Rome Sand Plains Unique Area
- Open for recreation: Year-round
- Fee: Free
- Contact Information:
- DEC Region 6 Herkimer Office (M-F, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM), (315) 866-6330; information.r6@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: City of Rome, Oneida County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 6K
- Map: Rome Sand Plains Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
The Rome Sand Plains encompass a large number of acres owned and managed by several different entities. What makes this place so special is the fact that it is a true inland pine barren interspersed with sand dunes, peat bogs and some other interesting wetland habitats.
The Rome Sand Plains Unique Area is managed by DEC and comprises about 1,786 acres at present. Some 1,570 acres of adjacent land is managed by The Nature Conservancy (leaves DEC website). Others who own public recreation lands in the area include Oneida County (roughly 760 acres) and the Izaak Walton League (roughly 440 acres).
Featured Activities
Hiking
General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Wood Creek Trail: llow this gentle trail (1.2 miles round trip) along the crest of a towering dune to the banks of historic Wood Creek. The trail begins off a small parking lot on Hogsback Road. Visitors here are greeted by two informational signs which describe the geological formation of the sand dunes and the history of the east-west navigation on Wood Creek. Be sure to sign in at the trail register. The first part of the trail cuts through an open sandy area with scattered pitch pines and barren openings of moss and lichens. One of the projects the Management Team and local colleges have undertaken in this area is the reestablishment of blue lupines. A lucky May visitor can see these beautiful flowers which are essential to the survival of the endangered frosted elfin butterfly. Then the trail winds through a variety of forest cover types. There are tall white pine, hemlock and oak on the trail where it cuts along the side of this outstanding example of a ancient sand dune. The trail then drops down to the shrubby flood plain of Wood Creek.
Sand Dune Trail: is 0.7-mile-long trail starts at a former sand mining pit. Note what a sand dune looks like in cross-section - gently sloping windward side and steeply sloping leeward side. Follow the trail along old wood roads and logging paths for a walk on the dune. The pitch pines and other vegetation keep the sand dune stable against prevailing westerly winds. On the back side of the dune, it drops sharply off into forested wetlands.
Beaver Creek Trail: This 1.8-mile-long trail follows old logging roads through the woods to a high bluff overlooking Beaver Creek in the heart of the Sand Plains.
Red, Blue and Yellow (Beaver Dam Trail) Trails: These interconnected trails are found on the north side of Oswego Road and total about 4.2 miles in length.
- Red Trail: This trail is the only trail in this group that begins and ends on Oswego Road, forming an arc that is about 1 mile in length.
- Blue Trail: This is a loop trail about 1.3 miles in length. This trail intersects the Red Trail about 0.2 mile north of Oswego Road in on the western end of the Red Trail.
- Yellow Trail (Beaver Dam Trail): This trail loops off of the Red Trail and is 1.9 miles in length. This trail intersection is at 0.3 mile along the western end of the Red Trail or 0.2 mile along the eastern end of the Red Trail. This trail wanders through a wetland complex that was originally formed by beavers. Any number of wetland species, both plant and animal, may be seen depending on the time of year. This trail is also notoriously buggy, insect repellant is highly recommended during the summer.
Fishing
General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules and regulations
Beaver Creek is a protected trout stream that runs through the northwest corner of the DEC-managed lands. Wood Creek is not listed as a trout stream, but likely has warm water species such as bass and sunfish in it.
North Central NY Fishing provides information on fishing in the area and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.
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 is allowed on the DEC-managed lands. Deer and grouse are the species most sought after here. While not as popular as hunting, this area does see some trapping activity. The wetlands and small streams make good habitat for fur bearing species.
Snowmobiling
General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
A major snowmobile trail runs along the abandoned railroad right-of-way that runs through The Nature Conservancy managed lands between Oswego Road and Humaston Road. The snowmobile trails in the area are groomed and maintained by the West Rome Riders (leaves DEC website) through a volunteer stewardship agreement.
Watchable Wildlife
General information on watchable wildlife includes tips for viewing wildlife and links to other watchable wildlife locations.
Rome Sand Plains is one of only a handful of inland pine barrens in the nation. This natural treasure consists of high sand dunes, low peat bogs, pine barrens, hardwood forests, meadows, wetlands and one of the largest beaver ponds in the state. The sand plains are a favorite place to visit for nature lovers from all over. Unique bird life, butterflies and plants make it a popular destination for student field trips, birdwatching groups and other outdoor enthusiasts. More than six miles of marked trails enhance the experience.
This area is home to a resident population of the frosted elfin butterfly, a species considered threatened in New York State. In an effort to encourage the frosted elfins and to perhaps one day become habitat for the endangered Karner blue butterfly, quite a bit of effort has been spent on managing wild blue lupine, which is a food source. A great time to visit this area is the spring, when the lupines are in bloom.
