FLT/NCT Klipnocky State Forest

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Slader Creek State Forest

Klipnocky State Forest

This six mile section of the Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail begins as you leave Slader Creek Road with an elevation of 1590 feet. Expect your feet to get wet as you ford Slader Creek. The trail starts off on private property as you briefly follow a tractor lane near a barn. As you climb uphill look behind you for some views. At 0.6 miles you leave private property and enter Slader Creek State Forest as the trail enters the woods. Look behind you for one last view before entering the woods.

At 1.1 miles there is a blue blazed trail on your left that leads 0.15 mile to a Bivouac Area with an outhouse. At 2.05 miles reach an elevation of 2063 feet and the highest point on this section. At 2.1 miles the trail turns left and enters Klipnocky State Forest.

Klipnocky State Forest is located in the Towns of Almond, Birdsall and Burns in Allegany County. It covers 2,634 acres and borders both Slader Creek State Forest and Gas Springs State Forest. Klipnocky State Forest occupies some extremely rocky and remote country. The FLT/NCT skirts the edges of several old quarries within the state forest and passes a couple of ponds, which also make good camping spots for backpackers. Here also the trail crosses the divide between the Saint Lawrence and Susquehanna River drainages.

At 4.3 miles the trail crosses an old forest access road and begins a long descent toward North Almond Valley Road, which is the end of this section at six miles. There is very little parking available along seasonal dirt Gas Springs Road at the end of this section.

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Pictures from along the Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail

Klipnocky State Forest DEC sign

Gas Springs Road trailhead

Gas Springs Road trailhead

Gas Springs Road

Pond along dirt Bill Morris Road

Gate near Bill Morris Road.

Bill Morris Road

Trail in Klipnocky State Forest

First of two ponds the trail passes.

Campsite near first pond along trail.

Directions

Klipnocky State Forest lies approximately four miles southwest of the Village of Canaseraga and is accessible via several town roads and State Forest roads leading from County Route 13C (Slader Creek Road) in the north and County Route 32 (North Almond Valley Rd) in the south.

Mile	Elevation	Description (Follow white blazes)
0.0	1590 ft	This section begins as the trail turns off Slader Creek Road . Cross Slader Creek (expect your feet to get wet). Take tractor lane to left of barn, then veer left and head uphill. NOTE: Landowner requests that blue gate near hilltop is left as you found it (either open or closed).
0.6	1857 ft	Views. Enter woods and Slader Creek State Forest.
1.1	1945 ft	Blue blazed trail on left leads 0.15 mile to Bivouac Area and outhouse.
2.05	2063 ft	Highest point along this section of trail.
2.1	2053 ft	Trail turns left. Bordering and entering Klipnocky State Forest.
2.25	1960 ft	Trail veers right.
2.55	2034 ft	Trail skirts first of two ponds.
2.65	2038 ft	Turn right on dirt Bill Morris Road. Soon good camping and pass second pond.
3.1	2016 ft	Turn left on Roots Road.
3.3	2038 ft	Left off road into woods. Trail travels through old quarry area.
4.0	1874 ft	Cross stream, then trail register.
4.3	2040 ft	Cross dirt road.
5.3	1873 ft	Trail reaches remnants of old road. Soon regular dirt road on right.
5.65	1712 ft	Leave Klipnocky State Forest. Following Gas Springs Road now.
5.95	1594 ft	Reach County Route 32 and the end of this section. For a continuation see Bully Hill SF.

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