This moderate five mile section of the Finger Lakes Trail travels through 5162 acre Steam Mill State Forest and then beautiful 786 acre Barbour Brook State Forest.  This section has an overall elevation gain of 1563 feet, but there is a final descent of nearly 800 feet from Rocky Point to County Route 27. 

This section begins in the DEC parking area off NY 8 and the trail immediately ascends 400 feet to an opening that allows for some views toward the south and west (see panorama above).  You'll lose all the elevation you gained as the trail descends crossing Steam Mill Road and then Steam Mill Creek.  There is a short walk through a wetland before the trail begins to ascend again.

This ascent of 600 feet over 0.8 miles includes a short walk along a DEC Road.  Upon leaving the DEC Road the trail enters Barbour Brook State Forest.  The trail reaches its highest point in Barbour Brook State Forest (1966 feet) before descending to Dry Brook Road and the crossing of Dry Brook on a nice footbridge built by boy scouts.  There is a camping area just after crossing the dirt road. 

The trail begins a climb of nearly 500 feet over 0.75 miles and for a short time runs along the state forest boundary.  Look for a DEC sign and a blue blazed trail that leads 0.1 mile to an old CCC waterhole.  As you continue to ascend, the Dry Brook Lean To off to your right.  You can't miss it as the trail goes right through the campsite.  This will be the last lean to until you reach the Catskills and the Campbell Mountain Lean To, which is another 36 miles of hiking.

After Dry Brook Lean To, the trail reaches Rocky Point and its unique rock formations.  From this point the trail begins a sometime steep descent toward County Route 27.  You will leave the state forest and enter private land following a logging track.  There are, at times, views of the Cannonsville Reservoir as you descend.  In all the trail loses 788 feet in elevation as it winds to the end of this section at County Route 27.

The next section of the trail continues as the trail crosses County Route 27. Find info at FLT-Cannonsville Reservoir.  The official Finger Lakes Trail Conference website has up to date trail conditions as well as hiking maps you can purchase from them. This section of the FLT is featured on Map M27 from the FLTC. Look below for a few pictures, two videos, a map and a detailed description of this section of the Finger Lakes Trail.

Directions:  This section of trail is about two hours and 100 miles away from Syracuse, NY.  To reach this section take I 81 south to the Whitney Point exit.  Turn left on NY 79/US 11 and follow road into the village.  Look for the NY 206 signs and turn left on NY 26, then a quick right on NY 206.  It is 27 miles to Bainbridge on NY 206 and then another seven miles to Masonville.  Now turn right on NY 8 south and follow NY 8 just past Zion Hill Road to the DEC parking area on your left.

Bridge over Dry Brook

Dry Brook Lean To

Waterhole built by the CCC in the 1930s

Mile	Elevation	Trail Description (follow white blazes)
0.0	1420 feet	DEC parking area off NY 8. GPS coordinates N42 10.055 W75 21.591 Trail heads out of parking area. Enter Steam Mill State Forest.
0.4	1723 feet	Views to the south and west.  Soon begin descent toward Steam Mill Creek.
0.7	1501 feet	Cross dirt Steam Mill Road.
0.85	1391 feet	Cross Steam Mill Creek and enter a wetland area for a short time.
1.3	1751 feet	Reach DEC Road and turn left and ascend steeply.
1.6	1936 feet	Turn left off DEC Road.  Entering Barbour Brook State Forest
1.65	1966 feet	Highest point along trail in Barbour Brook State Forest.
2.6	1963 feet	Begin descent toward Dry Brook.
3.2	1462 feet	Trail register then cross Dry Brook Road.  Shoulder parking. GPS coordinates N42 09.165 W75 18.979
3.25	1461 feet	Cross Dry Brook on an awesome footbridge.  Camping area.
3.4	1531 feet	Trail turns right along state forest boundary.  Soon pass by "watering hole" made in 1930's by CCC.
3.5	1541 feet	Trail turns left along state forest boundary.  Watch FLT blazes carefully as land owner has used white paint to mark boundary.
3.6	1655 feet	Trail veers left away from state forest boundary.
3.9	1818 feet	Dry Brook Lean To on your right.
4.05	1948 feet	Rocky Point.  Begin steep descent toward County Route 27.  Views at times.
4.25	1701 feet	Leave state forest and entering private property.  Following lumber track.
4.7	1379 feet	Trail turns right.
4.9	1238 feet	Entering NYC Reservoir Land.
5.0	1160 feet	Reach County Route 27 and the end of this section. The FLT crosses CR 27 and find more info on the next section FLT-Cannonsville Reservoir. Limited shoulder parking. GPS coordinates N42 09.185 W75 17.613