Nature’s Gems, Open All Year
CNY Land Trust currently protects approximately 3000 acres in 49 nature preserves within 19 towns in Onondaga County and 3 towns in Oswego County. The preserves are open to the public from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. Access is free of charge, and suitable activities include hiking, snowshoeing, photography and nature study.
Hunting, trapping, fires, camping and the use of motorized vehicles are prohibited for the safety of the visiting public and the protection of the land.
Property Classifications
In the spirit of “Protecting Nature’s Gems, One Acre at a Time,” CNY Land Trust classifies its preserves in three categories, Diamonds, Emeralds and Pearls. All preserves meet CNY Land Trust’s mission of natural area protection to provide our communities clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat and a chance to connect with the land.
Preserves most suitable for public access, nature study, and outdoor recreation, are all considered Diamonds in the CNYLT portfolio.
- Diamonds are CNY Land Trust’s most welcoming preserves, providing trails, parking, signage for public access, a management plan, and a dedicated group of stewards.
- We recommend you visit each of the beautiful Diamonds for great outdoor experiences.
- Emeralds may have informal trails, and often are brushy with limited parking and access. The preserve has special features, but trails are not created or maintained.
- Pearls have the fewest opportunities for access, for example, some are wetlands that are not accessible. These properties are difficult to navigate, and while important for conservation values, are not suited for general recreation. They will be left wild, with no plans for access or trails. Pearls will not be listed here for general use due to the unsuitability for public recreational use.
Pleasant Valley Preserve, Cedarvale
Size: 203 Acres Location: Town of Onondaga Classification: Diamond Trails: Not yet This treasure is about 6 miles SW of OCC, on Pleasant Valley Road, about 0.3 miles west of Cedarvale Road. You will
Austin Wildlife Refuge
Donated to CNYLT by Willard and Barbara Lipe, the property is located behind the Edwards Falls Dam on Pompey Center Road and, although scenic, access is difficult.
Baltimore Woods
Our brightest Diamond was purchased with the help of The Nature Conservancy, Baltimore Woods was CNYLT's first nature preserve. This area includes fields, successional and mature forest, and many brooks and springs. Baltimore Woods Nature Center manages an extensive trail system, and leads programs here on a regular basis.
Beacon Pond
This preserve was donated to CNYLT in 2003 by the O'Brien & Gere Companies. Located between Beacon North Business Park, East Taft Road to the south, Great Northern Boulevard, and Totman Road in the west, the property contains a pond, two islands and surrounding wetlands. Access is from the business park.
Bigsby Drumlin
This preserve was donated to CNYLT in 1982 by Mary Ormsby Bigsby in memory of her son, Gerald William Bigsby. The preserve's main feature is the drumlin that dominates the property and provides a panoramic view of Syracuse. The property hosts a variety of animals and plants including hundreds of conifers planted by the Bigsby family. Trails are well maintained. Access is via the parking lot of the Taunton Memorial United Presbyterian Church at 4326 Fay Road.
Brickyard Falls View
This preserve runs along one bank of Limestone Creek downstream from Brickyard Falls. It is accessed at the end of Farley Lane but please note parking on Farley Lane is very limited.
Butternut Swamp
Butternut Creek meanders through the preserve. Accessed at the back of an industrial park just east of I-481 fronting on Kirkville Road, two sides of the property are adjacent to I-481 and the Dewitt railroad yards.
Camillus Valley Natural Area
Camillus Valley Natural Area protects almost 2.5 miles of Nine Mile Creek, one of the premier trout streams in Onondaga County. The preserve lies between NYS Route 174 on the west, and a railroad embankment on the east, just south of the village of Camillus.
Carpenters Pond
This preserve is made up of four separate properties. The largest is ten acres between No. 5 West Road and Carpenters Pond donated by Jean Maxwell. The other three properties were bought at County auction. A seven acre parcel is located at the end of Pond Road.
Cases’ Landing
This preserve was donated by the Case family in 1993. There is no easy access..
Cheney (Rte 81)
Donated to CNYLT by Lee and Margaret Cheney, this preserve is adjacent to I-81 and is inaccessible from US Route 11A. It is totally landlocked.
