A season-by-season guide to

The Best Hike/Bike/Ski Trails
in Central & Western New York

By Sue Freeman, Footprint Press, author of Take a Hike, Take Your Bike!, and many other guides to the natural beauty of western New York State.

Maps, directions to find the trailheads, information on length and difficulty, and everything you need to know about these trails to have a fun family adventure can be found in the various Footprint Press guidebooks. These books can be found in all local area bookstores, or from the Footprint Press online catalog.

Winter

1. Harriet Hollister Spencer Memorial State Recreation Area south of Honeoye Lake offers a groomed network of trails that sit at a high elevation so they almost always have snow, and it's free. (Snow Trails, page 116 and Take A Hike - Finger Lakes, page 104 and Take Your Bike - Finger Lakes, page 115)

2. Highland Forest in Fabius, Onondaga County, has 20 miles of groomed ski trails. (Snow Trails, page 200)

3. Go skiing or snowshoeing at night on the lit trails at Bryncliff Resort in Varysburg. (Snow Trails, page 62)

4. Hike or snowshoe to the top of Bare Hill on the west side of Canandaigua Lake for a panoramic view of the lake below. (Take A Hike - Finger Lakes, page 107)

5. Ski the 24 miles of groomed trails at Art Roscoe Cross-country Ski Area in Allegany State Park in Salamanca. (Snow Trails, page 28)

6. Explore the labyrinth of trails in Webster Park in Webster. (Snow Trails, page 76)

7. Ski the trails of James B. Kennedy State Forest in Virgil to the top of Virgil Mountain, the highest point in Cortland County. (Snow Trails, page 213 and Peak Experiences, page 61)

8. Rent snowshoes at Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, Genesee Country Nature Center in Mumford, Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo, Cumming Nature Center west of Canandaigua Lake, or Waterman Conservation Education Center in Alapachin and see why this sport is growing in popularity. (Snow Trails, pages 186, 88, 42, 112, 142.)

9. Trails for all levels of ability, covering 28 miles, await at Phillips Creek and Palmer's Pond State Forests in West Almond. (Snow Trails, page 130)

10. Ski, snowshoe or hike on a trail parallel to the mighty Niagara River at Buckhorn Island State Park on Grand Island. (A free map is available at Footprintpress.com under X-country Ski & Snowshoe Books, Snow Trails - Cross-country Ski & Snowshoe in central & Western New York.) (Snow Trails, page 48)