Oakley Corners State Forest is 1,160 acres of woodlands in the Towns of Newark Valley and Owego, in eastern Tioga County, that features a 15.3-mile multi-use trail system. The trails are available for all skill levels and offer family-based recreation, including hiking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross-county skiing.
Established between 1933 and 1947 on former pasture and tilled acreage that was suffering from poor agricultural practices, the forest was revitalized by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), who planted more than 800,000 pine, spruce, cedar and larch seedlings to establish the thriving forest visible today.
This State Forest is divided into two sections. The Yellow (southern) Trails span 6.8 miles, offering an easy-to-moderate experience perfect for beginners and birders.
These trails are relatively flat and skirt two scenic ponds, making them ideal for wildlife viewing and cross-country skiing. Yellow and brown bullhead are abundant in the southern ponds, making them excellent for fishing.
The Blue (northern) Trails are 7.2 miles favored by advanced mountain bikers and hikers seeking greater challenges. The trails feature a tight single-track narrow path, steeper climbs, switchbacks, and uneven terrain.
The Blue Trails are celebrated by local mountain bike clubs as some of the best pure cross-country single-track in New York State’s Southern Tier.
There is limited mobile phone coverage. Do not ride in wet conditions. Cycle-CNY is the local IMBA chapter.
Learn more about Oakley Corners State Forest at the DEC website.
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