Hiking and Nature Trails Near Skaneateles Lake
The south end of Skaneateles Lake is wrapped in gorges, waterfalls and forested hills, and most of the best trails are under half an hour from Sunset Side Cottage. Start your day with a waterfall, end it with a swim, and let the cruiser bikes handle the trip to the dock.
Cottage Features for Outdoor Lovers
- Two cruiser bikes (plus children's bikes) for rides to the water and around the point
- A wooded stream and footpath right on the edge of the property
- Laundry room for muddy trail clothes
- Yoga mats, free weights and a stationary bike for rest-day stretching
- Kayaks and paddleboards for a post-hike cool-down on the lake
Trails Near the Cottage
Drive times are from the cottage, checked in Google Maps in October 2026. Difficulty ratings follow the land managers' descriptions where available.
- Carpenter Falls Unique Area and Bahar Nature Preserve, Niles (26 min). A roughly 90-foot waterfall drops into a deep wooded ravine on its way to the lake. Easy: an accessible boardwalk of about 600 feet leads to a viewing platform. Moderate: the Land Trust's gorge-rim trails add about 1.6 miles with steep drop-offs and stone steps. No swimming.
- Bear Swamp State Forest, Sempronius (25 min). About 14 miles of color-coded loops through conifer plantations and hardwoods. Easy to moderate: rolling hills, longer loops. Also great for mountain biking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter.
- Hinchcliff Family Preserve, Spafford (12 min). A loop of about 1.4 miles with benches overlooking the south end of the lake. Moderate: steep in places; the access road is unpaved and not plowed in winter.
- Skaneateles Conservation Area, Gully Road (16 min). Short boardwalk loops through woods and wetlands to little Guppy Falls. Easy.
- Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Marcellus (13 min). About 6 miles of trails through forest and wildflower meadows; free, open dawn to dusk. Easy to moderate.
- Charlie Major Nature Trail, Skaneateles (14 min). About a mile on an old rail bed beside Skaneateles Creek past mill ruins. Easy and flat.
- Fillmore Glen State Park, Moravia (36 min). A shaded gorge trail with five waterfalls. Moderate: many stone steps and wet rock.
- Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg (1 hr 16 min). A 215-foot waterfall at the end of an easy, nearly flat gorge trail.
A Sample Hiking Weekend
Friday
Arrive after 4 PM and stretch your legs on the cruiser bikes down to the dock for sunset.
Saturday
Early start at Carpenter Falls, then the Bahar gorge-rim trail. Picnic on the way back, swim or paddle in the afternoon, and grill dinner on the deck.
Sunday
Short loop at Hinchcliff Family Preserve for the lake overlook, then pack up for an 11 AM checkout.
Hiking Questions
Which hike is best for kids or limited mobility?
The Carpenter Falls boardwalk and the Charlie Major Nature Trail are both easy and short.
Is it safe to hike during hunting season?
Many state forests and preserves allow hunting in fall. Wear blaze orange and check each property's seasonal rules before you go.
Can we bike around the lake?
Road riders do loop the lake on Routes 41 and 41A, roughly 36 miles with steady hills at the south end. The cruiser bikes at the cottage are best for short, easy rides.
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