Recreation

Sports and Hunting

• Hunting
• Fishing
• Hiking: Chenango Land Trust
• Fingerlakes Trail System
• Horseback Riding
• Mountain Biking
• Bird Watching
• Golfing
• Motocross Racing

Located just outside of Oxford, Bowman Lake State Park has a wilderness apsect you might not expect to find in Central New York.  Within the park's 653 acres sits a 35-acre natural spring-fed lake.  Spend the day, hike around Bowman Lake, and have a picnic at one of the many picnic facilities.  If paddling is your pleasure, rent a paddle boat at the boathouse, or simply spend an afternoon enjoying the scenery from a chair on the sand beach.  Bring the family for the weekend and camp at one of 198 large camp sites.  Then hike the park's nature trails. Keep your eyes open for a white-tailed deer, a wild turkey, a red fox and her kits, and maybe even a beaver.   Geese, ducks, warblers, and woodpeckers are among the birds you can spot.   Magnificent mosses, ferns and towering maples line the quiet woodland trails.   Bowman Lake State Park is open all year for fishing, summer and winter camping, swimming, bycycling, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

Hikers on the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) in Chenango County gain another perspective on our beautiful countryside.  Traversing the county from the northwest to the southeast corner, the FLT offers 72 miles of hiking through state land and park land, along fence rows and through forests.  Discover the magnificent gorge in North Pharsalia.  Hike through fertile meadows and hillsides and stands of balsam.   Along the trail, see sparkling waterfalls and points of historical interest, like the stone foundation of an old stagecoach inn and large, mysterious old stone piles.   In the fall, the trails are lined with amber, red and gold, and views are ablaze with the autumn colors that are the trademark of Chenango County.  E-mail:  fltc@axsnet.com

The Brookfield Trail System

The Brookfield Trail System offers 130 miles for horseback riding and snowmobiling, and is shared between Chenango and Madison counties.  The trail has an assembly and camping area that can accommodate up to 150 horses and campers.  Stalls, rest areas, picnic areas and camping facilities are available.  Hikers and corss-country skiers enjoy the Brookfield Trail System as well.

Whaupaunaucau State Forest

Another great trail system can be found at Whaupaunaucau State Forest in North Norwich.  Hikers and cross-country skiers have access to nearly 1,200 acres of state land.  It's a great location for a day hike, or plan an overnight stay in a lean-to along the trail.

Rogers Environmental Center in Sherburne combines nature trails for hiking, show-shoeing, and cross-country skiing, with wildlife observation and environmental education programs.  Operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Rogers Center is devoted to teaching young and old about our natural resources.  The center is a wonderful place to observe both wildlife and wildflowers in their natural habitats, from nesting birds and waterfowl, to cattails and May flowers.   Its 571 acres include woodland, meadows, wetlands, plantations and farm fields.   Bring the family, bring your camera and your binoculars -to enjoy a weekend of learning about nature up close and hands on.