The 7337 acre Danby State Forest is located almost entirely in the Town of Danby in Tompkins County with a small southerly portion in the Town of Spencer in Tioga County.  This state forest is located off NY 96B south of Ithaca, NY.

History

The forest was formed in the 1930s when the State bought a number of homesteads and farms. Some of the displaced families moved away while others stayed in the town. Old stone foundations can still be found in among the trees as can the old hand-dug wells. (These wells can be very dangerous, so be very careful.)

Habitat

The forest is 7,100 acres of a mixture of trees with hemlock, beech, maple, oak, and white pine. The land is hilly with many small creeks and streams that run south, draining eventually into the Susquehanna River. The forest is a good representation of present-day upland forest habitat. If you're diligent and look hard, you can find a wide variety of ferns and fungi with some orchids.

Wildlife

The forest is home to many of the animals native to the Finger Lakes. Some of the most interesting are the black bear, the black rat snake, the wood turtle, and the goshawk. Although you may not see these, you are likely to see gray and red squirrels, white-tail deer, turkeys, red foxes, chipmunks, and many other animals.

Activities

Hiking is very popular in the forest, which is bisected by the Finger Lakes Trail.  The white blazed Finger Lakes Trail coincides with the North Country National Scenic Trail as it travels through the forest.  There are two lean-tos, Chestnut and Tamarak along the trail to provide shelter.  The orange blazed Abbott Loop Trail is a very popular eight mile loop hike which includes spectacular views from Thatchers Pinnacles.  In the winter when snow is on the ground, the forest is a great place to cross-country ski and snowshoe.

Birding and photography are also popular. Mountain biking is not permitted in the forest, but the many dirt roads through the forest are excellent places to ride. (ATVs are not allowed on any roads in the Town.) The Danby State Forest is a great place to go leaf peeping. By October 1, the hillsides are a tapestry of colors. Warm fall days can be some of the nicest to be in the forest, as there are no biting insects and migrating birds are abundant.  Hunting is also very popular in the state forest.

Thatchers Pinnacle view along Abbott Loop Trail in Danby State Forest.

Access

The forest is easy to access as many roads run through it. There are no designated parking places, but some of the better ones are listed below.

Popular Parking Places

On South Danby Rd. where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses the road.

On Bald Hill Rd. at the intersection of Comfort Rd.

On Bald Hill Rd. about 250 feet south of the intersection of Station Rd. under some large trees.

On Michigan Hollow Rd. where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses the road.

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