Arnold Lake State Forest

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The trails are maintained by the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club and are marked with yellow cross-country ski markers. They consist in part of forest access roads or logging roads and in part of narrow footpaths. There are several open fields that have been logged and are returning to tree cover. They will provide some nice views.

For a trip of about 3.5 miles that starts and ends at Joe Cornell parking lot, take the trail across County Highway 46 from Joe Cornell Road. It begins on the access road to a quarry, but after just a few yards it forks to the right on a footpath. In about a mile, the trail intersects an access road that leads to private property on the left. Cross the road and continue on an old road. About a half mile ahead, keep going straight where another old road goes to the right. The trail soon jogs north (left) and then east again, to a sign for the Joe Cornell Road trailhead. Continue straight ahead. The trail soon curves right. At the bottom of a short hill, turn right onto the access road, which will bring you back to the intersection with the footpath. Turn left and retrace your steps to the trailhead.

For an end-to-end hike from Joe Cornell Road to Arnold Lake Road, follow the above instructions to the sign for the Joe Cornell Road trailhead and bear left. This hike is about 2.5 miles long.

The segment of trail on the east side of Arnold Lake follows a forest access road and is good for cross-country skiing. It's approximately 2.5 miles long.

From the sign-in box at the Joe Cornell Road parking lot, a 1-mile trail leads down to an intersection with County Highway 46, across from the forest access road.

General information on primitive camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Primitive camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.

Wildlife Management Unit: 4F

General Information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Hunting is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbits, squirrels, and coyotes.

Wildlife Management Unit: 4F

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Trapping is allowed during appropriate seasons. The main game species and furbearers found on the property include deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbits, squirrels, and coyotes.

General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

One snowmobile trail crosses the property and connects to a larger network of trails. The trail is maintained by the Milford Snow Trekkers (leaves DEC website) through a volunteer stewardship agreement.

General information on cross-country skiing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Cross-country skiing is also permitted on all hiking trails. The segment of trail on the east side of Arnold Lake follows a forest access road and is good for cross-country skiing. It's approximately 2.5 miles long.

General information on snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowshoeing is also permitted on all hiking trails. The segment of trail on the east side of Arnold Lake follows a forest access road and is good for cross-country skiing. It's approximately 2.5 miles long.

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

Otsego County lies on the eastern end of the Central Appalachian ecozone which hosts a plethora of wildlife. In addition to the notable game species and furbearers, a variety of songbirds as well as birds of prey can be found within the property.