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Tarr-Young Natural Area

Difficulty // Moderate
Activities // Hiking, Snowshoeing
Distance // 0.15 miles
Features // Unique wildlife viewing, Bus Stop Nearby
Route Type // Out and Back
Estimated hiking time // 3 mins
Not open year-round.
Hunting allowed, use caution.
Surface types // Earth
Trail markers // white blaze

Cornell Botanic Gardens Tarr-Young Natural Area hosts a section of the Finger Lakes Trail, which begins in the parking lot and ascends a wooded hillside within this this 15 acre preserve. A boardwalk trail passes over seeps at the toe of the slope before ascending through hemlock and hardwood forests with a rich diversity of wildflowers.
Portions of this trail system are also included in the Finger Lakes Trail system.

White hiking boot on a brown circular background, symbolizing hiking or walking trails.
Hiking
White standard bicycle on a light blue circular background, denoting cycling or bike trails.
Biking
White electric bicycle with a lightning bolt above it on a green circular background, representing e-bike use.
e-Biking
White outline of a horseshoe centered on a gold circular background, symbolizing horseback riding.
Horse
White icon of a person running with motion lines on a dark blue circular background, symbolizing physical activity or trail use.
running
White icon of a kayak with a double-bladed paddle on a brown circular background, representing paddling or kayaking.
Paddling
White crossed skis and ski poles on a light blue circular background, indicating winter sports or skiing.
Skiing
White outline of two crisscrossed snowshoes on a green circular background, representing snowshoeing activity.
Snowshoe
Distance // 0 Miles
Difficulty // Easy
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    Parking Locations

    Slaterville Road (NY-79)
    Get Directions

    Bus Stops

    • Caroline Turn Around - Get Directions

      Finger Lakes Trail, heading West: walk 600 ft east, facing traffic, on shoulder of Rt 79 (Slaterville Rd), cross highway just before the bridge. Follow short trail to sign for Tarr-Young Natural Area and the FLT.

    Slaterville Road (NY-79)
    Get Directions

    • Caroline Turn Around - Get Directions

      Finger Lakes Trail, heading West: walk 600 ft east, facing traffic, on shoulder of Rt 79 (Slaterville Rd), cross highway just before the bridge. Follow short trail to sign for Tarr-Young Natural Area and the FLT.

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    Current Trail Alerts

    Roy H. Park Preserve

    • The north entrance to the Roy H. Park Preserve and the boardwalk will be closed to the public from Monday, July 7, through September 2025 as work is underway to install an ADA-accessible path. The south entrance will remain open during this time. Thank you for your patience.

    Fall Creek Gorge Natural Area

    • The section of trail in Fall Creek Gorge west of the suspension bridge to Chi Psi is unstable and closed until further notice.

    Cascadilla Gorge Natural Area

    • A portion of the Cascadilla Gorge Trail between Stewart Avenue and College Avenue is closed for construction and will reopen in spring, 2026. The trail between Linn Street (Treman Triangle) up to the Stewart Avenue Bridge is now open.

    Beebe Lake Natural Area

    • Hemlock Gorge trail upstream of Sackett Bridge is closed.