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Sugar Hill State Forest

primitive campinglean-tohuntingtrappinghikingfishingsnowmobilinghorseback ridingfire towerpicnicrestroomaccessible featuresparkingicon key

Starting May 17, 2021 the Sugar Hill Fire Tower Recreation Area has been re-opened for camping and day use. Camping is limited to 26 designated sites. A self-issued permit must be filled out when you arrive. There is no reservation system, if you arrive and all campsites are full you will have to find another location to camp.

Effective July 24, 2023, two campsites on Maple Lane, #34 and #35, are temporarily closed for an active timber harvest. Please use a different location until further notice.

Sugar Hill State Forest locator map

The 9,085-acre Sugar Hill State Forest has the multiple-use Six Nations Trail System, the Finger Lakes Hiking Trail, the Sugar Hill Recreation Area including the Sugar Hill Fire Tower, and five lean-tos.

Today, Sugar Hill and all state forests in New York are managed for multiple benefits to serve the needs of the people of New York. Sustainable management practices will ensure a perpetual supply of timber, a diversity of wildlife habitats, compatible recreational opportunities and clean water.

Featured Activities

Camping

primitive camping

General information on primitive camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The Sugar Hill Recreation Area, located at 3360 Tower Hill Rd, Watkins Glen, NY, is the largest designated camping area on Sugar Hill State Forest. Available on a first-come first-serve basis, the area is a nine-acre open field for camping. These 26 designated campsites have fire rings and picnic tables. Upon arrival, campers must fill out a self-issued camping permit. There is no reservation system, if you arrive and it is full you will have to find another location to camp.

Other facilities in the Rec Area include; a picnic area with picnic tables and pavilion, an accessible horse-mounting platform, open horse stalls, during summer months a restroom with potable water are available, and access to the Six Nations Trail System, as well as the Sugar Hill Fire Tower. The gate is opened to vehicle traffic, and the water turned on, from the 3rd Monday in May through the 3rd Monday in October of each year.

The Lower Evergreen Hill Rec Area, located off of Evergreen Hill Rd, is smaller and has picnic tables, fire rings, open horse stalls and a pit privy. New for 2021, three campsites have been designated. No trash pickup is provided. This is a carry in-carry out facility.

Individual campsites are located throughout the State Forest. These 19 additional primitive designated camping sites are semi-flat spots, some are graveled parking areas, others are small openings set back in the woods on topsoil, most with no other facilities provided.

Primitive backcountry 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. No trash pickup is provided. These are carry-in, carry-out facilities.

lean-to
Lean-to in the trees, benches and fire ring in front.
Buck Settlement Lean-to

Lean-to Camping :There are five Adirondack-style lean-tos at four different locations. Lean-tos must be shared to their capacity on a first-come, first-use basis, with no exclusive reservation allowed.

  • Buck Settlement Lean-to on the Finger Lakes Trail north of Templar Road and near Glen Creek;
  • Parks Hollow Lean-to on Mohawk Trail, north of Sugar Hill Road;
  • the Twin Lean-to's (Sugar Hill Lean-to #1 and #2) - on Seneca Trail, south of the Sugar Hill Rec Area;
  • and VanZandt Lean-to - on Seneca Trail, east of Tower Hill Road.

No trash pickup is provided. These are a carry in-carry out facilities.

Hunting & Trapping

hunting
trapping

Wildlife Management Unit: 8W

General information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Sugar Hill State Forest offers both small and big game hunting opportunities. White-tailed deer is the primary big game species. Small game include wild turkey, ruffed grouse, pheasant, woodcock, squirrels, cottontail rabbit, and waterfowl. Permanent tree stands and any equipment that damages trees are prohibited.

Hiking

hiking

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Located on the area is a portion of the Finger Lakes Trail (foot traffic only). Maintenance is done by the volunteers of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (leaves DEC website) under a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement. It is also a segment of The North Country National Scenic Trail (leaves DEC website). In addition, the multiple use Six Nations Trail System is a series of loops and spurs, covering about 35 miles.

Fishing

fishing

General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Spencer Pond is a one-acre, warm water, man-made pond on Tower Hill Road.

Snowmobiling

snowmobiling

General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The Six Nations Trail System is a series of loops and spurs, covering about 35 miles. Primarily horseback riding during the summer months, and snowmobile in the winter months when there is sufficient snow cover. In addition, hikers and cross-country skiers are welcome to use the trail system. Caution should be taken on some of the steeper sections along the trails. The main trail head is located at the Sugar Hill Rec Area on Tower Hill Road. A portion of the trail system is located on Goundry Hill State Forest. Some maintenance is done by the volunteers of the Trail Tamers Snowmobile Club (leaves DEC website) under a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement.

Horseback Riding

horseback riding

General information on horseback riding includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Proof of current negative Coggins certificate is required for all horses and out-of-state horse owners are required to produce a 30-day health certificate.

