Syracuse.com - Readers respond to 'The Figura Challenge' (Week 1)

[HuntingNY-News]

Send me your impressions and photos to show you've visited my 15 suggested outdoors locations. I'll provide a weekly update of what readers are saying.

From left, Molly Channels and Anna Kate Waters take a break while hiking at Bear Swamp.Mike Waters

Last Sunday, I laid down "The Figura Challenge" and readers responded to my proposal to visit 15 prime, outdoor destinations this summer throughout Central New York.

Check out the list.

I've heard from many who have started, and many who intend to start. In addition, I heard from others asking me to add their favorite spots that were missing from my list.

I'll be giving a weekly Figura Challenge report each Thursday on this blog. My report will include stories from readers who've visited my suggested destinations. I'm asking those who write to note the highlights, what they didn't like and suggestions for others planning to visit -- along with their photos to show they were there.

Send your comments and photos to [email protected].

Among those who've taken me up on my challenge is Mike Waters, one of the newspaper's basketball writers. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Mike, his wife Robin, son Chris, daughter Anna Kate and her friend Molly Channels (all from Camillus) traveled down to Bear Swamp.

"Great hike. 1 down 14 to go!" Waters wrote.

A sampling of comments from others who've taken the challenge:

Visited Sterling Nature Center last week, and Labrador Hollow today.

-syrmatthew

Two down, 13 to go.

-voyager1

Other locations suggested by readers that weren't on my list:

Morgan Hill State Forest

Morgan Hill State Forest which has a spur from the Fingerlakes trail which you can take to Highland Forest and eventually into The North trail which will run to Crown Point and into the Adirondacks.You can hike all the way to the Dakotas from here. And a spur from Tinker's Falls to Labrador and then onto Heigberg Forest. Probably the best hiking area around here if you want to get out there and go and not come back for a while.

Carpenter's Falls

(This 90-foot waterfall, on Bear Swamp Creek, is located on the southwestern side of Skaneateles Lake, just north of New Hope. See more about it.)

Unless you're trying to keep it secret. It's far superior to Pratts or ever Beaver Lake.

-mchamlin

Carpenter's Falls is definitely one of my favorite locations when I'm making a short trip.

-kylerobhew1

Montezuma Heritage Park

Includes over 140 acres with the historic remains of early Erie and Cayuga-Seneca Canals along the Seneca River/Barge Canal in the Town of Montezuma. It is being developed to include improved nature trails, interpretive historic sites, fishing, canoe and kayak landing, and nature viewing areas. Enjoy walking and biking along six trails now open. See the park's website.

-Cheryl Longyear

Montezuma Town Historian

Salmon River Falls

(Located in the Town of Orwell in Oswego County. See more about it.)

Salmon River Falls should be on this list.

-syrbass

Other suggestions/miscellaneous:

Be sure to check out www.cnyhiking.com to find out much more about these few places and many more places to explore!

-Edmund Resseler

Awesome list - have been to most - but have added a few to my "CNY Outdoors Bucket List" for this year - Thanks for sharing...Meanwhile, one reader asked about a place to take dogs to swim. Can you pass on to him (possibly) that there are a bunch of people that swim and train dogs at the Skaneateles Nature preserve (first pond in on the left before the lean to's begin) off old seneca tnpk, and also in Lysander Park off canton Street Road (the road that goes between Warners and B'ville).. Both are great places for dog and water!

-syracusedad

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog