Chenango Valley State Park

Quick Bits

Main Activities - Hike, Bike, Canoe, Camping, Golf, and more  (No hunting)
Distance -  Over 13 miles of trails.
Quiet - Relatively quiet.
Surface - unpaved trails, some relatively wide, others narrow.
Elevation - relatively flat around the lakes, some elevation changes elsewhere but nothing major.
Pets - with leash & maximum of two. Not permitted in playground, boardwalks, beaches, golf course, or buildings.
Address - 153 State Park Road Chenango Forks, NY 13746 

In a Nutshell

As a New York State Park with much to offer in terms of activities and terrain. Water is the centerpiece of the park with two glacier lakes, the Chenango River, an abandoned canal, and at the northern end you'll see the confluence of the Tioughnioga River into the Chenango. The trail system is a bit of a spider web, so pay attention if you aren't near the major landmarks. Otherwise, the trails are in good shape without too many tripping hazards. As a New York State Park, there is an entrance fee per car during portions of the year.

Location and Parking

More details

Between swimming, golf, camping, playgrounds, and everything else, there is a ton to do at this park. It's relatively quite with the major highways being over 4 miles away. The trails provide good variety as well. Around the lake is relatively flat. While some steeper sections might get the heart pumping, it's not overly challenging. Making your way up to the scenic view of the confluence of the Chenango and Tioughnioga Rivers is worth the hike. 

I do find that the trails are a bit of a spider web. The major ones are marked but some of them are marked with coded names (example, "SY" means Sylvan Trail). And then I think a few are just herd trails. In many cases, the trail markers are only at intersections. The terrain also undulates a lot and adds to the confusion as you go up and down various hills. However, there are some landmarks that help keep you oriented. In particular, the two lakes (Chenango and Lilly), the Chenango River, and the Power Lines. The Chenango River flows south and stretches for 2.5 miles along the Park. The Power Lines cross the Chenango River from the west and then head to the northeast. 

As retreating glaciers helped form this area, the two lakes, Chenango and Lilly, are "kettle" lakes. They were formed when blocks of ice broke off of the glacier and deposited in the sediment, eventually melting. The park would open in 1930 and would have various improvements made by the Civilian Conservation Corps starting in 1933. 

Watch out for mountain bikers and golfers. Well, actually not a problem, but you may see some when hiking. Many of the trails are maked with white name tags that are meaningful especially for mountain bikers.

Creatures I've seen or heard

Chenango Valley State Park has an abundance of bird watching opportunity. The park includes a bird check list. Lots of turtles, salamanders, and frogs.

Links of Interest

• NYS Park Chenango Valley State Park - general page for the Park

• WBNG Julia's Journey - part of a 2022 series from Julia Laude where she covers 12 hikes in Broome County.

• CNY Hiking Page - helpful information and individual trail descriptions.

• Bird Check List - Check list on the Chenango Valley State Park website, listing over 100 birds that can be found in the area.

• Friends of Chenango Valley State Park - Facebook Page. The "Friends" is a non-profit group that does a lot of volunteer work with trail maintenance and some really fun programs at the park.

Wander & Ponder Videos Recorded Here