Shindagin Hollow 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: Town of Caroline, Tompkins County and Town of Candor, Tioga County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 7R
- Map: Shindagin Hollow State Forest Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
Shindagin Hollow State Forest covers 5,318 acres. Its large size and good access from public roads make this a great forest to enjoy activities such as mountain biking, hunting, hiking, snowmobiling, bird watching, and primitive camping. Target shooting is prohibited on Shindagin Hollow State Forest.
Featured Activities
Hiking
General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.
There are several recreational trails that offer explorers a one-of-a-kind experience when visiting this forest. The Finger Lakes Hiking Trail (FLT) (leaves DEC website) crosses the forest, providing a well-marked hiking trail in a forest setting. About 5 miles of the FLT is on Shindagin Hollow State Forest and is maintained through a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement with the Cayuga Trails Club and the Finger Lakes Trails Conference. Hiking is allowed anywhere on the property unless posted otherwise.
Camping
General information on primitive camping includes how-to and safety tips with 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.
The Shindagin Hollow lean-to, built and maintained by trail volunteers, provides a great resting spot under the shade of towering eastern white pines. The lean-to is located along the trail at geographic coordinates 42.32761°N, 76.32905°W.
Biking
General information on biking includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.
Shindagin Hollow State Forest is a well known place for mountain bicycling. A total of 20 miles of mountain bike trails is maintained through a DEC Volunteer Stewardship Agreement with Cycle-CNY, an International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) affiliated club.
Fishing
General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.
Fishing information for Central NY is available.
Hunting & Trapping
General information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.
Snowmobiling
General information on snowmobiling includes how-to, safety tips, and links to rules and regulations.
11 miles of snowmobile trails cross the forest and are maintained by the Candor Valley Rider Snowmobile Club through a volunteer stewardship agreement.
Cross-country Skiing & Snowshoeing
General information on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing includes how-to, safety tips, and links to rules and regulations.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on all hiking 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.
Common mammals found on the unit include white tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock, black bear, eastern cottontail rabbits and rabbits. The unit and its surrounding landscape also provide significant habitats for many species of breeding birds.
Accessible Features
General information on accessible recreation includes links to other locations with accessible recreation opportunities and information on permits for motorized access.
There are 2.5 miles of trail in the western part of the forest for ATV use by individuals with mobility impairments that possess a DEC permit through the Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities (MAPPWD).
Directions
Take NY RT 79 into the hamlet of West Slaterville and turn south on Boiceville Road for about 0.6 of a mile. Travel straight (south) onto Central Chapel Road for about 2.6 miles, then turn right on Brearley Hill Road and travel south for about 0.5 mile to the mountain bike trail head parking lot. Brearley Hill Road is plowed.
- Brearley Hill Road: (42.34508°N, 76.34987°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
Additional parking for the Finger Lakes Hiking Trail is available about 1 mile to the south of the mountain bike trailhead parking lot.
- Mountain biking trailhead parking lot: (42.32991°N, 76.35076°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
In addition, Shindagin Hollow Road provides seasonal access to the western and central portions of the forest. From Route 79 one can also go south on Buffalo Road to South Road to reach the eastern half of the forest.
All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
Target shooting is prohibited on Shindagin Hollow State Forest.
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 Shindagin 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 Rapid Waters Unit Management Plan (UMP). 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
Shindagin Hollow State Forest has many different wildlife habitats, created by deliberate forest management over the last eight decades. DEC forest managers conserve, protect and enhance forest ecosystems by developing a mix of young (early successional), middle-aged and old (late successional) forest types. State forests are managed to conserve water quality, and to provide diverse wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and a sustainable supply of locally grown forest products such as firewood and sawtimber.
History
The Shindagin Hollow State Forest is located on the Allegheny Plateau, which is made of sedimentary bedrock that formed approximately 350 million years ago when the region was covered by an ancient saltwater sea. Geologists believe that the plateau was created during a collision of the North American and African continents about 250 to 330 million years ago. The collision lifted the bedrock, which has since been shaped by continual weathering and the advance and retreat of continental ice sheets (glaciers). The glaciers created the 'U' shaped valleys of the region and the Finger Lakes. The last glacier left New York State about 10,000 years ago.
Human settlement followed the retreat of the glacier. Tompkins County was originally home to members of the Iroquois Confederation or Haudenosaunee, specifically the Cayuga Nation. The Haudenosaunee was established in circa 1570 under the influence of Hiawatha. It was a bond between five nations: the Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, Mohawk, and the Onondaga. In 1715, the Tuscarora nation was added making it a league of six nations. The Cayugas, who were the main inhabitants of the Tompkins County area, did not use the land heavily. They had semi-permanent dwellings placed near freshwater sources which enabled them to locate and transport game, as well as irrigate their crops without causing great stress to the land.
Early settlers and Revolutionary War Veterans referred to the area as "Dark Forest" because the forest was so dense that only small traces of light penetrated through the canopy. However, the new settlers had many superstitions involving forests, and they had little or no experience in producing forest goods. They therefore decided to clear the area almost entirely for use as farmland. The timber that was not used for carpentry was burned, becoming a valuable by-product known as potash. This process continued until almost the entire land was converted from dense forest to open fields, leaving the landscape seemly forever changed.
Soils on area hilltops, however, have major limitations for intensive crop production, including a seasonally high water table, low fertility, moderate to high acidity and 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 sold or abandoned as farmers sought more fertile lands in the Midwest.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the landscape would be transformed again. In order to reduce soil erosion, protect water quality, and provide forest products and recreational opportunities, the State of New York began acquiring property for reforestation during the 1930s under the auspices of the State Reforestation Law of 1929 and the Hewitt Amendment of 1931. These laws allowed the Conservation Department (now DEC) to acquire land, by gift or purchase, for reforestation. Properties had to be a minimum of 500 acres of contiguous land.
Although the Hewitt Amendment was a major acquisition catalyst throughout New York State, about 73% of Shindagin Hollow State Forest was acquired from the federal government in January of 1956. From 1933 to 1937, as part of Roosevelt Administration's New Deal, the federal government purchased about 8 million acres in the Appalachians through what was called the sub-marginal land purchase program. Van Etten Civilian Conservation Corp. Camp S-81, Caroline Center Youth Camp and New York State Conservation Department crews planted more than 2,231,700 tree seedlings on 2,105 acres from 1935 to 1952. Most of the seedlings were softwood species such as red pine, white pine, Norway spruce and Scotch pine. Today, forest covers about 67% of the surrounding landscape, while crop land and pasture cover about 27%.
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 and Candor.
Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau (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.
