Syracuse.com - Readers give their choices for best places to cross country ski in Central New York

HuntingNY-News · January 17, 2013

Highland Forest,off Route 80 in Fabius, is the readers' favorite. It provides mostly groomed and marked trails, free maps and ski rentals. Add to that a nice lodge, with a warm fire and a great view.

Highland Forest in Fabius ranks as the top local destination to cross country ski in the area. John Berry/The Post-Standard

Did Santa leave you a pair of cross country skis? Eager to try them out?

Don’t be discouraged by the recent warm weather. This is Central New York and snow will come soon enough. Here’s a list of favorite ross country ski spots submitted by readers:

Highland Forest,off Route 80 in Fabius, is the readers’ favorite. It provides mostly groomed and marked trails, free maps and ski rentals. Add to that a nice lodge, with a warm fire and a great view. Admission is $1 per person; $10 for annual pass. For more see the Onondaga County parks website or call 683-5550.

The Osceola Tug Hill Cross Country Ski Center,in Camden is a resort for all skill levels. Located in the Tug Hill, there always seems to be snow here. Adults pay $17; seniors, $12; juniors to age 15, $9 for weekend access to the 25 miles of groomed trails. Rentals are also available. For more, see the center's website or call 599-7377.

Bear Swamp State Forest,off Route 41A in Sempronius, offers 13 miles of ungroomed ski trails. Snowmobiles that traveling through, though, pack down the main trails. Free. Be sure and stop afterward at the Colonial Lodge, a restaurant/bar at its entrance, for a drink, a snack or a meal. The lodge also has trail maps.

State parks popular with skiers include Green Lakes in Fayetteville, Verona Beach, Fair Haven Beach in Sterling and Selkirk Shores in Pulaski. For those skiing at Green Lakes, check out the nearby Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center, across the street at 8012 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville. They rent skis you can take into the park. Call 637-9023.

Winona State Forest,main trailhead is in Boylston, in northeastern Oswego County. It’s off of Exit 37 on Route 81N, past Pulaski. Free. Trails are often groomed by the Winona Forest Recreation Association. For more information, see the association's website.

Stoney Pond State Forest,in Erieville, east of Cazenovia, offers lots of connecting trails that are ungroomed. From State Route 20 in the hamlet of Nelson, head south on the Eireville Road for approximately 2 miles. Turn left onto Old State Road, heading east. In approximately 2.5 miles, head south on Jones Road to the state forest. For a map of the forest, see the DEC website.

Great Bear Springs Recreational Area,is located between Fulton and Phoenix New York on Route 57 and features nine miles of trails shared by skiers and snowshoers. Free. For more, including a trail map, see the area's website.

Beaver Lake Nature Center,This county-owned facility in Baldwinsville offers five miles of trails and ski rentals. $3 per car admission fee. Call 638-2519 or see the county park's website.

Sometimes, the best place to go cross country skiing is right in your backyard.

“I live on Lawrence Road in Marcellus and I am fortunate to be able to step out my front door and hop on the OCWA waterline trail next to my house,” wrote Chris DeBottis. “What makes it nice is the trail is groomed by the local snowmobile club and it follows Nine Mile Creek.”

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog