Danby State Forest

State Forest

Town of Danby

Last Update: 14Oct98

Topography and Environs

Diane's Crossing View
Click to go around seasons

Danby State Forest is a large, but not very consolidated, state forest (so note posted signs). Most of the lands lie between Bald Hill Road and Fisher Settlement Road, with Hill Road in the middle (seasonal part - some maps show the road from Smiley Hill and Signor Hill as McFall Road), covering most the length of DSF.

The terrain consists of river/stream valleys are about 300-400' high and closely packed. The land is forested with "wild" forest and numberous plantation forest plantings. A good deal of wildlife, particularily rich in songbirds (especially Warblers). Mostly acquired by NYS in the 30's, numerous stone fences exist (which were used as property markers) attesting to much greater settlement in the previous century.

The area is quiet with not alot of activity. Hiking and hunting are the predominate activities. The area is quite and rich in wildlife. Songbirds abound around Michigan Hollow. The area is laced with old roads and logging trails permitting all sorts of looped hikes.

Places to check out in DSF are:

The beaver dams in Michigan Hollow (along Michigan Hollow Road, which runs towards Spencer). The beaver wier system is extensive. A large beaver meadow is at the start of Michgan Hollow (where the water systems divide north/south) which the dam was finally abandoned in 1992 after a fall flood, likewise for the beaver meadow south of Diane's Crossing (which use to be a bridge before the road was abandoned some time ago). Then the beaver started dams just above Diane's Crossing. Now that dam is currently vacant, since most the beaver were trapped-out in Winter 1998. The hills around the dams (particuarily west) are loaded with songbird; ranging from open-space warblers to woodsy thrush as the meadows mix with forest.
"The Needles" (or "Thatcher's Pinacle" or "West Danby Overlook") off of Abott Loop on top of Bald Hill Road. Wonderful view for a short, steep hike from Bald Hill Road
Bald Hill Road and Hill Road show numerous old foundations and farmstead, now all grown over. Find them by Sugar Maples along the road, and Apple trees in the yards. Both roads tour through many types of planted and wild forests. Besides the indicating the history of the area, much wildlife can be seen on these roads. Bald Hill Road is maintained and in good shape, whereas Hill Road may require a car with plently of oil-pan clearence.
Trail: Hill Road Loop is an trail from along the ridge between Hill Road and Fisher Settlement.

Trail: Michigan Hollow - Hill Road Loop is a loop of roads that is good for mountain biking.

Tamarack Lean-To on the FLT

Two Caygua Trails Club Lean-Tos are on the Finger Lakes Trail in DSF. The "Chestnut Lean-To" is located between Bald Hill Road and Michigan Hollow Road and is located nice little valley. The "Tamarack Lean-To" (left) is on top of the hill west of 96B and is in excellent condition, but the road is a bit noisy.

Finger Lakes Trail

The Finger Lakes Trail throughout Danby State Forest is in excellent condition. Not heavily over-used, but still has plenty traffic. Occasionally encounter others on trails, but not alot of bikes and hardly any motorized traffic. Generally the steep terrain is not suitable for bikes except in dry conditions.

Click for detailed map including
overlay of GPS located points along the FLT

Westward, between Town Line Road and Comfort, the trail is not too strenuous and Jersey Hill has an incredible view of West Danby valley toward Spencer. Central DSF, the trail's somewhat more challenging as it crosses four valleys. Michigan Hollow Creek (at "Diane's Crossing" ) has extensive beaver dams and lots of songbirds. The two creek valleys between Hill Road (seasonal road) and South Danby Road have another beaver dam and some pretty old forests, and lots of songbirds. Eastward of South Danby Road, the trail crosses a Pine and Tamarack CCC forest plantations. East of 96B goes to Eastman Hill via a mix of state and private lands. The top of Eastman hill has a great view looking down over the Coddington/White Church Rd valley and across to the start of Shindagin Hollow State Forest.

Abbott Loop is FTL-maintained "loop" off of the FLT in Danby State Forest. One of the best trails in DSF. Marked in "blaze orange" trail-markers (rather than FTL white), it loops off FLT at "Diane's Crossing" and rejoins at the beaver dam near Hill Road. Its 6.7 miles vs. the 1.2 miles of the "straight" FLT and takes about 4-5 hours to loop. However, loops of shorter hikes can be made by using any of the crossing roads. Abott's Loop crosses roughly 4 hilltops and 3 small gorges, the terrain varied, interesting and often steep. At it westmost, it climbs to a hilltop called "The Needles" or "West Danby Overlook" (~1720') which looks down on Rt.96 valley and has view to Conneticut Hill. Many soaring birds can be seen slope-sailing on this westfacing ridge.

A small vitural hike around the loop. Here's some views around Abbott Loop:

Sign at Trail Start down at Diane's Crossing on the Finger Lakes Trail (same as above).

Top of Creek near Bald Hill Road where the loop crosses the start of a gorge. This gorge gets re-visited further down as the loop returns.

Cemetary on Bald Hill Road marks the start of the trail going to "The Needles" or "Thatcher's Notch".

Trail crosses Smiley Hill Road not far from Diane's Crossing. (this is a little out of order as i get this together)

Wildilfe

Wildflowers	Birds	Mammals

Baneberry BellWort Blackberry Blueberry Bouncing Bet Early Saxifrage False Solomon's Seal Forget-Me-Not Fringed Polygala Marsh Marigold May Apple Moccasin Flower Pussy Toes Solomon's Seal Starflower Strawberry, Barren Strawberry, Indian Swamp Apple/Swamp Azalea Sweet Cicely Trillium, Red Trillium, White Violets Wild Columnbine Wild Lilly-of-the-Valley Wood Betony/Lousewort Wood Geranium Yellow Pimpernell	Bay-Sided Warbler Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Black-Sided Blue Warbler Catbird Canadian Geese Chickadee Grouse Junco Northern Raven Nuthatch, Red Breasted Nuthatch, White Breasted Ovenbird Redstart Robin Scarlet Tanger Turkey Veery Wood Thrush Yellow Warbler Yellow-Rumped Warbler Yellowthroat	Chipmonk Coyote Deer Porcupine Squirrel

Old Structures, Cementaries, and the like

Cementary

Bald Hill Road - after the "seasonal maintence" part of Bald Hill Rd. where Station Rd. turns off, about 1/2 mile south, start of hill.
Fisher Settlement Road - inbetween Pirates Club and Curtis Road.
Danby Rural Cementary - 1/8 mile on Curits Road from 96B.
Peter's Road - end of Peters Road at South Danby Road.
McFall Cemetary - west off Curtis Rd, just south of creek crossing. Interesting since an old name for Hill Road, is McFall Road. Some stones found here (not all stones):
McFall
Henry McFall; Died: 1866, Age: 71
Jane McFall wife of Henry; Died: 1862, Age: 68
Martha J. McFall; Died: 1864

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Ryant
Joseph Ryant; Died: 1890, Age: 73
Nancy C. Ryant daughter of Joespeph and Liza; Died: 1852, Age: 11 months
John W. Ryant; Died: 1891, Age: 38
Lydia Ryant wife of David; Died: 1865, Age: 66
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Van Gilder
Wm Van Gilder; Died: 1867, Age: 71
James W. Van Gilder; Died: 1871
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Powers
Patsey Powers?; 1848-1892
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Haycook
Henry H. Haycook; Died: 1872, Age: 30
Addie May Haycook; Died: 1872

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