The Onondaga Trail is one of the branch trails of the Finger Lakes Trail System.  This trail system has well over 900 miles of hiking trails in New York state.  The Onondaga Trail currently, as of April 2013, is 39.9 miles long.  The North Country National Scenic Trail runs concurrent with the entire Onondaga Trail, which makes us wonder why there is a need to still call this the Onondaga Trail?  Why not just call it the North Country National Scenic Trail, instead of confusing hikers with multiple names on the trail.

The trail carries the North Country Trail from the Finger Lakes Trail in Cuyler Hill State Forest at "Three Trails Junction" to the Link Trail in Tioughnioga WMA.  From there the Link Trail brings the NCT through Cazenovia to Canastota and the Old Erie Canal Trail. We believe the time has come to just call it the North Country Trail, instead of Onondaga Trail, Link Trail, etc.

The Onondaga Trail is maintained by the Onondaga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club.  This hiking club has added many miles to this trail over the last few years.  The Onondaga Trail is a great long weekend backpacking trip for those looking for challenging adventure.  If your thinking about doing a long backpacking trip, we would recommend a 3-day, 2-night backpacking trip on the Onondaga Trail to gain backpacking experience prior to attempting a longer trip.

Onondaga Trail near Stanton Rd in Deruyter State Forest

The Onondaga Trail goes through state, county and private lands.  The state and county lands include Cuyler Hill State Forest, Maxon Creek State Forest, Morgan Hill State Forest, Highland Forest County Park, Deruyter State Forest and Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area.  The trail also crosses private property thanks to the generosity of the landowners.  Please respect private property and stay on the trail.  Camp only in state lands.

The Onondaga Trail offers a long backpacking loop hike utilizing the Link Trail and Finger Lakes Trail.  This backpacking loop hike travels into four counties in central New York.  Called the Onondaga Finger Link Loop (OFLL), this loop hike is nearly 100 miles.   Look below for a complete map of the Onondaga Trail as well as a detailed description of the complete 39.9 mile Onondaga Trail.  Use the links above and below for a closer look at the Onondaga Trail.

