The Sapsucker Woods trail system is a shining jewel in the recreational opportunities for the Ithaca and Tompkins County area. Although it is small and compact, nestled in a mostly residential area, it has been very carefully designed to take advantage of the terrain and natural features of the land.

Over 4 miles of interconnected trails form several loops around ponds, through the woods and across wetlands. The wide trails are all covered with bark chips and are carefully maintained. The walking is easy, due to the mostly flat terrain. One can take a short 20 minute walk on the main trail around Sapsucker Woods Pond or go off onto some of the outer loops for a lengthier, more contemplative experience. There are excellent viewing platforms around the ponds and well-placed benches and shelters for resting and wildlife observation. Boardwalks take you over wet areas, allowing for fascinating glimpses down into the water. Excellent maps are posted where they are needed so there is it easy to plan your route and know exactly where you are heading.

Because this is a bird sanctuary, this is a special place for children and families to experience, together, the wonders of the varied habitats, the sights and sounds and the beauty of our feathered friends. There is always something amazing to see... from a flock of chattering chickadees to waterfowl gliding on the pond to the dead trees riddled with woodpecker holes. To see the excitement on a child’s face, after they have carefully approached a viewing area and seen a Great Blue Heron or a Mallard duck within 10 or 20 feet of them is priceless! They can learn, all in one place, about the beauty of Nature, about respecting the habitats of our fellow creatures on this earth, about fungus and mosses and the natural growth and decay cycles, about the myriad small things that we often overlook in our day-to-day lives. It is also a great place to bring out-of-town guests that are visiting. They will be amazed at the foresight and dedication that the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology has shown in preserving this unique habitat.

My family has had a long attachment to this wonderful place. My wife and I walked the trails here, hand in hand, while we were dating. We were married at one of the shelters
in the woods, serenaded by birdsongs. Later, when our daughter was a toddler, we hiked around the pond with her in a backpack carrier, showing her the sights. As the years have passed, we are grateful that this has remained a beautiful oasis for wildlife and people to share.

This is a great place to go in the Winter, too. It is very close to the Town and City. You don’t need a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get to it, like some other trail areas. The trails never become difficult or impassable. Enough people use them, so there is always a track to walk in. Some people may think that Winter is a dull and dreary time of year, when everything is dead and lifeless. Personally, I think it is an extraordinary time to enjoy being outdoors. The air is crisp and clear and it makes you feel very much alive to take a brisk walk in the woods.

One of my favorite Winter-time experiences on the Sapsucker Woods trails was a long hike around the outer loops during a snowstorm. The falling snow muffled all of the sounds in the forest to a quiet “hush”. As I walked along, I passed pools of water on each side that were frozen, but not yet covered with snow. The pools had a layer of crystal clear ice on the surface, like a window down into another world. Through this window I could see the gray and brown decaying leaves that had fallen there in the Fall. The leaves seemed suspended in time. The window on their underwater world allowed me to catch a glimpse of them in the middle of their slow decay process, where they would eventually turn into the rich soil of the forest floor. Simply amazing!

While I could say that my favorite trail is always the last one that I have walked (and I have walked many, many miles of the trails around the area!), the Sapsucker Woods trails are absolutely my favorite. It is a great place to spend quality time with your family.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/About/BuildingAndSanctuary/SapsuckerWoodsSanctuary.html