country Trail in Cuyler Hill State Forest.

Field Notes

Cuyler Hill contains a wide variety of forest cover types, including northern hardwood, northern hardwood-hemlock, European and Japanese larch, Norway spruce, red pine, white cedar, and white spruce. The elevation of the forest ranges from 1,245 to 2,080 feet, and is a fantastic place to see ruffed grouse, rabbits, white tail deer, different song birds and a wide variety of small mammals.

The clear freshwater streams, of which there are fifteen, wind graciously through the trees totaling 7 miles in length. Brook trout abound in most of them. Some of the sections of streams in the forest include Bundy Creek, Union Valley Creek, and Wells Creek, which are a part of the East Branch of the Tioughnioga and Ostelic River watersheds.

Large tree along the Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail

A section of the forest was established as a natural area in 1969 by Regional Forester Al Roberts to preserve the natural landscape. Cuyler Hill Natural Area now covers approximately 20 acres and will forever remain an area where no trees will be cut.  You can visit this special area via the Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail between Jipson Hill Rd and Potter Hill-Cemetery Rd.

Camping is free in this state forest as it is in most other state forests with the same rules as other state lands from the DEC which include camping allowed anywhere in the forest as long as you are at least 150 feet from any road, trail or water.  A secluded camping spot is located in Rose Hollow as well as another in Wiltsey Glen along the Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail.

Other good camping spots are located along seasonal dirt Potter Hill-Cemetery Road, including a spot at the "four corners" of Randall Hill Rd as well as a spot above a small pond.  You'll find other good spots along the road at recent clear cut areas.

Secluded campsite in Rose Hollow

Trails

Cuyler Hill State Forest currently has 8.5 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail / North Country National Scenic Trail, part of which runs through the 20 acre Cuyler Hill Natural Area. There is also a short trail that leads into Rose Hollow. 

The southern terminus of the Onondaga Trail is located in the eastern part of the state forest.  You'll also find the orange blazed Chippewa Falls Trail at the southern terminus of the blue blazed Onondaga Trail plus the white blazed Finger Lakes Trail.  The spot where the three trails meet is known as "Three Trails Junction".  The Finger Lakes Trail ends here due to trail closure on private property.  The FLT starts back off road in Mariposa State Forest.

Approximately 12.5 miles of snowmobile trails cross the forest that are part of the New York State Corridor Trails 5C and 7A which provide snowmobile access between DeRuyter and Pitcher.

***Stay Safe- Bring A Friend When Out on the Trails***

Campsite at corner of PotterHill-Cemetery Rd and Randall Hill Rd in Cuyler Hill State Forest

Directions

Cuyler Hill State Forest may be accessed by taking NY 13 to Cheningo Road. Follow Cheningo Road South about 4.7 miles, then turn left (east) on to Cheningo Solon Pond Road. Head east about 3.6 miles until Cuyler Hill Road and turn left (northeast).

Travel northeast about 1.2 miles and turn east onto Randall Hill Road. Follow Randall Hill about 2.2 miles until you reach the Cuyler Hill Public Forest Access Road, which runs the entirety of the forest in a north-south direction. Parking is available but limited from the shoulder of the road.

Hiking Options in Cuyler Hill State Forest

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