Mileage	Elevation	Trail Description
xxx	1918 feet	Stoney Brook Rd.  Parking.  Follow white blazed Finger Lakes Trail / North Country Trail north.
0.0	1945 feet	Three Trails Junction. Official start of the blue blazed Onondaga Trail on the left.  The North Country Trail now follows the Onondaga Trail.  Turn left and follow blue blazes.  The orange blazed trail that goes straight at this junction is the Chippewa Falls Trail.
0.2	1904 feet	Reach Stoney Brook Road and turn right following road.  Views.
0.5	1833 feet	Reach Cuyler Hill Road.  Turn right and follow road.
1.0	1740 feet	Junction of Midlum Rd.  Veer straight and follow Midlum Road.
1.1	1785 feet	Soon after where road turns left, trail leaves road on right following farm road, then another right along fence.  Soon pass a very old cemetery.  You are hiking on PRIVATE PROPERTY.
1.7	1895 feet	Views from a pipeline right of way on your right.
1.9	1881 feet	Entering section of trail where landowner requests that hikers are QUIET during big game hunting season (OCT 1 - DEC 31).  Quiet until border of Maxon Hill State Forest.
2.1	1968 feet	Reach Midlum Hill Spur Rd.  Views.  Trail turns right and follows old road downhill.
2.5	1684 feet	Entering Maxon Creek State Forest.
3.1	1510 feet	Orange Blazed Irish Hollow Trail on your left (dead end trail).  Begin to ascend.
3.8	1776 feet	Begin the sometimes steep descent toward NY 13.  Soon leave state forest & enter PRIVATE PROPERTY.  This stretch of the trail on private property is CLOSED for HUNTING from Oct 25 - Dec 25.
5.0	1199 feet	Reach NY 13.  Parking.  Turn left and follow busy NY 13.
6.3	1178 feet	Cross Tioughnioga River and reach a DEC parking area on left. PARKING.
6.7	1188 feet	Turn right on West Keeney Road then a quick left onto a farm lane. This stretch of trail on private property is CLOSED for HUNTING from Nov 15 - Dec 25.
8.8	1844 feet	Entering Morgan Hill State Forest.
9.25	1861 feet	Cross Chickadee Hollow Rd.
9.6	1870 feet	Trail register and then cross seasonal dirt Chickadee Hollow Road (parking along shoulder of dirt road).
11.4	1998 feet	Highest point along Onondaga Trail. Off to your right is the old Morgan Hill Fire Tower & camping area. No water available here.
11.6	1939 feet	Cross Morgan Hill Road.  Parking.
12.4	1554 feet	Hemlock Lean-To is 150 feet off trail to your right.
13.1	1304 feet	Cross Shackham Brook on footbridge.
13.2	1349 feet	Cross Shackham Road.  Parking.  Soon trail register.
14.4	1795 feet	Entering Labrador Hollow Unique Area.  No fires allowed.
14.95	1432 feet	Stairs and then reach the top of Tinker Falls.
15.1	1529 feet	Junction of the orange blazed Skyline Trail. Blue blazed Onondaga Trail / North Country Trail turns right.  Skyline Trail goes straight steeply ascending to NY 91 parking area in 0.3 miles.
16.0	1903 feet	Hang Glider view.  Soon enter PRIVATE PROPERTY.
17.0	1904 feet	Re-entering Morgan Hill State Forest.
17.4	1694 feet	Spruce Pond on your left.  North Country Trail Kiosk.  Side trail on left leads to a small parking area in 150 feet. This is also the start of the Fellows Hill Loop.
19.1	1538 feet	Cross Shackham Rd.  Parking.  Soon pass Shackham Pond.
19.75	1504 feet	Cross seasonal dirt Onondaga One Road.  Parking.
21.7	1661 feet	Leave Morgan Hill State Forest.  Now on PRIVATE PROPERTY.
22.1	1454 feet	View of Fabius, NY.  Soon more views.
23.1	1246 feet	Right on West Keeney Rd.
23.2	1243 feet	Left on Bardeen Road.
23.9	1244 feet	Cross Vincent Corners Rd.  Stay straight.  Road now Cowles Settlement Rd.
24.7	1462 feet	After sharp right turn, trail leaves road on left.  Enter Highland Forest County Park.  Parking.
27.5	1667 feet	Skyline Lodge.  Views, bathrooms, water, vending machines.  Parking.
28.8	1790 feet	Leaving Highland Forest County Park.  Entering PRIVATE PROPERTY.
29.7	1304 feet	Reach West Lake Road.  Turn right then left on Dam Road. Soon a small parking area.
30.4	1314 feet	Turn right on East Lake Road.
30.6	1330 feet	Turn left into small parking area.  Trail leaves the end of parking area through grass, then turns right onto well worn path. PRIVATE PROPERTY.
31.5	1763 feet	Enter Deruyter State Forest.
33.1	1666 feet	Leave Deruyter State Forest.  Reach Fairbanks Road.  Turn left & follow road.
33.3	1671 feet	Trail turns right off road.  Trail skirts Armstrong Pond.  Enter PRIVATE PROPERTY. Shoulder parking.
34.9	1297 feet	Reach Webber Road.  Parking.  Turn right and follow road.
35.0	1302 feet	Turn right on Parker Rd aka School Street.
35.1	1299 feet	Turn left after barn at trailhead sign.  Follow farm lane.  PRIVATE PROPERTY.
35.6	1319 feet	Cross NY 13.  NOTICE:  The trail from here to Smith Road is CLOSED for HUNTING from May 1-31 and October 1 - December 25.  No parking available.
36.6	1774 feet	Reach Smith Rd.  Turn left and follow road.  Parking.
37.3	1572 feet	Turn right on Damon Road.
38.1	1533 feet	Turn left off road and follow edge of field.  PRIVATE PROPERTY.
38.3	1463 feet	Ford Limestone Creek.  Soon enter Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area.
39.9	1685 feet	Reach junction of the yellow blazed Link Trail.  End of Onondaga Trail.