Our Otsego: Exploring Southern Slopes and Silky Shores
By BILL BELLEN
OTSEGO COUNTY
“Our Otsego”: This is a title I feel is very befitting of this series. As we saw in the first installment of this four-part exploration of the state parks, forests, and waterway accesses that Otsego County has to offer [https://www.allotsego.com/towering-trees-and-vast-valleys-the-beauty-of-eastern-otsego/], the eastern bounds of the county also feature plentiful natural views and vistas. The state-preserved wilderness in the county is the cherry on top of the beauty and recreational opportunities “our Otsego” has at its disposal.
Lutheranville State Forest
Ironically enough, the first stop for Maria Griswold and me took us right to the eastern fringes, at the Otsego-Schoharie county border. Not far south of I-88 and East Worcester lies Lutheranville State Forest. An unassuming tract of land, the rugged roads and tall trunks of trees on all sides present a picture not unlike that of many destinations covered in our previous travelogue. However, the true prize here lies off the beaten path. Taking what appeared to be a snowmobile trail up the slopes, we eventually reached the path’s apex; but not the mountain’s. As we veered off-trail, much of the “bulldozed swath” of land described in the reports of some County Highpointers’ previous ascents in the early 2000s has certainly made a comeback. The age of these now-prevalent pines seemed to decline the higher we went, eventually reaching a point where we were squeezing through trees barely double our height. The extra sunlight passing through these lower limbs allowed for ferns to grow a couple of feet high, creating a weird feeling of wading on dry land. After much of this wading and limb dodging, we reached what GPS confirmed to be the high point of Otsego County. Though the overgrown nature of the surroundings made pinpointing an exact spot difficult, the general area around the high point consisted of clumped-together trees and a sizable fern field adjacent. Views were unfortunately hard to come by, due to the same natural boundaries, though this exploratory error would be rectified by a special guest later in our explorations.
Robert V. Riddell State Park
Continuing along the county line, our travels took us to Robert V. Riddell State Park. Split in two by the roaring route of I-88, this barrier creates two entirely different park experiences. The northern portion of the park houses the primary parking lot, as well as numerous meandering trails through forests, along farm fields, and down to the shores of Schenevus Creek. There is even a little bridge near the rear of the loop, though this section can become quite boggy if there has been any recent rain. Jumping across the highway, the south exhibits a stark contrast to the openness of its northern counterpart. The primary trail is accessed via a road pull-off and features a much hillier journey. These trails, depending on the route you take, can go on for miles, reaching locations like Mud Pond within the park and even venturing all the way to Hartwick College’s Pine Lake Campus near Davenport Center. The highlight vista was the park’s waterfall, located a little over a mile down the Mud Lake Trail. Found just off the trail after the first fork in its path, the stream was a calm trickle at the time of our arrival—though this is definitely not the case in the spring. The seat-sized boulders overlooking the waterfall allowed for a tranquil moment of peace, with the trickling water hitting the rocks providing the perfect white noise for a perfect picnic spot.
South Hill State Forest
With the most adventurous of the locations for this issue behind us, we drove back east to check out South Hill State Forest. Split nearly down the middle by the Otsego-Delaware county line, its lack of marked trails was made up for by the quality of its tight, but well-conditioned access roads. Small, grassy lots near bends in either of the two roads in the Otsego portion of the forest allow visitors to pull off and take a pleasant stroll along the dusty drive, with picturesque stone walls flanking the roadsides in many spots.
Hooker Mountain State Forest
Next was Hooker Mountain State Forest. Found east of Milford and north of Schenevus, this mountainous forest also features no marked trails, and roads that should probably not be traveled in poor conditions without a four-wheel-drive vehicle. To give them the credit they deserve though, the width of the roads provided a more comforting experience passing through the forest. This allowed for the drive to feel much more serene than claustrophobic.
Susquehanna State Forest
Moving southwest, the Susquehanna State Forest lies along the slopes of Crumhorn Mountain and the banks of the river from which it gets its name. The recently paved County Highway 35 provides a smooth ride through much of the forest scenery, with the southern reaches of the forest being blessed by the presence of the Crumhorn Fishing Access Site. This all-accessible boat launch has a sizable parking lot, a beautiful cove that leads into the Susquehanna and later Goodyear Lake, and a short but very scenic trail through the forest near the site. Though there has been some timber clearing closer to the main road, it does not stop this short trail from being one of the most awe-inspiring sites we have been to thus far. Despite its on-the-surface simplicity, the old-growth pines with the shoreline just yards away, and dozens of different peepers, birds, and other forest creatures making their respective calls, immerses you in a feeling I cannot say I have quite felt anywhere else.
Goodyear Lake Waterway Access
Following the current of the Susquehanna brings you shortly to the Colliersville Dam, and the adjacent Goodyear Lake Waterway Access. Commonly referred to as Silliman Cove, a name derived from both the road and the body of water beside the site, this access is once again all-accessible and features a large parking lot for its plentiful crowds of fishers and mariners. The gravel path takes you past an ongoing New York State Department of Environmental Conservation natural restoration effort and to the end of the outlet, where a viewing platform and nearby bench allow for two exceptional views of Goodyear Lake. Easily traversable for all ages, bike accessible, and featuring numerous “desire-paths” down to the water for swimming access, it is no wonder this site sees such heavy use during the summer months by both locals and tourists.
With this access site covered, we thought that our adventures for this article had come to an end. However, keen readers will recall the earlier mentioning of an ace up our sleeve for achieving a scenic view of Otsego County’s highest point. This came in the form of the gracious help of Bill Miller. Returning to Lutheranville State Forest, and using Miller’s wonderful aerial photography skills, we were able to capture this beautiful shot of the Otsego County high point; a view that quite literally captures the peak of our county.
Southern and southeastern Otsego County has a unique and awe-inspiring blend of mighty mountains and radiant rivers that flow between their valleys, adding to the catalog of geographic and natural wonder we are recording for our county. As we continue our journey westward, the shores of Butternut Creek will come into view, where many more forests and a beautiful Gilbert Lake await us. We hope you can once again join us there!
Editor’s note: More information on the forests and parks highlighted here can be found at https://dec.ny.gov/places.
