FLT/NCT Swain to Slader Creek Rd

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Swain to Slader Creek Rd

This 4.9 mile section of the Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail begins in the small hamlet of Swain, NY near the Sierra Inn. The trail follows Mill Street to the end of the road where you'll continue past a fenced tubing hill and climb up to an old railroad bed. This is the old Pittsburgh Shawmutt & Northern Railroad. The trail enters a privately owned wildlife sanctuary at a gate and eventually some old farm machinery as well as a trail register before reaching Monegan Road (aka Isaman Hill Rd).

Entering a privately owned wildlife sanctuary along the trail

In November 2009, over six miles of new trails were opened that travel through woods and occasionally along the edge of a field, all of it maintained as a private wildlife preserve. The Robinson Loop Trails gives hikers the chance to explore the wildlife sanctuary with the opportunity to create loop hikes of a variety of lengths. The trails can be accessed off the main Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail with parking available on Moneghan Road at a town turn around.

Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail at Monegan Road

It's now a road walk into the small hamlet of Garwoods, where the trail heads down Gates Road to the end of the road. After going through the landowners gate (close it behind you), you have your choice of trail to take up the first part of the hill. The white trail takes you steeply up a gully in a stream bed with stinging nettles in the summer or the blue trail that follows a tractor lane with nice views behind you. I would recommend the blue trail.

At four miles you will reach another trail junction where the FLT/NCT turns left. The blue blazed trail that goes right leads 0.1 mile to Bossards Cabin. This cabin is available for backpackers and there is an outhouse. There is no water at the site and should be brought in. The landowners family uses the cabin from Oct 15-Dec 15 and may not be available during that time.

Bossards Cabin

At 4.2 miles you reach the highpoint in this section and begin a descent first toward Friener Road and then to Slader Creek Road. As you begin your descent, there are views to the south. At 4.9 miles reach Slader Creek Road and the end of this section. This stretch of the FLT/NCT is featured on map M8 from the FLTC.

Mile	Elevation	Description (Follow white blazes)
0.0	1316 ft	This section begins at Mill Street in the small hamlet of Swain. Follow road.
0.2	1312 ft	Left onto old railroad bed.
0.6	1339 ft	Pass gate. Junction of the Yellow Robinson Loop Trail on your left.
0.8	1347 ft	Junction of the Yellow Access Trail on your left. Trail veers right off railroad bed briefly. Soon junction of the Orange Robinson Loop Trail on your right. Cross stream.
1.0	1368 ft	Leaving Allegany County, entering Livingston County.
1.55	1402 ft	Junction of the Blue Robinson Loop Trail on your right.
1.7	1424 ft	Junction of the Yellow 1 Robinson Loop Trail on your left.
1.75	1430 ft	Trail register. Soon steps and then left onto driveway (which is old railroad bed).
1.95	1447 ft	Turn left on Moneghan Road.
2.25	1303 ft	Left on County Route 15B.
2.8	1276 ft	Right onto Gate Road.
3.15	1318 ft	Go through landowner gate (close behind you). Junction of Blue Trail. Blue Trail is easier. Ascend steeply in creek bed.
3.35	1448 ft	Trail register.
3.6	1563 ft	Blue Trail comes in on left. Continue to ascend.
4.0	1794 ft	Blue Blazed Trail on right leads 0.1 mile to Bossards Cabin with outhouse. Cabin available to hikers except from Oct 15-Dec15 due to use by landowners family. FLT/NCT turns left.
4.1	1800 ft	Trail turns right.
4.2	1864 ft	Highest point on trail along this section.
4.25	1859 ft	Views toward the south. Two stiles to cross as you descend.
4.55	1739 ft	Left on Freiner Road for 200 feet, then right off road beside hedgerow in field.
4.9	1602 ft	Reach Slader Creek Road and the end of this section. Trail turns right & follows road.

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