Chenango County is an outdoor recreational dream with 32 state forests and over 70 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail to explore.  Bowman Lake State Park is popular for camping as well as other outdoor activities and has numerous miles of hiking trails, including a section of the Finger Lakes Trail.  A fire tower is located on Berry Hill, just north of Bowman Lake State Park.

Hunt's Pond State Park is located in Chenango County.  This is a small state park in a quiet setting with 18 primitive campsites, a picnic area, and a boat launch site.  The park is located just north of Hunts Pond State Forest and northeast of Norwich.  Cook County Park is located in Greene, NY and has camping available as well as other outdoor activities.

There is a small rustic campground located near Balsam Pond in Balsam Swamp State Forest.  There is no fee for the campsites, which are available on a first come, first served basis.  A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space.  There is no running water or electricity.  A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility.

Whaupaunaucau State Forest has well developed cross country ski trails that are used as hiking trails in the spring, summer and fall.  There are 13 miles of trails located in the forest.  There is a lean to and a fireplace located along Trail 20.

The name Chenango originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle".  The county seat is Norwich and the estimated population in 2008 for the county was 50,898.  The county is located southeast of Syracuse, southwest of Albany and northeast of Binghamton. 

The highest point in Chenango County is Melondy Hill at an elevation of 2039 feet.  It's located in Melondy Hill State Forest.  Some say the high point is Sherman Hill, just to the east.  Most maps show Sherman Hill at 2035 feet, although a book has the elevation at 2040 feet.  Both are located just north of the border with Broome County.

The Finger Lakes Trail travels over 560 miles across New York state from the NY/PA state line in Allegany State Park to the Long Path in the Catskills.  The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) travels over 70 miles in Chenango County and is a very popular hiking destination in the county.

Look below for links to help plan your next outdoor adventure in Chenango County.  If there are trails and places you'd like us to add, please email us at contact@cnyhiking.com.  Thanks for visiting our site.

Outdoor Recreational Opportunities in Chenango County

FLT - Mariposa State Forest	FLT - Bucks Brook State Forest	Bucks Brook Loop
FLT - Otselic State Forest	FLT -Pharsalia WMA	FLT - Pharsalia Woods State Forest
Plymouth Loop	Cook County Park	FLT - McDonough State Forest & Bowman State Park
FLT - Ludlow Creek State Forest	FLT - Bowman Creek Section	FLT - Bear Brook Section
FLT - Basswood & Wiley Brook State Forest	FLT - Bainbridge	FLT - Susquehanna River
Ambler State Forest	Balsam Swamp State Forest	Basswood State Forest
Beaver Meadow State Forest	Bobell State Forest	Bucks Brook State Forest
Bumps Creek State Forest	Coventry State Forest	Five Streams State Forest
Genegantslet State Forest	Hunts Pond State Forest	Lincklaen State Forest
Long Pond State Forest	Ludlow Creek State Forest	Lyon Brook State Forest
Mariposa State Forest	McDonough State Forest	Melondy Hill State Forest
Pharsalia Woods State Forest	Oak Ridge State Forest	Otselic State Forest
Perkins Pond State Forest	Pharsalia WMA	Pigeon Hill State Forest
Pine Ridge State Forest	Pitcher Springs State Forest	Red Brook State Forest
Rogers Environmental Education Center	Rogers Environmental Education Center DEC website	Skinner Hill State Forest
South Hill State Forest	Whaupaunaucau State Forest	Wiley Brook State Forest