Skyline Drive State Forest

Discover

Skyline Drive State Forest earns its name through a route rather than a network of hiking trails. A 2.3-mile public forest access road follows the ridge through this 533-acre property in Kirkwood and Windsor, Broome County. DEC describes views of the Susquehanna River valley from that ridge-top corridor. There are no designated hiking trails, but walking is permitted on the property, including the road.

That combination is the key to planning a visit. The documented road offers a clear organizing feature; the surrounding slopes demand more thought. Much of the forest is steep, with 35-percent slopes common and gradients of 50 percent or more in places. The northernmost section has gentler ground. The name Skyline Drive should not encourage the assumption that the entire woodland is an easy extension of a roadside stop.

Elevations range from about 1,150 feet along the southern boundary in the western section to 1,729 feet on a peak east of Skyline Drive. These measurements describe the land, while the valley-view description applies to the ridge-top road. Keep those facts separate rather than expecting the highest point to have a signed trail or a panoramic overlook. The official map is the appropriate place to begin choosing an approach.

Oaks give the higher, drier ground much of its character. Red oak, black oak, chestnut oak and white oak are all documented here. Their variety supplies an opportunity to pay attention to leaf shapes, trunks and woodland structure without making a long species hunt the purpose of the trip. In the northern section, where water is more available, the cover changes to northern hardwoods mixed with hemlock.

That northern section also contains a wetland and a tributary of Trowbridge Creek. Their presence expands the picture of the forest beyond dry ridges, but it does not establish a marked wetland walk or guarantee a waterfowl or amphibian encounter. Notice how the vegetation changes where you can observe it from appropriate public access, and avoid assigning an unsupported viewing platform or trail to the water features.

Planted conifers add a historical element. The Civilian Conservation Corps established red pine and Norway spruce plantations here in the 1930s. Compare those stands with the oak-dominated cover for an account of both land management and natural variation. The plantings are documented; particular row patterns, shaded picnic places or surviving historic structures should not be assumed.

White-tailed deer, wild turkey and a variety of birds feature in DEC's wildlife description. As elsewhere in a working woodland, a habitat account is more useful than a promise of sightings. For an overnight trip, DEC describes primitive camping with 150-foot setbacks from roads, trails and water, and ranger permits for stays beyond three nights or groups of ten or more. Check current guidance before departure.

Access runs from Route 11 through Grange Hall Road to Skyline Drive Public Forest Access Road. Five parking areas are identified along Skyline Drive, although their number does not guarantee spare space at a particular time. Hawkins Pond State Forest is listed nearby, while Windsor and Binghamton are identified for amenities. Let the actual ridge corridor, the valley relationship and the contrast between dry oak slopes and northern hardwood-hemlock cover shape your visit.

Fun facts

1. The forest covers 533 acres in Kirkwood and Windsor, Broome County.
2. A 2.3-mile public forest access road follows the ridge; there are no designated hiking trails.
3. Elevations range from about 1,150 to 1,729 feet.
4. Red, black, chestnut and white oaks occur on the drier high ground.
5. The Civilian Conservation Corps established red pine and Norway spruce plantations in the 1930s.

Read the official sources →

Capture

1. Capture the sweeping views of the Susquehanna River valley from the ridge top.
2. Photograph the contrast between the oak-dominated highlands and the hemlock-rich northern section.
3. Look for unique angles in the conifer plantations established by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Social

Skyline Drive State Forest covers 533 acres in Kirkwood and Windsor. A 2.3-mile access road follows its ridge above the Susquehanna River valley. #Cre8Travel

There are no designated hiking trails at Skyline Drive State Forest. Walking is allowed, including along the public forest access road; start with the official map. #Cre8Travel

Skyline Drive’s slopes can be steep: DEC describes 35-percent gradients as common and 50 percent or more in places. Plan beyond the roadside carefully. #Cre8Travel

Red, black, chestnut and white oaks give Skyline Drive’s higher, drier ground a distinctive tree mix. Look closely at woodland structure. #Cre8Travel

Northern hardwoods and hemlock replace the drier oak cover in Skyline Drive’s northern section, which also contains a wetland and a Trowbridge Creek tributary. #Cre8Travel

The Civilian Conservation Corps planted red pine and Norway spruce at Skyline Drive in the 1930s. Forestry history is part of the present woodland. #Cre8Travel

Skyline Drive’s ridge road has documented valley views. Its 1,729-foot high point is a separate elevation fact, rather than a promised open summit viewpoint. #Cre8Travel

Try pairing a ridge-landscape frame with details of oak or conifer texture at Skyline Drive. Which scale best tells the woodland’s story? #Cre8Travel

Hashtags

1. #Cre8Travel
2. #SkylineDriveStateForest
3. #ExploreNY
4. #NatureEscape
5. #HikingAdventures
6. #Birdwatching
7. #OutdoorLife

Sources & visitor information

• Source — Skyline Drive State Forest