Arnold Lake State Forest and Harry Bilderbeck County Forest
Activities: hiking, winter sports, mountain biking
Location: Arnold Lake State Forest, Joe Cornell Road parking lot (42.600681°N, 75.015771°W) Google Maps
Difficulty: easy-moderate
Distance: 1-5 miles (variable)
Elevation Gain: >500 feet (variable)
Fee: No
Trail map: arnoldlakesfmap.pdf
Arnold Lake State Forest (1,266-acres) and adjacent Harry F. Bilderbeck County Forest wrap around the private property surrounding Arnold Lake, a small, shallow, high elevation body of water. This publicly accessible forestland has a variety trails, including some for snowmobiles, running through it. From the parking lot on Joe Cornell Road, you can do out and back hikes on either side of County 46. It is suitable for hiking and cross country skiing.
DEC and OCCA and their volunteers are working to improve the trails.
Mountain biking and horseback riding are also allowed within the property but there are no designated trails or maintained areas for these activities. Forests are both deciduous and coniferous with logged areas creating open fields that provide some nice views.
For Cross Country Skiers:
With good snow cover, 8 inches or more, trails offer mainly intermediate-level skiing. However, the old fire road on the east side of Arnold Lake offers a wide safe place for a beginner to practice hill skiing. In icy or damp conditions, one might choose a different location as the trails often follow seasonal drainages. The terrain is variable so snow conditions can make it easy or nearly impossible.
Designated cross country ski trail, called the Milford Nordic Ski Trail, has yellow DEC markers. AllTrails has a map of this trail which starts in Arnold Lake State Forest and continues to make a loop in Harry Bilderbeck State Forest and return to the State Forest. (The DEC map  only includes the part of the trail in the State Forest). In January 2025, the blazes were included in the state forest, but intermittent in the County Forest, which sometimes had old yellow ribbon marking the trail.
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.
Parking is available at multiple trailheads marked Milford Nordic Ski Trail. One parking area is on intersection of County Route 46 and Joe Cornell Rd (42.60693,-75.015904) and another is at Arnold Lake Rd (42.615348,-74.998176)
Other Amenities, Features, and Activities: Parking, dogs allowed, running, horseback riding
What’s Nearby: The Elm Inn, 104 East Main Street, Milford, NY 607.286.4200
Mandy’s Bar & Grill, 2015 NY 205 Mount Vision, NYÂ Â 607.432.9596
Site maintained by the New York State Department of Conservation
What Octet-ers are Saying:
6/28/25: “Arnold Lake is not very clear where to park and the maps are not very good. There is no address for the road. If doing Arnold Lake put in the Joe Cornell and it is at the corner of 46 and Joe.”
3/17/25: The trail in Harry L. Bilderbeck County Forest is very wet.
2/23/25: Made a trip on a ski trail for a hike. Lots of snow, quite deep in parts. Very peaceful and very nice. Will come back to hike the other side.
1/12/25: Did the Milford Nordic Ski Trail Loop using the AllTrails app. Trail was clear but broke through the ice in some muddy spots. Saw two cross country skiers, and from the trail we could see one was there earlier in the day. Quiet and beautiful, some places are Narnia-like. Heard a golden crowned kinglet (and chickadees and blue jays)
