Trails

Over 9 miles of maintained trails across gentle and varied terrain invite you to restore your connection to the earth. Beaver Lake's 600 natural acres are the perfect setting for family fun or solitary renewal. Stop at the Vistor Center and be greeted by a friendly face at the information desk. Exhibits, light refreshments and a gift shop are also there for you.

Click here to download the spring-summer-fall trail map.
Click here to download the winter trail map. 

• Lakeview Trail - 0.3 miles
  The expressway to the Beaver Lake shore.
• Hemlock Hollow - 0.4 miles
  The name itself suggests what you will find - a cool and shaded hide-away.
• Pine Meadow - 0.5 miles
  An isolated meadow shielded by pines on one side and a mixed forest on the other makes a storybook setting for rabbits, woodchucks and deer.
• Bog - 0.6 miles
  Our elevated boardwalk is your invitation to visit a habitat different from any other you may have experienced. Yellow warblers declare ownership from the tops of spindly alders, while insect-eating pitcher plants and lady's slipper orchids grace the soggy floor.
• Deep Woods - 1.4 miles
  This trail meanders through the serenity of a maturing forest.
• Three Meadows - 1.5 miles
  Daisies dancing on warm breezes will put extra spring in your step as you cross sunny fields before enjoying the cool respite of the forest.
• Lake Loop - 3.0 miles
  Nearly 3/4 of a mile of boardwalk lets you immerse yourself in a variety of wetlands, yet still keep your feet dry.
• Woodland - 1.1 miles
  A pine forest, a cedar/hemlock swamp and a northern hardwood forest are three different woodland communities waiting for you along this winding trail.
• Arboretum Trail - 0.3 miles
  An aesthetically refreshing place for a walk, and with the habitat it offers, a perfect place to view wildlife. 
  
  PLEASE READ:
  

  Beaver Lake Nature Center’s trails are hiking trails designed for nature study and observation. Seven of the trails are covered with bark chips, to allow for a quiet hiking experience, and five of these trails have sections of boardwalk. One additional trail, the Lakeview, is an accessible trail consisting of hard-packed, fine gravel.

  During certain times of the day or year, all trails, including boardwalks, will be wet or slippery so appropriate footwear is important. If you are not prepared for the trail conditions, please turn around. Additionally, there may be avoidable obstacles such as rocks, roots, or occasionally a fallen limb. Watch your step as you hike and go around or step over these obstacles.

  In the winter, when the snow is deep enough for skiing, 4 trails are designated for skiing only, and 4 for hiking. Two temporary trails are flagged through the woods for snowshoeing.

  The quality of your experience is determined by your awareness and understanding of these risks and how conditions may change over the course of your visit.

  Users assume liability for all risks associated with Nature Center and trail activities.

  Alcohol, amplified music, pets, biking, fishing, collecting, and fires (including bbq, gas, and electric grills) are NOT permitted on park grounds (this list is not all-inclusive).

  Please be mindful of others and of wildlife. Always yield to the nature observer.
  
  Please walk, never run, by another visitor.
  
  When visiting the Nature Center, the entrance is through the main gate on East Mud Lake Road, and parking is permitted only in Nature Center’s parking lots (not on surrounding roads).

During your visit to Onondaga County Parks, you may be photographed, videotaped, or filmed by Onondaga County Parks or authorized parties. Your attendance/admission serves as permission for use of these images by Onondaga County Parks. Commercial photography or filming is prohibited without permission of Onondaga County Parks.