Hiking Rice Creek Trails

An instructional and research unit of the State University of New York College at Oswego, this state property consists of the 26-acre Rice Pond surrounded by 400 acres of land in several stages of growth from open fields to mature forests. Trails provide access to the various habitats around the station.

The construction of the new building at Rice Creek Field Station was completed in August 2013. The new building provides a better environment for learning and an attractive facility for public education. It is a larger and greener building consisting of wet and dry Laboratories with 24-seat capacity, a classroom with 30-seat, a research lab, a biological collection room and a large reception area with a library. Hiking, birding, exhibits, lectures and workshops are some of the activities available at Rice Creek.

Rice Creek Field Station is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trails are open year round from dawn to dusk.  You can find an interactive trail map and a printable trail map at https://www.oswego.edu/rice-creek/trails-overview. More information on this property from the Rice Creek Field Station website.  All trails are open to hiking.  Biking is only allowed on the Orange Trail.

Here's info on some of the hiking trails at Rice Creek:

Red Trail (1.5 miles) - This trail, exhibiting the full range of natural succession, passes through hedgerows and young woodlands, a spruce and pine plantation, skirts Hilton Pond, passes through an open field, crosses a stone fence, and then takes the hiker into a mature hardwood forest community. DISTANCE: 1.5 km (.93 miles) TRAIL BLAZE: Red painted blaze (2x6").

The trail begins just east of the garage on the north side of the parking area, proceeds north uphill, then west for a short distance into the old growth section, returning south to its finish at the Ruth Sachidanandan Herb Garden.

The trail features a full range of succession from mown field to stabilized old-growth hardwood forest, contrast in meadow between mown section and natural area, contrast between second-growth forest and old-growth forest 100 years old, Plant and animal life at Hilton Pond, a former farm pond and remnants of farm use prior to 1955: hedgerow, stone fence, farm pond.

Green Trail (.75 miles): This trail comprises the Carlita Snygg Memorial Trail and the Wildflower Trail. The Snygg Trail leads one through young woods and wetlands bordering the upper reaches of Rice Pond and Rice Creek, past areas of beaver activity, through a locust grove, and through shrub lands and an evergreen plantation. The Wildflower Trail consists of several branches from the first section of the Snygg Trail. It features a number of local trees and native wildflowers. DISTANCE: 1.2 km (.75 miles) TRAIL BLAZE: Green painted blaze (2x6").

The trail starts at the east end of the lawn by the field station and enters the wildflower display area in the forest south of the entrance road. After traversing the wildflower area, it crosses the old bed of Brownell Road, and proceeds in a southerly direction with raised walkways providing passage through wetlands along the upper reaches of Rice Pond and the creek. Eventually it loops back through the forest.

This trail features classic young woodland comprising diverse tree specimens, evidence and impact of beaver activity (beaver dam and beaver-maintained wetland), observation of wetland vegetation and wildlife-excellent birding area, and exploration of wildflower plots, planted with species native to this area.

Blue Trail (1.1 miles): This trail, rich in the diversity of the plant and animal life, takes the hiker through several distinctive habitats, including a conifer plantation, open meadow, transitional hardwoods, wetland forest, and along Rice Creek and Rice Pond. DISTANCE: 1.8 km (1.1 miles) TRAIL BLAZE: Blue painted blaze (2x6").

The trail begins just west of the herb garden, proceeds north, then west, and loops back in a southeasterly direction to the point of beginning.

This trail features characteristics of a 50-year old evergreen plantation, interesting historical evidence of farming activity (stone fence, farm lane, and hedgerow), meadow habitat and the effect of rotational mowing, bluebird boxes, sometimes inhabited by tree swallows and house wrens, transitional hardwoods and shrubs that have taken over former pasture land, stream valley verging on wooded wetland, and swamp forest along the edge of Rice Pond.

ORANGE TRAIL DESCRIPTION (2.05 miles): This trail traverses the drumlin ridge and slopes, passes through fallow fields and young woodlands, an evergreen plantation, and then takes the hiker into a mature hardwood forest community at the northeast corner of the property. This trail is the only one open for bicycling. DISTANCE: 3.30 km (2.05 miles) TRAIL BLAZE: Orange painted blaze (2x6") LOCATION:

The trail begins off of the red trail just east of the garage on the north side of the parking area, proceeds east and north, then west along a downhill meandering slope connecting with the blue trail headed east and returning south to its finish at the start.

The orange trail features full range of succession, remnants of abandoned orchards, characteristics of an evergreen plantation, scotch Pines established at the same time as the field station in the 1960's, contrast between second-growth forest and old-growth forest 100 years old, evidence of glacial activity along the drumlin's ridge, stonewalls and hedgerows, and the highest point on the property at approximately 400 feet above sea level.

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