Photo Credits: Neil Satterly; Jim McCormac (Ohio DNR); Stephen Litwhiler (DEC)
Wildlife to Watch
- Frosted elfin butterfly (endangered)
- Woodland warblers
- Ruffed grouse
- Red-shouldered hawk
- Beaver
- Spotted turtle
Where to Watch
- Pine barrens
- Hardwood forests
- Sand dunes
Directions
Hogsback Road and Oswego Road are the two main roads through the DEC managed portion of the Rome Sand Plains. From the City of Rome take Route 46, 49 and 69 through the city. At the intersection where Route 69 continues straight and Route 46 and 49 goes to the left, follow Route 46 and 49 to the left. At about 2.2 miles, Oswego Road will be on the right. About 1 mile up Oswego Road, Hogsback Road will be on the left.
- Beaver Brook trailhead (43.24134637°N, 75.575231062°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Sand Dune trailhead (43.229413°N, 75.568233°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Wood Creek trailhead (43.232299°N, 75.583422°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Access to the only target shooting area on site is from the south side of Hogsback Road, about 1.3 miles west of the intersection with Oswego Road and about 1 mile east of the intersection with Lauther Road. There is a small pull off and a gate. A narrow road goes generally south for about 0.3 mile. Walking this road (the road is for administrative vehicle access use only) brings you to an open area with a large sand dune. Target shooting is allowed at the sand dune at the end of this road. (43.230733°N, 75.577536°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
- Please note that the Rome Sand Plains Unique Area is a Carry-In, Carry-Out area. Please collect all brass and shells after target shooting. Breakable targets are not allowed on State Lands, and damaging trees by shooting them is not allowed.
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 Rome Sand Plains Unique Area 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.
Specific Rules
- Mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are all permitted on the property, however, there are no currently maintained trails for these activities.
- Camping is not allowed anywhere within the unique area.
- Please collect all brass and shells after target shooting. Breakable targets are not allowed on State Lands, and damaging trees by shooting them is not allowed.
Planning and Management
DEC manages these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the Rome Sand Plains Unique Area Unit Management Plan. 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 r6.ump@dec.ny.gov.
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has used its science-based approach to conservation management to help plan for pine barrens restoration and undertake restoration of wild blue lupine in order to support and expand the rare frosted elfin butterfly and eventually to reintroduce federally endangered Karner blue butterfly.
On TNC properties within the Sand Plains, public access by foot is allowed. White-tailed deer may be hunted by permit. Proof of liability insurance is required and hunters are asked to volunteer for 1-2 days of work on the property during the non-hunting season. Trapping and small game hunting are not allowed.
Izaak Walton League
The Izaak Walton League manages its property for recreation and outdoor education use. Cross country skiing, hiking and biking are allowed on the property. During open seasons, hunting and trapping are allowed under a special permit the individuals first obtain from the chapter president. There are no fires, motorized vehicles or camping allowed.
The parking lot for access to the trails is located on West Thomas Street. Get there by turning from the combined routes 46, 49 and 69 onto Gifford Road, just east of where route 69 splits off. Travel on Gifford Road to the stop sign. Turn left onto West Thomas Street. The parking lot is one-half mile down the road on the left.
Oneida County
The Oneida County's holdings encompass approximately 770 acres in the western end of the Rome Sand Plains. The County's lands are managed for timber production by the county forester and include substantial wetlands. The County's property includes a fire training tower as well as a former roadway to Teelins Pond. The County allows public use of its property, including hunting and trapping. Its policy is to suppress all fires.
Geology
The Sand Plains' geologic origins date to the end of the last ice age when this area stood on the shores of ancient Lake Iroquois. This glacial lake encompassed much of what is now Central New York, including Lake Ontario. The prevailing westerly winds blew fine grain sands to the area which accumulated in the shallow areas of the eastern shore of the lake. Wide swaths of sand were exposed at Rome when the glaciers receded and the lake water began draining out through the St. Lawrence River. The west winds then blew the sands into high dunes in the sparsely vegetated area.
The remnants of some of the remaining sand dunes are best seen around the Hogsback Road, where the high dunes have low areas between them. The low areas have become the peat bogs of today. The dunes now support a pine barren ecology normally found only in coastal areas. Interspersed are northern hardwoods and transitional open meadows. The mosaic of habitats created by the unique geology of the area make the Sand Plains a rich ecological, as well as geologic, resource.
History
Wood Creek, which flows through the southern portion of the Sand Plains, figured prominently in the history of the Iroquois Nation and that of the settlement and building of the United States. This meandering creek was a transportation route for the indigenous Iroquois people and later became a major conduit for American settlers traveling westward.
Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information
State Lands and Facilities
- Fish Creek State Forest
- Canada Creek State Forest
- Rome Wildlife Management Area
- Rome Fish Hatchery
- Delta Lake State Park (leaves DEC website)
- Verona Beach State Park (leaves DEC Website)
Where to Find Nearby Amenities
- Gas, dining opportunities, lodging, food and other supplies may be found in the nearby communities of Rome, Taberg, Vienna, Sylvan Beach and Verona.
Oneida County Tourism (leaves DEC website) and City of Rome (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.
