Women Outdoors has reserved a primitive camping site at the Potomac Group Campground in the Finger Lakes National Forest for June 3 - June 5. The Potomac Group Campground is close to the center of the sprawling Finger Lakes National Forest between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes in southwestern New York.
If you are interested in the overnight camping as well as the day hike, read more about the weekend event here. There is no cost to you for overnight camping (and we even have some equipment to loan), but you must be a member of the Women Outdoors national organization (our region is paying for the camping fee). If you’re not a member, you can join now by clicking on Join Us.
This day hike event is open to everyone, and we’d love to have you join us on the hike, even if you’re not camping with us. It will be a leisurely morning walk from the campgrounds to the ponds area (0.3 miles) -- allowing for those who want to walk a minimal distance and/or stay and explore ponds area- fish, bird, commune with nature etc. You can then stay as long as you wish…. as long as there are 2 or more who wish to do this (safety buddies)…. or continue on. The morning hike then continues around to the easternmost pond and then returns to campground by noon for a total distance of 1.2 miles.
Join us as we eat lunch (bring your own). There is no place on site to buy food nor is there potable water.
Note: There may also be additional hikes for the afternoon posted. There are several loop trails nearby in the forest of various lengths (i.e. 1.6, 2.0 and 2.9 miles) utilizing the Potomac and Interloken trails as well as others including the 2.2 mile Ravine Loop and the 3.75 mile Burnt Hill Loop. Please send an email to the trip leader (contact info when you RSVP) if you are interested in coming for the day and going on this or other potential day hikes on Saturday or Sunday.
This free event is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are invited to join us on two events to see what you think. The third time's a charm - we'll ask you to join Women Outdoors at that point. You can join now by clicking on Join Us.
Directions:
Potomac Group Camp on Potomac Road in Finger Lakes National Forest.
5671 Potomac Rd, Burdett, NY 14818
From Ithaca, a convenient route is to go west on NY 79 to the junction with NY 227 (stop sign at bottom of big hill), right turn to Reynoldsville on NY 227, turn left (north) in Reynoldsville on Potomac Road.
From Watkins Glen, follow NY 414 to NY 79, then (when NY 79 turns sharply right uphill) continue on NY 227 to Reynoldsville, turn left in Reynoldsville on Potomac Road.
Coming from the north, go on either NY 414 to County Road 1, turn east and continue to Potomac Road, turn right (south) to the group camp,
or
or take NY 96 south to NY 227 in Trumansburg, take the first right from NY 227 onto Searsburg Road (which will later become County Road 1) and continue to Potomac Road, turn left (south) to the group camp.
ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS:
From the South, take State Route 14 North (Exit 52 off State Route 17) to Watkins Glen, NY. In Watkins Glen, turn right at the Fourth St intersection onto State Route 414 North. Go approximately 9 miles north, past the Hector Ranger Station of the Finger Lakes National Forest. 0.5 miles past the Ranger Station, turn right on County Route 2. Go 4.4 miles east to a “T” intersection. Turn left onto Potomac Road and look for the signs for the Potomac Group Campground on the right.
From the North, take State Route 414 South to Hector, NY (Exit 41 off I-90). In Hector, 1 mile past the Hector Post Office and .4 mile past Dandy Mini Mart, turn left onto County Route 2. Go 4.4 miles east to a “T” intersection. Turn left onto Potomac Road and look for the signs for the Potomac Group Campground on the right.
