Otsego Outdoors https://otsegooutdoors.org/ connecting you with places to enjoy the outdoors in Cooperstown and Otsego County New York Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:28:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://otsegooutdoors.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ms-icon-310x310-150x150.png Otsego Outdoors https://otsegooutdoors.org/ 32 32 2026 Nature themed and outdoor based nature camps near Otsego County! https://otsegooutdoors.org/2026-nature-themed-and-outdoor-based-nature-camps-near-otsego-county/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:25:05 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5970 Summer is just around the corner which means it is summer camp planning time!  We have compiled a list of nature themed and outdoor based nature camps near Otsego County.…

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Summer is just around the corner which means it is summer camp planning time!  We have compiled a list of nature themed and outdoor based nature camps near Otsego County.

A reminder to also check out our beautiful local trails and take your kids for a hike or go to the lake to soak up the summer. Area trails and lakes can be found on the Otsego Outdoors website as well as area outdoor events. 

Let us know about other area camps, and send in your photos to outdoors@otsego2000.org.

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]]> Ice Skating in Otsego County https://otsegooutdoors.org/ice-skating-in-otsego-county-2/ Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:31:56 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5824 For many winter fun means skating. In Otsego County, there are rinks at Glimmerglass State Park, Fortin Park (Oneonta), and Badger Park (Cooperstown). It takes sustained cold temperatures and prepping to get the rinks skate-able.

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Ice Skating in Otsego County

January 20, 2024

skating rink at Glimmerglass State Park

Keeping ice smooth and skate-able is a big job. Many of these rinks are possible because of work of volunteers. If you like skating, consider asking how you can help out.

Ice skating or playing ice hockey count toward the Otsego Outdoors Winter Octet Challenge.

Don’t have skates? Badger Park in Cooperstown has skates for kids and adults to borrow free of charge.

  • Glimmerglass State Park is offering skating under the under the West Picnic Shelter. For updates, call the Park office at 607/547-8662 or check the Park’s Facebook page. Bring your own skates. Open dawn to dusk, the park is located on the north end of Otsego Lake at 1527 County Highway 31, Cooperstown, NY. No entrance fee until Memorial Day weekend.
  • Fortin Park offers skating and ice hockey underneath a pavilion. Bring your own skates. The park is located near I-88 exit 16 at 101 Youngs Road in Oneonta.
  • Badger Park in Cooperstown has a community rink with skates and hockey equipment available to borrow at no cost, thanks to the Cooperstown Friends of the Parks. Badger Park is located on Beaver Street in Cooperstown, right behind the CVS and Price Chopper on Chestnut Street. Check the Facebook page for Cooperstown Friends of the Parks for updates.
  • Enjoy the ice! Have another favorite place to skate in or near Otsego County? Please let us know.
Skating at Fortin Park
Skating at Fortin Park in Oneonta
Ice rink at Glimmerglass State Park
Mixed skate at Badger Park in Cooperstown
Badger Park rink in Cooperstown

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]]> Enjoy Winter Festivals https://otsegooutdoors.org/winter-festivals/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:03:57 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5793 Shake off cabin fever and get outside to enjoy a Winter celebration. Participating in an outdoor event counts toward your Otsego Outdoors Winter Octet Challenge, and is a lot of fun! 

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Enjoy Winter Festivals

January 5, 2026

Shake off cabin fever and get outside to enjoy a Winter celebration. Participating in an outdoor event counts toward your Otsego Outdoors Winter Octet Challenge, and is a lot of fun!

January 17, 10 am to 1 pm
Frost Fest at Hartwick College Pine Lake campus
Open fire cooking, hot yoga, sound bathing, bread making, challenge education leadership opportunities, snowshoeing, a hot cocoa bar and so much more! Come one and all! No RSVP needed.

February 5-8
Cooperstown Winter Carnival

The 58th annual Cooperstown Winter Carnival features a variety of fun activities in multiple Cooperstown locations. The theme is “Let the Games Begin.”

February 7, 11 am to 3 pm
Winter Living Celebration at Rogers Center

Jam packed with fun family-friendly activities, including snowshoeing, sleigh rides, music, campfire pits, crafts, and more.

Know a festival we missed? Let us know!

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]]> Apple Picking and Corn Mazes https://otsegooutdoors.org/fall-activities/ Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:04:47 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5684 Why not combine a hike with apple picking or doing a corn maze, that will get you two activities complete for the Fall Octet, while you make some fun fall memories. Here's a few local places to check out.

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Apple Picking and Corn Mazes

October 6, 2025

person holding three apples

Spend a beautiful fall day outdoors picking your own apples at a local orchard or getting lost in the twists and turns of a corn maze. For those working on the Otsego Outdoors Fall Octet Challenge, apple picking or completing a corn maze at any of these locations counts for one of your 8 activities. Below is a list of apple orchards that offer apple-picking as well as multiple different corn mazes, all located within Otsego County.  Why not combine a hike with apple picking or doing a corn maze, that will get you two activities complete for the Fall Octet, while you make some fun fall memories.

Cullen Pumpkin Farm Corn Maze
587 Cullen Road, Richfield Springs, NY 13439
(315) 867-3878
https://cullenpumpkinfarm.com/

Fly Creek Valley Corn Maze
1316 County Highway 26, Fly Creek, NY, 13337
(607) 358-5748
https://sites.google.com/site/flycreekvalleycornmaze/home

Middlefield Orchard
2274 NY-166, Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 547-8212
https://middlefieldorchard.com/

Willy’s Farm and Cider Mill
349 Badeau Hill Rd, Schenevus, NY 12155
(607) 638-9449
https://willysfarm.com/

Know an apple orchard or corn maze we missed? Let us know!

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]]> Accessible Boat Launches in Otsego County https://otsegooutdoors.org/accessible-paddling/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:21:29 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5549 Accessible launches are designed to offer a way for people with mobility challenges, people in wheelchairs, and people living with disabilities to more easily enter and exit a boat. Because of their instability, kayaks and canoes can be difficult for some to get in and out of.  Accessible launches provide overhead grab bars and a way to hold the boat in place to enhance stability while entering and exiting a boat.

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Accessible Boat Launches in Otsego County

August 26, 2025

Accessible kayak launch at Glimmerglass State Park

Because of their instability, kayaks and canoes can be difficult for some to get in and out of. Accessible launches are designed to offer a way for people with mobility challenges, people in wheelchairs, and people living with disabilities to more easily enter and exit a boat.  Accessible launches provide overhead grab bars and a way to hold the boat in place to enhance stability while entering and exiting a boat. Some launches, such as the one at Glimmerglass State Park, also include stairs to help a person transfer from a wheelchair to canoe or kayak. Accessible launches often mean people can continue to or even start to enjoy paddling. 

Accessible dock at Brookwood Point
This accessible launch at Brookwood Point Conservation Area was installed in 2025.

Lake Access

Susquehanna River Access 

Adaptive Paddling

In addition to changes to launches, changes can be made to kayaks, canoes, rowing shells, and paddleboards to make them easier to use. EDD Adaptive Sports is a local nonprofit dedicated to providing recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Otsego Area Rowing and EDD Adaptive Sports offered an Adaptive Rowing Program on Monday evenings this summer. If you are interested in future adaptive rowing programs, please contact Gretchen at EDD Adaptive Sports to be added to the waitlist. If there is interest in the community, they may add more adaptive rowing sessions.  

Let us know your thoughts on accessible and adaptive paddling in Otsego County. Have you tried these launches? Share your experience so others know what to expect. 

Girl rowing on a lak
Adaptive rowing class by EDD Adaptive Sports and Otsego Area Rowing

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]]> Hot Spots for Blueberry Picking https://otsegooutdoors.org/blueberries/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:45:52 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5503 Blueberry picking counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet Challenge. Here's some u-pick blueberry farms in and around Otsego County for you to visit.

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Hot Spots for Blueberry Picking

July 24, 2025

With summer going strong, blueberry picking is a great way to spend some time. Picking berries can be a fun family activity or a solo venture. Otsego County boasts multiple pick-your-own, family-owned blueberry fields. For those looking to complete your Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet, blueberry picking at any of these locations counts for one of your 8 activities. Blueberry picking usually runs from mid/late-July through early/mid-August. It’s a good idea to check in with the farm you want to visit to confirm that picking is available, and to find out the times they are open. 

Blueberry Fields Forever

1755 County Rd 14, Mt Vision, NY 13810
(785) 633-9080
Facebook

Butternut Valley Blueberry Farm

497 Backus Rd, Burlington Flats, NY 13315
(973) 650-5208
Facebook

Ingall’s Blueberry Hill

136 Seminary Rd, Hartwick, NY 13326
(607) 547-2600
https://ingallsblueberryhill.com/

Middlefield Orchard

2274 NY-166, Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 547-8212
https://middlefieldorchard.com/

North Star Farm

595 Franklin Heights Rd, Franklin, NY 13775
https://www.northstarfarm.com/pages/u-pick

Otsdawa Berry
1803 County Hwy 8, Otego, NY
updates@otsdawaberry.com

Know a berry farm we missed? Let us know!  

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]]> Goodyear Swamp Boardwalk Reopens https://otsegooutdoors.org/goodyear-swamp-reopens/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:00:27 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5336 The boardwalk trail at Goodyear Swamp Sanctuary has officially reopened.

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Goodyear Swamp Boardwalk Reopens

June 9, 2025

Exciting News: Goodyear Swamp Sanctuary Boardwalk Reopens!
We’re thrilled to announce that the boardwalk trail at Goodyear Swamp Sanctuary has officially reopened! Closed for many years, the boardwalk was completely rebuilt over the winter, with the Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA) leading the effort. This project was made possible through a collaborative partnership with the SUNY Foundation, the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station, and generous funding from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
Goodyear Swamp Sanctuary is a five-acre wetland at the northwest end of Otsego Lake. Managed by the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station, it serves as a vital site for research, education, and conservation. The sanctuary plays a crucial role in protecting water quality and supporting rare plants and animals.
“The Sanctuary is the last undeveloped wetland on Otsego Lake, the others now long developed. As such it still serves the services of nutrient reduction into the lake, contributing to water quality, as well as the biotic diversity necessary for ecological sustainability.” –Dr. Willard Harman.
About the Trail:
The Sanctuary features developed trails and boardwalks perfect for self-guided hikes through wetlands and forest. The horseshoe-shaped trail begins just downhill from the informational kiosk. It splits before the first platform—explore one side, then circle back and try the other. Keep an eye out for native wildlife… and poison ivy!
Plan Your Visit:
Goodyear Swamp Sanctuary is open to the public year-round. It is on the grounds of the Glimmerglass Festival, 7300 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY. Park in the Festival parking lot on the west side of the highway, then cross to the south entrance. Look for the kiosk at the top of the trail.
Come experience this unique natural treasure and the new boardwalk that makes it accessible once again!

people building a boardwalk in snow
Building the boardwalk Winter 2025
Two people walking along a boardwalk

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]]> What Is Community Science? https://otsegooutdoors.org/community-science/ Tue, 27 May 2025 18:33:45 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5302 OCCA's Kendall Jacob on "community science" and its benefits for the environment and community, and how you can get involved.

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What Is Community Science?

May 27, 2025

You may have heard the term citizen science before, which can be defined as the collection and analysis of data by members of the public to help advance scientific research. While this is what some of Otsego County Conservation Association’s volunteers do, we prefer the term community science. Here’s why:

  • To us, community science is the collaborative practice of engaging residents in meaningful scientific efforts to explore, understand, and protect their local environment. It’s more than just gathering data—it’s about building stronger, more connected communities to make a bigger impact in our county.
When neighbors, clubs, friends and family come together to monitor streams, assess culverts, or track/mitigate invasive species or harmful organisms, they are not just contributing to science…they’re also building relationships, learning together, and taking shared responsibility for the health of the places that we love. Community science nurtures a sense of stewardship, inclusivity, and pride, while making a real, measurable impact in conservation and in Otsego County.

OCCA wants to make volunteering easy for residents. If you’re looking to join a community, OCCA leads events year-round. If you’re already a part of a community, club, or organization, we love to collaborate and train other groups to take a stake in conservation.

To become a community scientist, reach out to Kendall Jacob, OCCA’s volunteer coordinator, at volunteer@occainfo.org or fill out the application here.

(top photo: OCCA volunteer pulling the invasive species water chestnut.) 

OCCA Culvert Team doing an assessment on the conditions of a bridge and its stream connectivity.

OCCA Stream Team volunteers fixing their dissolved oxygen water sample at the stream site.

OCCA Stream Team volunteers in the Canadarago Lake Watershed doing water quality tests.

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]]> Nature-Themed Summer Camps in and near Otsego County https://otsegooutdoors.org/summer-camps/ Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:11:08 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5192 Check out this list of nature-themed and outdoor-based nature camps in Otsego County.

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Nature-Themed Summer Camps in and near Otsego County

April 22, 2025

Photo credit – Clark Sports Center

Summer is just around the corner which means it is summer camp planning time!  We have compiled a list of nature themed and outdoor based nature camps in Otsego County.

 

A reminder to also check out our beautiful local trails and take your kids for a hike or go to the lake to soak up the summer. Area trails and lakes can be found on the Otsego Outdoors website as well as area outdoor events. 

Let us know about other area camps, and send in your photos to outdoors@otsego2000.org.

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]]> Spring Waterfalls https://otsegooutdoors.org/spring-waterfalls/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:07:08 +0000 https://otsegooutdoors.org/?p=5184 Spring may mean more muddy trails, but it also means waterfalls are at their peak. At Robert V. Riddell State Park, use the Gersoni road trailhead (just south of I-88…

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Spring Waterfalls

April 14, 2025

Waterfall at Emmons Pond Bog

Spring may mean more muddy trails, but it also means waterfalls are at their peak. At Robert V. Riddell State Park, use the Gersoni road trailhead (just south of I-88 exit 17, main parking lot for the park is on the north side of I-88. Park on side of Gersoni Road for the Mud Lake Trail). The hike to the waterfall (pictured above, photo by Alicia Klein) is a 3.5 mile out and back. See the Riddell State Park listing which includes a map.

Emmons Pond Bog has a waterfall just off the trail. Being a bog, this trail is often muddy in places and crosses two small streams. The reward for making your way through is a wonderful waterfall. The path to the waterfall is steep, walking poles are helpful. Emmons is also a wonderful place to spot spring ephemerals.

The Robert B. Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center, on the campus of Owen D. Young Central School in Van Hornesville, features several waterfalls. Please note: As this trail is on school property, it is closed to the public during school hours of 7 am – 3:30 pm Monday through Friday during the school year and summer program. The trail is accessed on the north side of the school, parking is available by the community garden.

Let us know about other area waterfalls, and send in your photos to outdoors@otsego2000.org.

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