CNYHikes

            Highland Forest County Park is one of Onondaga County's forever protected pieces of open space and wilderness that I've become very familiar with over the past decade.  There are several other parks run by the county (see Beaver Lake Nature Center depicted in an older blog of mine), yet the breadth, sheer size, and beauty of Highland Forest make it a jewel, in my view.  Its more tucked-away, semi-remote location in Onondaga's southeasternmost corner make it feel farther away from civilization than it actually is, and yet man-made structures (like the handsome Adirondack-style Skyline Lodge at the park's entrance) only enhance its qualities.  There are miles of trails to explore, and many have been created for hikers, cross-country skiers, and horseback riders (surprisingly, nothing for mountain bikes, as far as I know).  The loop I'm describing in this blog is admittedly one of the shorter ones; the longest along the entire length of the circular Main Tr