Long Pond State Forest
- Open for recreation: Year-round
- Fee: Free
- Contact Information:
- DEC Region Sherburne 7 Office (M-F, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM), (607) 674-4017; 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 Smithville, Chenango County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 7M
- Map: Long Pond State Forest Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
The 3,254-acre Long Pond State Forest offers a wide variety of habitats and recreational opportunities. The focal point of recreation on the forest is the 117-acre Long Pond.
Four miles of NYS snowmobile corridor trail pass through the forest. Several steel girder bridges have been constructed to enhance trail grooming. Snowmobilers, as well as hikers and equestrians, are welcome on the designated snowmobile trail during appropriate seasons. In addition, hunting for big and small game is a popular pursuit on the property. You can expect to encounter interesting terrain with many different plant and wildlife species.
Featured Activities
Boating
General information on boating includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.
Long Pond State Forest features boating on Long Pond. A boat launching ramp and parking area are located off State Route 41 at the northwestern corner of the pond. Non-motorized and motorized boats of 25 horsepower or less are permitted on Long Pond.
Paddling
General information on paddling includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.
Long Pond State Forest features paddling opportunities on Long Pond. The state forest features a hard surface boat ramp at the northwestern corner of the pond and a beach launch site in the northeastern corner of the pond.
Camping
General information on primitive camping includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.
Camping is permitted at designated sites only. There are 10 campsites around Long Pond, each of which has a fireplace, parking pad and access to a community latrine. These 10 camping sites around Long Pond are open all year on a first-come, first-served basis. A day use area with parking and picnic tables is located adjacent to the dam.
Fishing
General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.
Chain pickerel, largemouth bass and tiger musky are the main game fish found in Long Pond. Black crappie, yellow perch, bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish can also be found in the pond. Long Pond is a very popular ice fishing location. A former State record tiger musky was caught in Long Pond in 1983.
Nearby Strong Brook and Pond Brook are trout streams that course through the forest. The 28-acre glacial Round Pond also has fish to tempt anglers. Long Pond is stocked annually with approximately 350 tiger musky. Statewide fishing regulations apply.
Hiking
General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.
The snowmobile trail in the forest can be used as a hiking trail during the off-season.
Horseback Riding
General information on horseback riding includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
There is a short multiple-use trail at the south end of Long Pond, and the snowmobile corridor trail can be used for horseback riding from May 1 to October 31. 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.
Hunting & Trapping
General information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.
Long Pond State Forest is open to hunting and trapping during appropriate seasons .
Snowmobiling
General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rues rules and regulations.
Long Pond State Forest features four miles of NYS snowmobile corridor trails. Several steel girder bridges have been constructed to enhance trail grooming. Snowmobilers, as well as hikers and equestrians, are welcome on the designated snowmobile trail during appropriate seasons.
Wildlife
General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.
The portions of Long Pond State Forest that are maintained as grassland are included in the Long Pond Bird Conservation Area. The New York Bird Conservation Area (BCA) Program was established in 1997 to safeguard and enhance bird populations and their habitats on state lands and waters.
The diverse cover types on this property include hardwood and conifer (plantation) forests, young regenerating forests, old fields, shrublands, reverting farmland, wooded swamp, shrub wetlands, and numerous ponds and wetlands. The more than 400 acres of grass and brush land on this property support breeding populations of two sparrow species of special concern, the Henslow sparrow and grasshopper sparrow. Both bird species require large areas of grassland to survive, and their habitat is shrinking elsewhere across the state. New York's official State bird, the bluebird, is also listed as a species of special concern because of habitat loss. Visitors will notice over two dozen strategically placed bluebird houses. These houses have attracted several nesting pairs.
A mature hardwood-hemlock forest is located south of Long Pond. This forest, interspersed with wetlands, constitutes a section of over 300 acres excluded from timber harvesting. The area contains large specimens of hemlock, some over 125 years old. Within this area, the threatened red-shouldered hawk nests. The birds utilize the wetlands when hunting for food and the mature hardwood forest for nesting. The hawk migrates back to the forest in early April, and can be seen soaring over Long Pond.
Accessible Features
General information on accessible recreation includes links to other locations with accessible recreation opportunities and information on permits for motorized access.
The Long Pond Fishing Pier is located on the west side of State Route 41, approximately two miles north of the hamlet of Smithville Flats.
Directions
To access the Long Pond State Forest, take State Highway 41 East from Cincinnatus, or West from Greene. The fishing access site is located on this route.
- NYS Route 41 features six parking areas in Long Pond State Forest all within one mile of each other. The Boat Launch Parking Area is the farthest west. (42.422495°N, 75.851064°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Round Pond Road Pull-off Parking Area is located on Round Pond Road east of its intersection with Marvin Road. (42.399858°N, 75.848532°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Tarbell Road features two parking areas:
- A pull-off near its intersection with State Road, south of Long Pond (42.414925°N, 75.844617°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- In the southeastern corner of the state forest (42.407281°N, 75.821798°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Nelson Road Pull-off is located in the northeastern corner of the state forest. (42.438495°N, 75.821595°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 lands to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, minimize impact on natural resources, and avoid conflicts with other users.
All users of Long Pond State Forest must follow all State Land Use Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices to ensure personal safety and protection of the resource.
Planning and Management
DEC manages these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the Long Pond 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 the UMP, please email us at R7Forestry@dec.ny.gov.
History
Over a thousand acres of the forest were originally purchased in the 1930s, using funds from the Hewitt Amendment. Old farm fields were reforested to white pine and spruce. Native species of American beech, black cherry, white ash, sugar and red maple and eastern hemlock can be found here. An additional 2,200 acres were purchased in 1963 from the Tarbell estate.
The Tarbell family ownership dated back to 1875, when Eli Tarbell purchased 500 acres around Long Pond. A water-driven sawmill and dam were erected on the pond. Hemlock from the surrounding forest was sawn there. In 1903, the Tarbells began purchasing dairy cows. During the 1940s and 1950s, the farm flourished as a model of efficiency. The farm employed 35 people, maintained 445 purebred Guernsey cows and bottled 2,800 quarts of milk daily. The "Golden Guernsey" milk was shipped by rail to many of New York City's finest restaurants. Today, visitors enjoy exploring the ruins of the Tarbell homestead on the property.
Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information
State Lands and Facilities
Where to Find Nearby Amenities
- Gas, food and dining can be found in the nearby communities of Smithville Flats and Norwich.
- Lodging can be found in the nearby communities of Norwich and Sidney.
Chenango 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 online 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 online for listings.
Consider hiring an outdoor guide if you are little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association (leaves DEC website) for information on outdoor guides.
