FLT - Ludlow Creek State Forest

Hiking in Chenango County
Finger Lakes Trail

Ludlow Creek
State Forest

This section of the Finger Lakes Trail begins off Hogan Road in McDonough State Forest before heading into private property and then into the 3198 acre Ludlow Creek State Forest. The trail while in this state forest passes two wetland areas as well as a section that runs near scenic Ludlow Creek. The trail crosses Ludlow Creek on "high bridge", a bridge built on Tucker Road by the CCC in the 1930's and rebuilt in 2010.
The Ludlow Creek Lean To, built in 2000, overlooks the creek at a very scenic location with a small waterfall and is a popular stopping place for Finger Lakes Trail through hikers as well as day hikers. The trail also passes the mysterious "Rock Piles". Legend has that the piles were made by Native Americans many years ago. It has also been said that they were created recently by white man.
This scenic 3.6 mile section of the Finger Lakes Trail is an easy to moderate hike. Look below for some pictures, a video, map and trail description of this great section of the trail. This stretch of the Finger Lakes Trail is featured on map M24 from the FLTC.

Ludlow Creek near the lean to

Ludlow Creek Lean To

Rock pile along trail

Mile Elevation Trail Description (follow white blazes)

0.0 1626 feet
Trail heads south off Hogan Road. Parking. You are in McDonough State Forest. GPS N42 28.136 W75 41.785

0.3 1577 feet
Leave McDonough State Forest, entering private property.

0.6 1552 feet
Enter Ludlow Creek State Forest.

1.5 1459 feet
Trail register.

1.55 1454 feet
Reach and turn left on Ludlow Road.

1.65 1451 feet
Turn right on Tucker Road. Parking. Cross the "High Bridge" over Ludlow Creek.

1.7 1415 feet
Trail turns left off road. DEC Parking Area down the road GPS N42 26.854 W75 42.288

1.9 1433 feet
Blue blazed trail on left leads to Ludlow Creek Lean To.

2.2 1442 feet
The mysterious "Rock Piles"

2.4 1482 feet
Spruce Swamp is off to your right.

2.5 1467 feet
Cross brook on bridge.

2.6 1502 feet
Leave Ludlow Creek State Forest and enter PRIVATE PROPERTY.

3.2 1605 feet
Trail register.

3.3 1607 feet
Open field, cross diagonally left to fence line. Stay on 8 ft wide path between fences passing horse barn and log cabin.

3.55 1555 feet
Reach Stone Quarry Road and the end of this section. See Bowman Creek section for a continuation of the Finger Lakes Trail. GPS N42 25.795 W75 41.235

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Finger Lakes Trail

FLT Central Section

Ludlow Creek State Forest

Mile	Elevation	Trail Description (follow white blazes)
0.0	1626 feet	Trail heads south off Hogan Road. Parking. You are in McDonough State Forest. GPS N42 28.136 W75 41.785
0.3	1577 feet	Leave McDonough State Forest, entering private property.
0.6	1552 feet	Enter Ludlow Creek State Forest.
1.5	1459 feet	Trail register.
1.55	1454 feet	Reach and turn left on Ludlow Road.
1.65	1451 feet	Turn right on Tucker Road. Parking. Cross the "High Bridge" over Ludlow Creek.
1.7	1415 feet	Trail turns left off road. DEC Parking Area down the road GPS N42 26.854 W75 42.288
1.9	1433 feet	Blue blazed trail on left leads to Ludlow Creek Lean To.
2.2	1442 feet	The mysterious "Rock Piles"
2.4	1482 feet	Spruce Swamp is off to your right.
2.5	1467 feet	Cross brook on bridge.
2.6	1502 feet	Leave Ludlow Creek State Forest and enter PRIVATE PROPERTY.
3.2	1605 feet	Trail register.
3.3	1607 feet	Open field, cross diagonally left to fence line. Stay on 8 ft wide path between fences passing horse barn and log cabin.
3.55	1555 feet	Reach Stone Quarry Road and the end of this section. See Bowman Creek section for a continuation of the Finger Lakes Trail. GPS N42 25.795 W75 41.235