Outdoor fitness enthusiasts frequent upstate New York's Adirondack Park or the Thousand Islands, but some of the best hiking areas in the state are halfway between those two destinations. The central New York region offers a diversity of terrain, colorful autumn foliage and well-groomed trails that connect historic villages and hamlets. Clubs in Cayuga, Onondaga, Chenango, Oneida and Madison counties promote the use of existing trails and paths, and members are happy to provide you with guided tours.
Adirondack Mountain Club, Onondaga County Chapter
As a member of this club, you would be encouraged to exercise year-round by hiking on its trails in the warmer months and snowshoeing or skiing on them in the winter. According to the club's website, off-trail activities like canoeing and kayaking are also popular with members. The club hosts more than 200 annual outings, including 40 trips to the nearby Adirondacks, periodic trips to Canada and several organized hikes, trail maintenance sessions and social events in central New York. More than 60 trail stewards maintain 98 miles of trail east of the Finger Lakes region, and they are continually working on acquiring land to expand trails.
North Country Trail Association - Central New York Chapter
Based in Madison County, which sits between Syracuse and Utica, the North Country Trail Association has converted old railroad beds into a trail system that connects several communities in the rural county and utilizes stretches of the Erie Canal towpath. According to its website, the club has 140 members and can always use more volunteers to help with trailblazing efforts. This club identifies several different trail routes that hikers can choose based on their available time and desire for a physical challenge.
Cayuga Trails Club
Unlike Onondaga and Madison counties, Cayuga County is relatively flat and has little to offer in the way of challenging hills. It is, however, located in the heart of the state's beautiful wine country. There are scenic trails along three different Finger Lakes in the central and south parts of the county, while the northern tip reaches Lake Ontario. Club members maintain more than 100 miles of trail, including stretches of the Finger Lakes trail that continues into western New York. The club promotes walking the trails and learning about nature, though it also focuses on fitness with special trips for hiking, skiing, canoeing and snow-shoeing.
FLT Bullthistle Hiking Club
This club, based in Chenango County, promotes the use of existing trails and scenic walks through local wildlife management areas, but it isn't involved with maintaining or expanding a trail system. It is very fitness-oriented, however, and encourages members to participate in hiking or camping trips to the Catskill region. Its web site details a variety of hikes for those trips, ranging from short walks to physically strenuous treks.
The Tramp and Trail Club of Utica
This Oneida County club does not maintain existing local trails, but members enjoy hiking, snow shoeing, kayaking and swimming in wilderness areas within a 100-mile radius of Utica. The northeast corner of the county offers the most diverse wilderness and a variety of small lakes, and is a short drive to the Adirondacks.
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