Given the time of this hike was early March, essentially still winter, many of the trails in this spectacular state park were closed. The
Gorge Trail specifically comes to mind, one described in detail by me in a blog from 2019. But that doesn't mean Robert Treman Park can't be explored in the colder months, as there exists an approximately two-mile long stretch of the
Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) that winds through undulating topography in the southern flanks of the parkland. It doesn't seem to ever get the foot traffic of the
Rim and
Gorge Trails, which, of course, turns out to be a great thing if you're looking for more solitude. I've only been on this part of the trail, years back, but in the summer months, so I was eager to see how it looked in winter within a leafless forest. I also looked up the region's snow cover maps and found this place to have very little snow on the ground, which seemed ideal.
It turns out this happens to be the lowest elevation of the entire FLT in its crossing of the state, which I found interesting in itself. At its lowest point through the park, the trail is at 437 above sea level. There would be some decent elevation change throughout this hike, as I would learn, yet nothing too rigorous.
My goal was to reach a beautiful overlook, clear of trees, not far past where the Rim Trail terminates. Although I wouldn't see any of the park's famous waterfalls on this hike (although I could hear some of them through the trees), I still managed to successfully venture to the overlook that, again, many people do not hike toward.
The day of my hike was sunny and unseasonably warm for early March in Central New York, but it was quite windy, especially as the afternoon wore on. I was careful to keep an eye on the breeze swaying trees for any branches about to break and fall. I started my hike at the campground parking area on the southern side of the park's entrance which, fortunately for me, wasn't closed. After an irritating trek across a park road that was covered in thick ice and melting snow, I, at last, reached the spot where the FLT intersected. I made a rather sharp turn to the right on the footpath and started heading due west, the vehicular traffic of State Route 13 not far behind me. The further I went into the woods, the less the sounds of cars and trucks carried across the trees.
As can be seen from the pictures above, there was still some old snow pack on this first part of the trail. The next segment took me uphill and out of this hollow for my first climb of the hike.
All of the sudden the knobby forest floor was free of snow and the walking a shade easier. The trail became more level here, as well, entering a forest of red pines with some tall, mature hemlocks mixed in.
A junction with a wider, unpaved park road, followed by a pleasant stretch of pines:
The first views of this hike could now be enjoyed through the trees. Distant hills and some open country fields on private land made this first half mile or so of the hiking just a little more enticing, and also hinting at what is to come.
I was, without a doubt, grateful of the warm sunshine, taking into consideration the time of year as I passed by those open views of Finger Lakes hill country. Beyond this corner of the park, the
FLT traversed an entirely different appearing section with sycamores and some other trees entwined in vines. This also happened to be the location of the
Sierra Shelter (almost a miniature lean-to).
As the trail continued westward, essentially running parallel with the
Rim Trail, it ascended and snaked around some small hills while gradually gaining elevation. A peculiar old stone structure, likely built for the park when it first opened many decades ago, caught my eye.
What followed was a considerably steep yet still relatively gradual ascent. I was nearly 300 feet more above sea level by the time I would reach the next series of views.
Something about the second viewpoint of this hike I found absolutely splendid! The high sunshine, the faraway hills beyond the valley where a number of private farms and homes dwell , the drier scrubby and pine-dotted opening below . . .
Stopping to rest was a must at this point. The trail here continued unabated in its bending and peeking into these less traveled crevices of the park.
I feel I owe a shout-out to the Cayuga Trails Club, based out of Ithaca, NY, for doing such an excellent job maintaining this part of the trail and many more miles of the
FLT throughout Tompkins County.
Past the second crop of views, the snow pack returned, as well as some slippery creek crossings (nothing as bad as the stream crossing in Barbour Brook State Forest, but still demanding extra attention, nonetheless!).
There was some wild, fast moving water in these small streams, not surprising considering the rapid snow melt. In an odd twist, the
FLT, for a very brief time, followed the corridor of an old telephone pole right-of-way, flanked by almost uniform stands of red pines.
Winding through more pines before a casual glimpse of the park's territory from atop this hillside:
The final stretch of the first half of this hike, before I would turn back, took me onto another park road for a time, heading once again uphill, albeit slowly. The beauty of mature hardwoods encompassed the walk here.
Having recalled a memory of passing under a scenic "tunnel-like" section of mixed evergreens that last time I came through here, I was pleased to come upon this hidden green enclave again.
Now the last and best (in my opinion) view of this hike has no name, as far as I know. Yet the sweeping observation it affords of the valley cut out by Enfield Creek below make it worth the visit.
Windy up on this cliff it was! Afterward, I essentially returned the way I came, enjoying all the same highlights in the other direction. When all was completed and I returned to my car, I had hiked roughly between 4 and 4.5 miles total. This is a great segment of Robert Treman Park that I think others would enjoy if they're searching for an alternative to the often crowded, busy
Gorge and
Rim Trails.
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