Sandy Creek State Forest

• Open for recreation: Year-round
• Fee: Free
• Contact Information:
  • DEC Region 7 Altmar Office (M-F, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM), (315) 298-7467; [email protected]
  • 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: Town of Sandy Creek, Oswego County
• Wildlife Management Unit: 6K
• Map: Sandy Creek State Forest Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator

Sandy Creek State Forest encompasses 538 acres. Activities such as, hunting, trapping and nature observation are all popular at this state forest, which sits on the edge of the Tug Hill Plateau. Sandy Creek has no designated recreation trails but does have a fishing access site with parking on Cummings Road.

Directions

Sandy Creek State Forest may be accessed by taking NY I-81 to exit 36. Follow NY Route 11 North until Canning Factory Road where you take a right. Follow Canning Factory Road until Orton Road where you turn left. On Orton Road, curves and turns into Cummings Road. There is a fishing access parking area on Cummings Road, near Deer Creek.

• Cummings Road: (43.603033°N, 76.0801727°W) Google Maps 

All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.

Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety

Practice Leave No Trace Principles 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 Sandy Creek 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 has developed a Draft Eastern Lake Ontario Unit Management Plan which describes the proposed management activities for these lands. 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 [email protected].

Forest Management

Sandy Creek State Forest consists of a mix of mature natural hardwood, and northern hardwood-hemlock cover types. Species such as red maple, black cherry, white ash, sugar maple, American beech, yellow birch, red oak and hemlock decorate the woods with their foliage. Conifer plantations planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s and DEC planting through the 1950s can also be found throughout the property, consisting of mainly white pine, red pine, and spruce.

The responsibility of managing State Forests to enhance and maintain a diverse and healthy forest ecosystem for both society and wildlife falls to DEC Foresters. They strategically employ forest management principles to develop a balanced mix of young, middle-aged, and old (late successional) forest types that will continue to benefit New Yorkers for many generations to come.

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities and Other Information

State Lands and Facilities

• Trout Brook State Forest

Where to Find Nearby Amenities

• Gas, food, dining and lodging may be found in the nearby communities of Pulaski.

Oswego County Tourism Office 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 for information on outdoor guides.

History

The land that encompasses Sandy Creek State Forest was last molded 12,000 years ago with the receding of the last massive glacier that covered the ground. The rocks that were left behind, shale and sandstone, underlie the area and help define the region. High levels of precipitation from snow melt and rain supply an abundance of wetlands, streams and rivers, all noted for their pristine character.

The Roosevelt Administration developed the State Reforestation Law of 1929 and the Hewitt Amendment of 1931 in order to authorize 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, 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, recreation and kindred purposes" (Article 9, Titles 5 and 7, Environmental Conservation Law).

The majority of the land that now makes up Sandy Creek State Forest was originally purchased by New York State during the 1930s for reforestation purposes. Prior to this point, the landscape had been comprised of a matrix of crop lands, open fields, forest, meadows and homesteads. Unfortunately for many farmers, the upland soils that are commonly found in this area are thin, highly acidic, and predominately rocky and course. When taken together with the long, harsh winters which typically ravage the area, it is easy to understand why many of the early farms were unsuccessful.

Since the area was purchased by the State, Sandy Creek Forest has been managed to promote forest health, timber production, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. Today, the forest provides diverse economic, ecological and recreational services to the people of New York State.