Andersen Hill State Forest
Andersen Hill State Forest (Tioga #4) encompasses a mere 554 acres of completely forested land in the town of Richford in Northern Tioga County. While it may be somewhat small, it is still a great place to visit if you're looking for natural beauty and an opportunity to explore managed upland forests of New York State's Allegheny Plateau.
History
Cleared for pasture and cropland by European settlers and Revolutionary War Veterans, the land that is now Andersen Hill State Forest offered limited reward for most farming attempts. The upland soils of the Allegheny Plateau are characteristically thin, steep and acidic. When combined with harsh winters and short growing seasons, the land proved unproductive and high elevation farms were abandoned as settlement was attempted elsewhere. The State Reforestation Law of 1929 and the Hewitt Amendment of 1931 set forth new legislation that authorized the Conservation Department [the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) predecessor] to acquire land, by gift or purchase, for reforestation areas. These state forests, consisting of no less than 500 acres of contiguous land, were to be "forever devoted to reforestation and the establishment and maintenance thereon of forests for watershed protection, the production of timber and other forest products, for recreation and kindred purposes" (Article 9, Title 5, Environmental Conservation Law).
The majority of Andersen Hill State Forest was purchased from 1938-1942, with two additional purchases made in 1962 and 1975. According to Department records, the Slaterville Springs Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp S-125 hand planted more than 61,000 tree seedlings between 1939 and 1940. In 1954 and 1963, New York State Conservation Department employees planted an additional 111,000 seedlings using a tractor and spade. In total, approximately eighty-five percent of the tree seedlings were softwood species, with Norway spruce, red pine and white spruce being the most frequently planted species representing over sixty percent of the seedlings planted.
Field Notes
Andersen Hill State Forest provides excellent habitats for many different species of plants and animals. Birds, amphibians, and mammals such as the Acadian flycatcher, American woodcock, Cerulean warbler, scarlet tanager, turkey, northern saw-whet owl, wood thrush, ruffed grouse, spotted salamander, grey tree frog, white tailed deer, gray squirrel, red squirrel, chipmunk and little brown bat call the forest home. Within the canopy of upland hardwoods and conifers, the world within the woods is almost completely sealed off from the worries of modern society.
Rustic and undeveloped, Andersen Hill is great for activities such as hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, and snowmobiling. The forest has a marked snowmobile trail about 0.5 miles in length that is maintained by an Adopt-A-Natural-Resource (AANR) partner. The trail connects to a larger trail network.
Interior access to the state forest is provided by a 1.6 mile seasonal public forest access road (PFAR). Additionally, a cooperative fishing access site developed by the DEC and the Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) provides excellent public access to the West Branch of Owego Creek. The public fishing access site is located on the west side of West Creek Road, about four tenths of a mile south of NY Route 79. DEC Bureau of Fisheries staff stock the West Branch with over 5,000 brown trout annually.
Andersen Hill State Forest is managed to provide a mix of young (early successional), middle-aged (mid-successional) and old (late successional) forest habitats. Forest managers apply sustainable ecosystem management based principles to conserve, protect, enhance, and sustain the many values and services that state land provides to the public.
***Stay Safe- Bring A Friend When Out On The Trails***
Directions:
From Ithaca, New York: Take NY 79 east toward the Tioga County hamlet of Richford for about 15 miles, then turn south on West Creek Road for 2/10 of a mile and make a left turn onto Andersen Hill Road. Follow Andersen Hill Road for 1.5 miles - the Andersen Hill State Forest public access road will be on your left.
From Richford, New York: Take NY 38 south for about 3/4 of a mile to Andersen Hill Road. Make a right turn and head west on Andersen Hill Road for about 1.8 miles - the Andersen Hill State Forest public access road will be on your right.
Tips for Using State Forests
For your safety and protection of the resource, please read and follow the Tips for Using State Forests.
Important Numbers:
State Forest Office (M-F 8am - 4 pm): 607-753-3095 ext. 217
Emergencies: 911
