Finger Lakes National Forest

The Finger Lakes National Forest encompasses 16259acre of Seneca and Schuyler counties, nestled between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State in the United States of America. The forest has over 30 miles (50 km) of interconnecting trails that traverse gorges, ravines, pastures, and woodlands.Although about 3.2 million acres (1300 km²) of New York state is in State Forest Preserves, Wildlife Management Areas, and Forests, there are few large areas of public land in the Finger Lakes Region. The Finger Lakes National Forest is the only national forest in New York State, and the only public land that has had an explicit philosophy of multiple use.Origin and historyEarly historyThe area around the Finger Lakes National Forest was originally inhabited by the Iroquois Indians. Information of their use of the area within the current forest boundary is sketchy at best. It is thought that at least some hunting activity occurred. This area was a forested hunting territory for the Iroquois people 250 years ago. Just 100 years ago, it was nearly treeless, the result of logging, farming, and grazing practices by Euro-American settlers. Today it is a mix of second growth woodland, pasture and lots which are in a transition from pasture-to-woodland. The cellar holes, stone walls, artifacts, and other material evidence of the former residents of this area are an unwritten reminder and historical record of their lives. They are protected by Federal Law. There are a number of archaeological sites on lands managed by the Finger Lakes National Forest, most from the post-Revolutionary period.