Basswood Pond State Forest
Activities: Hiking, paddling, winter sports, mountain biking, fishing
Location: Conservation Rd, Burlington Flats, NY 13315
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Distance: 1 trail loop
Paddling Distance: 16-acre pond
Fee: No
There are three ways to access the Blue Trail. The main entrance off of Conservation Road has a parking and picnic area, restrooms, and is wheelchair accessible. The Jacobs Road entrance has a parking area and kiosk. The third entrance is on the south end of the trails, on Basswood Road. It has a small parking area.
Directions
- From the North: NY-28 S, right onto County Road 16 (5.1 mi). Next, make a left onto Basswood Rd (0.4 mi), then take the first right onto Conservation Road to reach the Basswood Pond day use area.
- From the South: NY-205 N, turn left onto NY-80 W (4 mi), then right onto County Rd 16 (1.5 mi). Next, make a left onto Basswood Road (0.4 mi), then take the first right onto Conservation Road to reach the Basswood Pond day use area.
- From the East: Take St. Hwy. 80 West of Cooperstown. In Burlington, make a right onto County Route 16. Approximately 1 1/2 miles, make a left onto Basswood Road. Make first right on the Conservation Road and proceed to day use area.
- From the West: US-20 E, turn right onto NY-51 S/ South St (12.2 mi), take left onto Arnold Rd (1.2 mi), continue onto Basswood Road to enter the State Forest, and then take the first left onto Conservation Road to reach the Basswood Pond day use area.
- Jacobs Road Parking Lot (42.757101°N, 75.121525°W) Google Maps
- Basswood Pond Parking Lot: provides access to the Basswood Pond picnic day area. (42.750324°N, 75.123224°W) Google Maps
DEC Update: Flooding has also resulted in the destruction of a bridge on the southern hiking trail loop. Plans are underway to replace the bridge in summer 2024. In the meantime, the trail has been re-routed so that hikers may cross the stream using Basswood Road. Consistent beaver activity at Basswood Pond often results in a portion of the trail system adjacent to Basswood Pond being flooded, preventing hikers from completing the main loop without wading.
June 2024 Update: There is not any flooding on the path by the lean to, as there has been in past years. The trail at the south end goes out to the Basswood Road, look for orange flagging. The Town of Burlington just replaced the culvert on Basswood Road and reopened it to traffic, so you can get to the Day Use area via Basswood Road again.
The trails north of Jacobs Road are closed due to logging.
Basswood Pond State Forest encompasses a total of 720 acres with Basswood Pond itself covering 16 acres and a small beaver pond covering 6 acres. It is open year round and contains approximately 7.5 miles of multiple use trails best suited to hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Mountain biking and horseback riding are allowed on the property, but there are no designated trails or maintained areas for these activities. Paddling is permitted; however, there is no dock or put-in. Ponds are open for hand-launched boats. Please clean and drain all watercraft before launching to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Blue Trail 2+ miles: The Blue Trail is south of Jacobs Road and also can be accessed from the pull-off on Basswood Road.
You may want to bring a fishing pole as there is a small dock and several grassy areas around the pond to fish from the stocked pond. Basswood Pond State Forest was the site of On the Trail of Art by the Butternut Valley Alliance in June 2022.
Fishing: Basswood Pond State Forest features Basswood Pond with an accessible fishing pier. Basswood Pond is stocked with rainbow trout annually. There is a 10 inch minimum length and a 3-fish daily limit for trout. Fish may not be used as bait. There are also public fishing rights on the nearby Wharton Creek.
Winter Access: There is a small parking lot on Jacobs Road, or park in the small pull-off on Basswood Road. The main parking lot on Conservation Road may not be accessible in winter. Please do not walk or snowshoe in cross-country ski tracks, the next skier will be very happy you did!
Other Amenities and Activities: picnic area, grilling station, fire pit, information kiosk, map at the trailhead, parking, primitive camping, restrooms, dogs allowed, fall foliage, handicap accessible, fishing (no ice fishing and fish may not be used as bait), horseback riding
What Octet-ers are saying:
3/1/24: “The trail by the pond remains passable (the loop trail is open and you can get from the Main lot to the lean-to.) Conservation Road was drivable (but since it’s seasonal, that may change.)”
What’s Nearby: Jerry’s Place (open May-October, about 10 minute drive) 607.547.1037
Site maintained by  New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA)
