Turkey Hill State Forest
- Open for recreation: Year-round
- Fee: Free
- Contact Information:
- DEC Region 7 Cortland Office (M-F, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM), (607) 753-3095; R7Forestry@dec.ny.gov
- Search, rescue, wildfire, and enforcement matters: 911- or - 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264)
A local Forest Ranger is a valuable source of information for the state land you would like to visit.
- Location: Towns of Berkshire and Richford, Tioga County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 7R
- Map: Turkey Hill State Forest Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
Turkey Hill State Forest encompasses 1,119 acres. It is a popular area for recreational activities including hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, bird watching, and nature viewing. There are 1.3 miles of recreational access provided by the Public Forest Access Road that cuts through the southern portion of the forest. Although there are no formal trails on Turkey Hill, hiking is allowed anywhere on the property unless posted otherwise.
Featured Activities
Camping
General information on primitive camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Primitive camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
Fishing
General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules and regulations.
Fishing is limited to small headwater streams and a small pond north of NYS Route 79.
Hunting & Trapping
General information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations. Hunting and trapping are allowed during appropriate seasons.
Snowmobiling
General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Turkey Hill State Forest currently provides 2.0 miles of snowmobile trails.
Wildlife
General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.
Wildlife viewing is popular at Turkey Hill. Early successional seedling/sapling sized forest provides critical habitat for a suite of birds that require young, dense vegetation for breeding, nesting, and foraging. The list of birds that inhabit the forest include: the ruffed grouse, American woodcock, white-throated sparrow, American goldfinch, Rufous-sided towhee, chestnut sided warbler, yellow warbler, blue-winged warbler, white-eyed vireo, alder flycatcher, willow flycatcher, least flycatcher, hermit thrush, brown thrasher, indigo bunting, gray catbird and, of course, the wild turkey after which the forest was named.
Mammals such as the red fox, gray fox, white tailed deer, eastern cottontail, woodland vole, eastern chipmunk, woodchuck, southern bog lemming and the meadow jumping mouse can all be found thriving within the early successional forest habitat. There are also 24 species of reptiles and amphibians confirmed or predicted in the area, including The red back salamander, pickerel frog and the painted turtle.
Directions
Turkey Hill State Forest may be accessed by taking NY Route 38 toward Richford, then turn onto NY Route 79 east. Travel about 1 mile until Payne Marsh Road, and turn right. Continue approximately 0.7 miles, then turn left onto Tubbs Hill Road which bisects the forest. A Public Forest Access Road can be reached from Tubbs Hill Road.
- Tubbs Hill Road: (42.3505096,-76.1443809) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
Practice Leave No Trace Principles (leaves DEC website) when recreating on state land to enjoy the outdoors responsibly; minimize impact on the natural resources and avoid conflicts with other users.
All users of Turkey Hill State Forest must follow all State Land Use Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.
Planning and Management
DEC manages these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the Rockefeller Unit Management Plan (PDF). In addition to management objectives, the UMP contains detailed information on natural features, recreational infrastructure, geology, natural and human history, habitats, wildlife, fisheries and much more.
If you have questions and/or comments about this UMP, please email us at R7Forestry@dec.ny.gov.
Forest Management
Seemingly solitary and uninhabited, Turkey Hill State Forest is a great place to experience the look and feel of an undeveloped managed forest. The landscape of the area is a dense mosaic of different cover types, including oak, red pine, and spruce. However, the ice storm that hit the area in 2003 also created plenty of early successional habitat for plants and animals to flourish.
History
Most of the land encompassing what is today known as Turkey Hill State Forest was purchased during the 1930s. Prior to this point, the land had been cleared of the natural vegetation and used for agriculture by early European settlers and Revolutionary War Veterans. However, soils common in the area have major limitations for intensive crop production, including a seasonally high water table, low fertility, moderate to high acidity, and erodibility on steep slopes. Early farmers quickly learned that the combination of long, harsh winters and thin, fine textured upland soils would not support intensive agriculture. As such, many of the farmlands were abandoned as farmers sought more fertile land in the Midwest.
Fortunately, the State Reforestation Law of 1929 and the Hewitt Amendment of 1931 set forth the legislation that authorized the Conservation Department (now DEC) to acquire land, by gift or purchase, for reforestation areas. These state forests, consisting of no less than 500 acres of contiguous land outside the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, were to be "forever devoted to reforestation and the establishment and maintenance thereon."
Management is defined as including watershed protection, the production of timber and other forest products, recreation and kindred purposes. (Article 9, Titles 5 and 7, Environmental Conservation Law). Today, DEC)oversees the management of the lands acquired, including Turkey Hill State Forest, which now provides diverse ecological, economic, and recreational services for the people of New York State.
Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information
State Lands and Facilities
Where to Find Nearby Amenities
- Gas, food, dining and lodging may be found in the nearby communities of Ithaca, Richford and Whitney Point.
Tioga County Tourism Office (leaves DEC website) can provide information about other recreation, attractions and amenities in this area.
Numerous guidebooks and maps are available with information on the lands, waters, trails and other recreational facilities in this area. These can be purchased at most outdoor equipment retailers, bookstores, and on-line booksellers.
Additional information, outdoor equipment, trip suggestions and guided or self-guided tours may be obtained from outdoor guide and outfitting businesses. Check area chambers of commerce, telephone directories or search the internet for listings.
Consider hiring an outdoor guide if you have little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association (leaves DEC website) for information on outdoor guides.
