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Top 10 Facts about Fingers Lakes National Forest

The Finger Lakes National Forest lies on a ridge-called the backbone-between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the Finger Lakes region, encompassing 16,259 acres (65.80 km2). It is the second-smallest National Forest in the United States, larger only than the Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama.

Finger Lakes National Forest has continued the management mix of pasture, forest, recreation and wildlife and includes the preservation of historic and archaeological sites. It has over 30 miles (50 km) of interconnecting trails that traverse gorges, ravines, pastures, and woodlands.

The Finger Lakes National Forest is an administrative unit of the Green Mountain National Forest. Both are managed by the Forest Service from offices in Rutland, Vermont.

Below are the top 10 facts about Fingers Lakes National Forest;

1. It is the only national forest in New York State

New York State – Flickr

National forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned collectively by the American people through the federal government, and managed by the United States Forest Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture.

There are 154 national forests in the U.S., but Finger Lakes National Forest is the only National Forest in New York. The forest is located in Schuyler in New York, roughly a 4.5-hour drive northwest from New York City or Philadelphia.

The ranger station for the Finger Lakes National Forest is located in a town known as Hector, hence the name Hector Ranger District, Finger Lakes National Forest.

2. Cattle pasture in Finger Lakes National Forest

Cattle grazing – Flickr

Finger Lakes National Forest is one of only two national forests east of the Mississippi River that allow cattle grazing.

About a fourth of the forest (4,500 acres with 35 pastures requiring 80 miles of fencing) is used by the Hector Cooperative Grazing Association from May 15^th through October 15^th annually for about 1,500 head of cattle.

The Hector Cooperative Grazing Association is one of the oldest public grazing facilities in the country. A Grazing Agreement between U.S. Forest Service and the Hector Cooperative Grazing Association allows livestock grazing on 5,085 acres in accordance with Forest Plan standards & guidelines.

3. Archeological sites are present with Finger Lakes National Forest

Fingers Lakes National Forest – Flickr

There are a number of archaeological sites on lands managed by the Finger Lakes National Forest, most from the post-Revolutionary period.

An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.

Excavations conducted on the Finger Lakes National Forest have an educational purpose, and that purpose is to learn more about the people that once populated the Hector Backbone.

4. It was awarded to Revolutionary War veterans

Unnamed Iroquois chief, early 18th century – Wikipedia

The original inhabitants of the forest were the Iroquois Indians, who sided with the British during the American Revolution. This resulted in the neutralization of the Iroquois in the region and their lands being taken from them at the end of the war.

In 1790, the area was divided into 600-acre (2.4 km²) military lots and distributed among Revolutionary War veterans as payment for their services.

The war veterans cleared the land for production of hay and small grains such as buckwheat. As New York City grew, a strong market for these products developed, encouraging more intensive agriculture.

5. Federal government purchased the land in Finger Lakes National Forest

Finger Lakes National Forest – Flickr

Due to intensive farming the soil gradual depleted resulting in poor quality and less yields. To add salt to the injury, the great depression occurred, resulting in farmers not being able to meet their daily needs. This resulted in over 1 million acres (4000 km²) of farmland was abandoned in south central New York State.

To cushion the farmers, the federal government passed the Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1933, and the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of 1937. Between 1938 and 1941, over 100 farms were purchased by the Federal government.

The newly acquired Federal land was known as the Hector Land Use Area (LUA). It was initially managed by the Soil Conservation Service.

6. The lakes in Finger Lakes National Forest

Otisco Lake – Flickr

There are a total of eleven lakes in the Finger Lakes Region which are called major lakes. There are additional smaller lakes, like those near Keuka, Waneta, and Lamoka.

From west to east, they are: Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice, Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles, and Otisco.

These lakes providing a multitude of recreational activities including water biking, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, swimming, jet skiing, sailing, and fishing.

7. Site of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Seneca Lake – Flickr

In 1996, the property associated with the former Camp Fossenvue was added to the forest. On that property is the Queen’s Castle, a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Queen’s Castle, also known as Camp Fossenvue or simply Fossenvue is a rustic, lakeside camp structure built about 1881 on the shore of Seneca Lake. It is the sole surviving component of Camp Fossenvue.

8. It is the second-smallest National Forest in the United States

Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama – Flickr

The Finger Lakes National Forest encompasses 16,259 acres (65.80 km2). It was established in 1985. Wooded glens and open pastures comprise the majority of the landscape in the Finger Lakes National Forest.

The smallest is the Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama. Tuskegee National Forest covers 11,252 acres (45.54 km2). It was established on November 27, 1959.

9. There are four tiers of trial usage within Finger Lakes National Forest

Finger Lakes Trail East End – Wikipedia

The first begins with foot traffic only and includes the FLT, most sections of the Interloken Trail, as well as the Gorge and Ravine Trails.

The next tier adds skiing and horseback riding and includes a short section of the southern part of the Interloken Trail.  Mountain biking is added to the next tier and is allowed on the northernmost section of the Interloken Trail.

Finally, all the preceding, plus snowmobiling, are allowed on the final group of trails which includes the Burnt Hill Trail, Backbone Trail, and the No Tan Takto Trail.

10. Hunting is allowed in Finger Lakes National Forest

Hunting – Flickr

As with any recreational opportunity on the National Forests, all applicable State and Federal laws and regulations must be followed.

Woods, pastures, shrub lands and many wildlife ponds are intermingled to provide excellent opportunities for hunting,