The Six Nations Trail System is a series of loops and spurs, covering about 35 miles. Primarily horseback riding during the summer months, and snowmobile in the winter months when there is sufficient snow cover. In addition, hikers and cross-country skiers are welcome to use the trail system.

Caution should be taken on some of the steeper sections along the trails. The main trailhead is located at the Sugar Hill Rec Area and includes a horse-mounting platform and stalls. A portion of the trail system is located on Goundry Hill State Forest. Some maintenance is done by the volunteers of the Trail Tamers Snowmobile Club (leaves DEC website) under a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement.

Fire Tower

fire tower

General information on fire towers includes historic and current uses of fire towers and links to other locations with fire towers.

The Sugar Hill Fire Tower is located in the Sugar Hill Rec Area, and was erected in 1941 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it is 75 feet tall and was staffed until 1979. Observation Cabin will be open Monday-Saturday during normal work hours from 3rd Monday in May to 3rd Monday in October. Otherwise, stairs to the top landing are open for climbing at your own risk. It is currently one of the last fire towers in New York State readily accessible to the public and affords a 15-mile view from the top of the stairs. In 1991, it was listed on the National Historic Lookout Register (leaves DEC website) celebrating its 50th year in existence.

Day Use/Picnic

picnic
restroom

The Sugar Hill Rec Area has a picnic area with tables, charcoal grills, picnic pavilion, and during summer months a restroom with potable water is available. Picnic tables are also located at the Lower Evergreen Hill Rec Area, but has just a pit privy and nearby stream for water.

Wildlife

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

New York's Finger Lakes encompasses a wide variety of habitats and landscapes made up of mountainous hills, forests, grasslands and wetlands. Everything from black bear to black-throated blue warblers and brook trout to wild turkey reside in the Finger Lakes of New York. The grasslands are home to a variety of bird species including northern harriers and state-endangered Henslow's sparrows. White-tailed deer and fisher thrive in the forested hills, while beaver and mink flourish in the wetlands. Visitors from across New York State flock to this area year round for its exquisite wildlife watching and unbeatable hunting.

Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities (MAPPWD)

General information on MAPPWD includes information on the program and links to the application and instructions.

The following routes are available for use by people with qualifying disabilities and a current permit between May 1st to 20th and September 15th to December 31st of each year. Five sections of the Six Nations Trail System, including portions of Seneca, A-Trail, Onondaga, and Mohawk Trails. Two lean-to locations can be reached using these routes. For more information, see the MAPPWD permit web page and Maps.

Accessible Features

accessible features

Pedestrian Accessible Features: The following features are designed to be wheelchair accessible and can be accessed via a pedestrian path from the public parking area:

  • The Sugar Hill Rec Area - horse-mounting platform; primitive campsite, restrooms; paved path to the picnic pavilion; picnic area.
  • The Lower Evergreen Rec Area - picnic tables and a pit privy.

For more information, see the Maps, Camping, or Horseback Riding sections.

Directions

  • Sugar Hill Rec Area Parking Lot - From Schuyler County Route 23, go south on Tower Hill Road, from Schuyler CR 16 go north on CR 21, then west on Tower Hill Road. The entrance is on the south side of Tower Hill Road. (42.390522°N, 77.003308°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website).
  • Lower Evergreen Hill Rec Area Parking Lot - From Schuyler CR 23 go south on CR 21 then west on CR 16 then north on Evergreen Hill Road. The entrance is on the west side of Tower Hill Road. (42.330149°N, 77.023156°W) 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 Sugar 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.

Follow the NYS firewood regulation to protect the forests you love from invasive insects and diseases.

Specific Rules

Sugar Hill Recreation Area Guidelines:

  • Quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.
  • Clean up after all your animals
  • No pets in bathrooms.
  • No smoking in any buildings, including stalls.
  • No horses in the picnic/fire tower area, or the side hill of the camping area.
  • No loose horses, dogs or other pets in the Sugar Hill Recreation Area.
  • No paddocks or electric fencing in camping or picnic area. Paddock and electric fence only in radio tower area.
  • No camper hookups to water spigot or electrical outlets.
  • No littering, use provided trash cans or "carry it in - carry it out".
  • No damaging live trees, including tying horses directly to them.

Planning and Management

DEC manages these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the Six Nations Unit Management Plan (PDF). In addition to management objectives, the UMP contains detailed information on natural features, recreational infrastructure, geology, natural & human history, habitats, wildlife, fisheries and much more.

If you have questions and/or comments about this UMP, please email us at r8.ump@dec.ny.gov

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information

State Lands and Facilities

Where to Find Nearby Amenities

  • Gas, food and other supplies as well as dining and lodging may be found in the nearby communities of Corning and Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce (leaves DEC website) and Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance (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.


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