The Link Trail
Connecting...
The Old Erie Canal Towpath Trail and the Finger Lakes Trail.
Linking...
The natural, cultural, and historic resources in Madison County, NY.
The Link Trail is a new route, approximately 30 miles long, which will enhance some of the major attractions, and some of the lesser-known, special places, of Madison County, NY. It will connect two major east-west travel routes, becoming part of the developing national trail system, and span nearly the entire county from north to south.
Planned in the shape of a "Y," the route will have two branches at its northern end: one leading south from Canastota and one from Chittenango. It will connect these communities and their canal museums with Chittenango Falls State Park, Cazenovia’s cultural and historic area and Gorge Trail, the Nelson Swamp Unique Area, Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area, Dugway County Forest, and Muller Hill State Forest. A spur trail will connect two County parks to the system.
The trail is being built by members and supporters of the Central New York Chapter of the North Country Trail Association for prospective inclusion in the North Country Scenic Trail System. A trail guide will be available. Meanwhile, as new sections of the trail are opened, the news and descriptions will appear here. Also, a publication titled Link Trail Notes will be sent to area trails organizations as each section opens. To get a copy, e-mail mk-l@juno.com and include your postal address.
New Trail Sections Open
November 1997. The first section of a new hiking trail, known as the Link Trail (LT) is ready for hiking now. The section extends north from the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) to Crumb Hill Road in southern Madison County. To find it, hike east on the FLT from Bamberry Rd. about .3 miles to the start of the Link Trail and turn left. There is a sign, and the trail is clearly marked with blue blazes. Initially it follows an old tote road, crossing a clearing, then turns sharply left down the roadside bank. From here it is an easy, beautiful walk through changing forest types to the highway. There are two seasonal streams to cross as the route passes through open hardwoods and dark, mysterious hemlock stands. Except for negotiating that roadside bank of only a few feet, it will be an easy ski or snowshoe trail, too. You will emerge on Crumb Hill Road (Madison County Route 58), just east of Wood Road.
This first completed section of the new trail is only about 1.5 miles long on the LT, plus the .3 miles on the FLT, but worth making it a round trip walk of 3.6 miles.
FINDING THE TRAILHEAD: Use Chenango and Madison county maps or the DeLorme Gazeeteer. Southeast of DeRuyter, Sherman Rd. runs south from Crumb Hill Rd. and becomes Bamberry (Bambury on some maps) Rd. when it enters Chenango County. A mile or so south of the county line, there is a small parking area on the left and just beyond it, on the same side of the road, the trailhead for the Finger Lakes Trail. Walk east approx. .3 mi. to the start of the Link Trail (LT). Note that you can also find nice walks continuing east on the FLT from the start of the Link Trail, or by going west from Bamberry Rd. on the FLT.
January 1998. The Link Trail has also been cleared from the terminus of Wood Road (just north of Crumb Hill Rd.) through Muller Hill State Forest to Carpenter Road at the entrance to Three Springs State Forest. It is blazed (blue markers) from Muller Hill Road north to Carpenter Hill Road and has blue/white striped flagging from the terminus of Wood Rd. north to Muller Hill Rd. Marking of the trail will be completed in March-April. The Wood Road section is not recommended for early spring hiking until more work is done.
FINDING THE TRAILHEADS: Use the Madison County map or the DeLorme Gazeeteer. For hiking north, follow Muller Hill Road east to the first truck coming in on the right. This is shown as Wood Rd. in the Gazetteer, but is known locally as Bundy Rd. It is not shown on the Madison County map. Park here. On the opposite side of Muller Hill Rd., and a few feet west of this intersection, look for the blue blazes, and some extra flagging, going north. This is the Link Trail. It is a beautiful walk through large spruce and then along a ravine, descending to and crossing Tioughnioga Creek on an old road culvert. You will then climb through hardwood forest and descend on switchbacks to Carpenter Hill Road .3 miles south on the entrance to Three-Springs State Forest. This trail section is 1.5 mi. long, over very interesting terrain. You can make it a round trip, or leave a second car on Carpenter Hill Rd.
You can hike the entire trail, too. Use the description above for the start from the Finger Lakes Trail. When you reach Crumb Hill Rd., turn left (west) .1 miles and right (north) on Wood Rd. This road is driveable .8 miles and then becomes a wood road. It traverses private land for .7 miles and then enters State land. Please stay on the trail and respect the rights of the private landowner. Follow the blue/white flagging (will be blue markers soon) to Muller Hill Rd. The total distance from the Finger Lakes Trail to Carpenter Hill Rd. is 5 mi. of varied and beautiful countryside.
We plan to have trail registers up this spring, too. Please record your comments about the Link Trail. We are interested in what you like, or do not like, about the new trail.
Work Hikes and Trail Stewards
Spring work on the Link Trail is now scheduled. There is still trail building and blazing to do.
Mark your calendars for the following Work Hike dates.
Saturday, April 18; Saturday, May 9; Saturday, May 16; Saturday, June 6--National Trails Day.
Meeting place is the parking lot on the south end of Cazenovia Lake, 9:30 a.m.
Tools: bring long-handled lop shears (not hedge trimmers), and/or small bow saw. No chain saws. Work is light trimming and removal of winter's debris from the ground area of the trail. Note that you need to fill out a no-cost, supplemental insurance form ahead of the work date for working on State land. Contact us.
We also need volunteers to be Trail Stewards. Some sections of the trail are ready now, or will be soon, for individual or partner stewards. When we reach our goal of Cazenovia by September 1, 1998, approximately 20 miles of trail will need maintenance by stewards. A steward's section will be from one to two miles and will require general maintenance.
What does "general maintenance" mean? It means cutting back berry bushes, weeds, and other growth along the trail; keeping the trailheads at road crossings open and clearly visible for hikers looking for the trail; replacing missing signs and blazes so that the trail is well marked.
Kathy Eisele, our Trail Chair, says, "I have (also) been a Finger Lakes Trail steward through ADK Onondaga for at least ten years. When I maintain my FLT section, I try to think about new hikers who want to feel secure on the trail without hunting for blazes or battling berry bushes.
"Notice that I said "my" section. Stewards often develop a…sense of ownership. Most trail work occurs from May to September, so each spring I look forward to walking "my" trail again for the first time to see what has happened over the winter. As spring moves to summer, I often see bluebirds, deer, and wildflowers when I am out maintaining "my" trail,"
Our Trail Chair notes also, that, as a trail steward, if you discover major damage, such as blowdown or logging debris, report it, and a club work crew will take care of the problem. "The Trail Steward's job is to keep an eye on a short section of trail, to do general maintenance, to report major problems, and enjoy being out on the trail and keeping it available for other hikers."
Trail Section Sponsor Program
Contact Al Larmann, Publicity, CNY Chapter North Trail Association, for information about the Link Trail, the CNY NCTA, or the North Country Trail.