Elbridge Swamp
This preserve is the largest that CNYLT owns. The property was acquired between 1975 and 1996 by purchase and generous donations from Janet Simpson, Harry Sweeney and Devillo Sloan, Jr. Elbridge Swamp has the sense of an Adirondack wilderness.
Fen at Silver Lake
This preserve contains a fen and many fen related plants and animals. Dr. Peter Rosenbaum of Oswego State University chairs the Fen at Silver Lake Management Committee.
Friendship Woods
This preserve is bordered by busy County Route 57 on the west and the backyards of homes on the other three sides in the Bayberry Community.
Heron Marsh
This preserve was acquired through a number of purchases and donations from 1975 through 1987. This preserve contains one of the main drainage channels that flows into New York State's Stanley J. Hamlin Marsh Wildlife Management Area and hosts a wide variety of waterfowl during the fall migration.
High Hickory Wildlife Sanctuary
This preserve located along Richard Road uphill from and adjacent to Lourdes Camp of the Roman Catholic Church. High Hickory was donated to CNYLT in 1989 by three doctors: Margaret L. Wilson, Mary Ellen Trimble and Barbara R. Rennick and provides a spectacular view of Skaneateles Lake.
Indian Hill
This preserve contains a small stream, an overgrown Hawthorn orchard, almost impenetrable shrub areas and woodlands. A former Native American settlement was located in the area. It provides nesting habitat for many birds, including Wild Turkeys and Red-tailed Hawks and winter habitat for a flock of hardy American Robins.
Lockwood Properties
This preserve contains mixed woods with cross country ski trails. The property consists of five separate distinct parcels three of which are landlocked and the other two currently not easily accessed..
Marie’s Woods
This preserve lays just a stone’s throw from Oneida Lake, south of Lakeshore Rd. and east of Cicero Center Rd. and offer excellent public access.
Mason Hill Preserve
This preserve was a donated by George and Mary 'Bobbie' Earle in 2004. The preserve is located on the west side of what was historically known as Mason Hill; hence the name of the preserve.
Old Fly Marsh
This preserve contains a 45 acre marsh and pond that is a regular resting spot for migrating waterfowl.
Ripley Hill Nature Preserve
At 1,968 feet, this preserve contains the highest point in the Skaneateles Lake watershed and the third highest point in Onondaga county.
Riverwalk Nature Preserve
The 100 acre Riverwalk Nature Preserve, located right next to the Riverwalk residential subdivision on Guy Young Road. Plans are being finalized for a mile long walking trail, as well as a parking area on Guy Young Rd.
Robert G. Hildreth Esker
This preserve is not easily accessed.T he property contains a glacial esker and was donated to CNYLT by Robert G. Hildreth's widow, Faith.
Snake Swamp
This preserve is located between Snake Swamp Road and Lake Ontario. This property was originally owned by Save Oswego County (SOC) and was deeded to CNYLT in 1998 when SOC merged with CNYLT.
South Meadows Nature Area
This preserve borders the Village's Cummings Park off Grove Street. There is a stream that runs along the northern boundary of the property.
Three Falls Woods
A diamond! This unique preserve has over 60 acres of land to explore. Harold Jones of Manlius generously donated money to preserve this location.
Tracy Lake
This preserve contains Tracy Lake and surrounding marshes. It also contains a large portion of the adjacent Mud Pond.
Whiskey Hollow
Located along Whiskey Hollow Road, a hard packed gravel and unpaved road that runs between West Dead Creek Road and Perry Road. This property boasts large stands of mature woods.
Winona Woods
Our northern most property was donated by Willson Cummer in 2011. This beautiful wooded preserve, boarders the northern edge of Winona State forest and contains, a ravine with nearly 2,000 feet of Little Sandy Creek, a mature mixed forest and a small meadow.
Woodchuck Hill Field and Forest Preserve
This preserve was donated to CNYLT by Beryl R. Digney and The Nature Conservancy. The property boasts a mixed deciduous hardwood forest and a stream that contains wetland plants.