Yellow Barn State Forest

概览

Yellow Barn State Forest covers 1,289 acres of land in the east-central Tompkins County town of Dryden. Somewhat primitive in nature, passive recreational activities such as hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, hiking, biking and horseback riding can all be enjoyed. Yellow Barn State Forest has one snowmobile trail about 3 miles in length and many paths, former town roads and logging trails to explore. The forest is sustainably managed for diverse wildlife habitat and for soil and water conservation. As a managed working forest, it produces forest products such as firewood, paper pulp and sawtimber, while storing large amounts of carbon.
The majority of the lands that cover Yellow Barn State Forest were once used for farming and pasture. However, the land could not support intensive agriculture. Farming came to an end during the Great Depression when many of Upstate New York's hilltop farms became economically unproductive.

Originally part of township number 23 of the military tract, the Yellow Barn State Forest lands were added to the State Forest System from 1956 to 2002. The most significant acquisition took place in January of 1956 when about 1,242 acres of federal lands were added to the State Forest. Chiefly former farms, the federal lands were acquired as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal under what was then called the federal sub marginal land purchase program. In total, 12 farms were acquired under the sub marginal land purchase program, with an average farm size of about 104 acres. The lands that comprise the Yellow Barn State Forest were once part of a rural farming community. In addition to the village of Dryden, a hamlet called California was settled at the intersection of Yellow Barn and Midline roads. The hamlet appears on a 1860 map. It was supposed to have received this name, commented Iva Cornelius Van Pelt (1904-2001) "from a group of pioneers whose original goal had been that far-western state (the 1849 California Gold Rush) but who so liked the hollow that they decided to remain here instead" (Gutchess, n.d.). The 1866 Atlas of Tompkins County indicates that A. Hard, J.W.D., W. Carpenter, J. Hammond, A.D. Card, D.B. Card, D.A. Chatfield, T. Robinson, O. Smith, A. Simon Est., J.H.N., B. Simons, P.M. Overbaugh, L. Griffin, T. Johnson and J. Vanorder owned land within the Yellow Barn State Forest.

During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt pushed forth his "New Deal" legislation in an effort to combat the rising unemployment epidemic caused by the Depression. This legislation offered many opportunities to Americans throughout the country, and it help start the process of reforestation in New York State. At the state level, the State Reforestation Law of 1929 and the Hewitt Amendment of 1931 were enacted. These laws were created to help stabilize the school tax base and authorized the then New York State Conservation Department to establish State Forests by gift or purchase. State Reforestation Areas, consisting of areas no less than 500 acres of contiguous land, were to be forever devoted to "reforestation and the establishment and maintenance of forests for watershed protection, the production of timber and other forest products, and for recreation and other kindred purposes" (Article 9, Title 5 and 7, Environmental Conservation Law).

The New Deal, State Reforestation Law and Hewitt Amendment paved the way for the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933. The CCC enabled young men to be employed in various road building and forestry programs. Camp S-125 planted between 400,000 and 600,000 Scotch pine, European larch, Norway spruce, red pine, white pine, jack pine, red oak and Austrian pine seedlings in Yellow Barn State Forest.
Field Notes

Yellow Barn State ForestToday, strong towering pines, spruce and northern hardwoods cover the landscape. A wide collection of plants and animals can be discovered within this managed forest including various game species such as the white tailed deer, red fox, raccoon, squirrels, rabbits, woodcock and grouse. In addition, over 20 species of reptiles and amphibians and nearly 120 species of birds call the forest home. Although there is only one formal trail on the forest, there are still many informal opportunities to explore and experience the rich diversity that abounds within the woods.
Trails

Yellow Barn State Forest currently has about 3 miles of formal snowmobile trails winding through the property that are maintained by the Dryden-Caroline Drifters Snowmobile Club, a DEC Adopt-A- Natural Resource partner.
***Stay Safe- Bring A Friend When Out In The Forest***
Directions

Yellow Barn State Forest may be accessed by taking NY RT 13 west of Dryden, then turning onto Yellow Barn Rd. which runs north to south along the western portion of the forest. There is also access by taking Irish Settlement Rd. off of NY RT 13, which crosses thru the eastern portion of the forest. Irish Settlement Rd. crosses through the Yellow Barn State Forest at geographic coordinates and 42.46551 N and -76.31872 W. The snowmobile trailhead on Tehan Rd. (which runs off of Irish Settlement Rd.) is at geographic coordinates 42.46984 N and -76.33338 W.

More information on http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/37402.html

Ecotourism & Sustainability Map
updated 03/2012 by Ithaca - Tompkins County NY