Hiking and Biking our Trails

Hikers, mountain bikers, birders, and nature enthusiasts love Oswego County. Miles and miles of marked and unmarked woodland trails criss-cross several state forests, wildlife management areas, parks and environmental centers.

Oswego County Nature Park at Camp Zerbe offers nature enthusiasts hundreds of acres of wilderness, and includes beautiful and unique glacier-made "kettlehole" lakes which attract a variety of wildlife. Located on State Route 104 in the Town of Williamstown, the Park features 3 miles of marked nature trails, interpretive center, educational exhibits, and a meeting center. Camp Zerbe is open from dawn to dusk. The meeting center and interpretive center are open by appointment. Pets and motorized vehicles are not allowed in the park. For more information, call (315) 349-3451 or 1-800-596-3200, ext. 3451.

Amboy 4H Environmental Education Center has 3 miles of marked trails which are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. The 150-acre environmental center off NYS Route 183 in Amboy, offers self-guided interpretive trails and is open year round. There is a fee for camping, use of the facility is free. For more information, call (315) 963-7286.

Great Bear Springs Recreational Area is comprised of 236 acres owned by the City of Fulton and the 78 acre Town of Volney Park. For more information, download the Great Bear Springs brochure and trail map.

Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area, totaling some 8,645 acres, is located in the Towns of Albion, Williamstown, Parish and Amboy, between Route 104 and Co. Rte. 26. Happy Valley includes 8 miles of marked trails and numerous unmarked trails. The area provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species and is open year round. Limited camping is allowed in designated areas by permit on a first come, first-served basis. Off-road travel is prohibited. Hunting, trapping, fishing and other forms of wildlife-oriented recreation are permitted in accordance with the state Fish and Wildlife Law and Regulations. More information is available by calling (607) 753-3095.

Rice Creek Field Station is an instructional and research unit of the State University of New York College at Oswego. Located on Thompson Road about 1.5 miles south of the campus, the state property consists of the 26-acre Rice Pond surrounded by 400 acres of land in several stages of growth from open fields to mature forests. Trails provide access to the various habitats around the station. The building contains two lab/classrooms, a lecture room, and exhibit areas with an indoor viewing gallery. Rice Creek Field Station is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. (315) 342-0961.

Other wilderness areas and nature parks include:

Battle Hill State Forest -- 5 and 1/2 miles of trails. Co. Rte. 17, Redfield. (607) 753-3095

Chateaugay State Forest -- 7 miles of marked, 8 miles of unmarked trails. Co. Rte. 2, Orwell. (607) 753-3095

Fallbrook Recreation Center -- Trails connect to Rice Creek trails, for a combined total of 20 miles of trails. Thompson Rd., Town of Oswego. (315) 341-2106

Hastings Town Park -- 100 acres of park land, 3 miles of marked trails. Wilson Rd., Hastings. (315) 668-2456, (315) 668-6191

Klondike State Forest -- 5 miles of ungroomed trails. Off NYS Rte. 69, corner of Tanner and Starks Rds., Amboy (607) 753-3095

Littlejohn Wildlife Management Area -- 18.8 miles of trails. Off Co. Rte. 17, Littlejohn Drive, Redfield and Boylston. (607) 753-3095

Oswego County Recreational Trail -- 26-mile groomed trail. From Maple Ave. near Fulton to NYS Rte. 49 in Cleveland. (315) 349-8322.

Salmon River State Forest -- 3 miles of trails. Co. Rtes. 2 and 17, Redfield. (607) 753-3095

Sandy Creek Community Park -- 1 and 1 /2 miles of marked trails, other unmarked trails. U.S. Rte. 11, Sandy Creek. (315) 387-3445

Selkirk Shores State Park -- 4 miles of trails, 2 miles of marked trails. NYS Rte. 3, Pulaski (315) 298-5737

Sunset Bay Park -- 1 mile of marked trails. E. Lake Road, Scriba. (315) 343-1853

Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area -- 10 miles of trails. Off Toad Harbor Road, West Monroe. (607) 753-3095

Trout Brook State Forest -- 3 miles of trails. Off Co. Rte. 22, Bremm Road, Sandy Creek and Boylston. (607) 753-3095

Vanderkamp -- 18 miles of trails, rentals available. Trail fee. Off NYS 49, Martin Rd., Constantia. (315) 675-3651.

Winona State Forest Recreation Area -- 31 miles of trails. Center Road, Boylston. (315) 376-3521.