Home > RecreationHorseback Riding in the Finger LakesTRAVELING WITH YOUR HORSEThe State of New York cares about the well being of the horses that live and travel in the state. If you're planning to travel through the State of New York with your horse, please review the material in the section on horses provided by the New York State Dept. of Agriculture and Markets. GENERAL INFORMATIONCompiling a list of horseback riding trails in the Finger Lakes is no easy task. There are no Web sites listing trails either for the Finger Lakes in general or by county. Some state and county sites mention that horseback riding is allowed in certain parks or forests, but rarely are maps provided. Two of the reasons for this are probably because horses often do considerable damage to trails and the height of a rider sitting on a horse requires trees to be limbed. Repairing trails and limbing trees are activities park and forest managers would rather not do if they can help it.
You, the horse rider, can do a lot to prevent your horse--and horses in general--from getting a bad rap. Pick and choose your trails and the time of year you ride these trails carefully. Don't ride trails that are nothing but leaf mold as this is the type of trail that is most easily damaged by horses. Don't ride over sensitive native plants like trilliums, orchids, and trout lilies as they plants tend to die out if trampled. Don't allow your horse to deficate on trails used by hikers or in or near streams.
Keep in mind the following when riding on state land: 1. Horses must have a negative Coggins test. 2. Horses are not allowed in camping areas. 3. Horses should not be tethered to live trees.
The following trails are listed on county and state Web sites as being open to horseback riding. Trail maps are generally not available. If you know of other trails not on this list, please contact the publisher at publisher{at}ilovethefingerlakes.com. Finding maps of state landsThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservtion (DEC) has a mapping system called Environmental Navigator. This system provides a wide variety of information. You can ask it to show DEC offices, interstate highways, railways, and other facilities. You can also ask it to show recreational lands and choose a variety of "visible layers" you want included such as state parks, waterways, etc. You then can choose "active layers" like "hiking trail," "horse trail," etc. This mapping system takes patience to use, but can provide you with a map if you devote the time to it. TRAILSThere is only one dedicated horse trail system in the Finger Lakes designed specifically for horses with trailer parking, water, and stalls. It is the Six Nations Trail in Schuyler County. All other trails are multiple-use trails with limited facilities. Some trails may be very short and not offer parking facilities. Check out each trail before making the effort to go. Cayuga CountyCato-Fair Haven Trail map Chemung County604 acres. Pryne Rd., Town of Chemung. Livingston County1287 acres. Scott Rd. (aka Scott Hill Rd.), Town of Ossian, Dansville, NY See also: http://home.eznet.net/~kfox/wny/sites/rtlsnake.htm#canaseraga 1303 acres. Bonner Rd., Town of Ossian, Dansville, NY see also: http://home.eznet.net/~kfox/wny/sites/rtlsnake.htm#canaseraga Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area Monroe CountyOnondaga CountyOntario CountySchuyler CountySee also: Cinnamon Lake 1786 acres. Hornby Rd., Beaver Dams, NY Seneca CountySteuben County1623 acres. Flanagan Rd., Hornell, NY 1062 acres. Duvall Rd. (aka Duran Rd.), in the Town of Hornby, Painted Post, NY 1813 acres. O'Brien Rd., Savona, NY. 704 acres. O'Haragan Rd. East in the Town of Greenwood 569 acres. Tracy Creek Rd., Addison, NY Tioga CountyTompkins CountyPark at the Chaffee/West Lake roads parking lot. It can accommodate horse trailers. There is no really good on-line map for this trail. If you have a trailer, the best place to park is on Burns Rd. in the Town of Ithaca. RegionalHorses are also allowed on all sections of the Genesee Valley Greenway. This 90-mile/145-kilometer linear trail system runs through Monroe, Livingston, Wyoming, Allegany, and Cattaraugus counties. Other SuggestionsState Route 390 Running west of Rochester for more than 20 mi./32 km. is State Route 390. It is a divided 4-line road with a large grassy area dividing the directions. The road runs right next to Lake Ontario and has a paved bike lane that is about 5 ft/1.5 m. wide. You can easily park in one of several boat launch areas along the route and ride either in the bike lane or on the grass to the right of the bike lane (stopping for lunch right on the lakeshore) or on the grassy divider. The west-to-east side is equally nice with trees providing shade. What's really nice about this road is that, despite the fact that it's a 4-lane highway, there's very little traffic, even during the summer.
Old Erie Canal State ParkTrail This scenic linear 36 mi./58 km. trail begins in Dewitt (Onondaga County) and ends in Rome (Oneida County). The surface is either stone dust or gravel. Park at Poolsbrook or Cedar Bay picnic areas and most intersections. This is a multi-use trail, so be prepared for bikers and hikers.
Erie Canal Heritage Trail This 100-mi./161 km. multi-use trail runs between Tonawanda in western New York and Newark in Wayne County. Parking is available at many of the access points. Sign kiosks containing maps and historic information are located at many trailheads. The trail surface is stone dust with some heavily used portions around Rochester done in asphalt. A nice access point is near Green Lakes State Park at the intersection of State Routes 257 and 290 in Onondaga County. The parking lot is large enough to accommodate horse trailers. Private Stables with TrailsHartford House 5 Avon Rd. Geneseo, NY 14454 585-243-2143 Cayuga Lakeside Stables 9186 Booth Rd. Trumansburg, NY 14886 607-387-9050 Copper Creek Farm 5041 Shortsville Rd. Shortsville, NY 14548 585-289-4441 8339-8347 Main St. Interlaken, NY 14847 607-330-2809 Liberty Stables 4318 Buckelew Rd. Bloomfield, NY 14469 585-229-2384 7520 West Hollow Rd. Naples, NY 14512 585-374-5056 Oakhill Farm Bed and Breakfast 8983 Oakland Rd. Nunda, NY 14517 585-468-5441 2158 Dumplin Hill Rd. Moravia, NY 13118 315-497-3478 (Must have own horse) 4093 Lake Ave. Burdett, NY 14818 607-216-8141 (Text only) 5016 S. Onondaga Rd. Nedrow, NY 13120 315-492-3404 Top Rock Stables 1544 County Road 23 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 607-535-8872 RIDING RETREATS5170 Kings Corners Rd. Romulus, NY 14541 607-869-5437 ACCOMMODATIONSBed & Breakfasts7417 Velie Rd. Hammondsport, NY 14840 607-569-2115 The Glass Magnolia Bed & Breakfast 8339-8347 Main St. Interlaken, NY 14847 607-330-2809 230 Slaght Rd. Andover, NY 14806 607-478-5171 7520 West Hollow Rd. Naples, NY 14512 585-374-5056 Oakhill Farm Bed and Breakfast 8983 Oakland Rd. Nunda, NY 14517 585-468-5441 Rentals2086 Goundry Hill Rd. Bradford, NY 14815 570-337-4219 CampingFinger Lakes National Forest 5218 State Route 414 Hector, NY 14841 607-546-4470 6448 Glen Cove Rd. Moravia, NY 13118 315-496-2310/315-496-2092 (Reservations required) 2068 Dumplin Hill Rd. Moravia, NY 13118 315-224-9085 Cottages/CabinsHartford House 5 Avon Rd. Geneseo, NY 14454 585-243-2143 2158 Dumplin Hill Rd. Moravia, NY 13118 315-497-3478 5016 S. Onondaga Rd. Nedrow, NY 13120 315-492-3404 CLUBS
Updated 15 August 2018
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