The community is invited to join the Finger Lakes Land Trust for the formal dedication of its Logan Hill Nature Preserve in the town of Candor, Tioga County on Saturday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. Land Trust staff and volunteers recently created a hiking trail on the property, which features stunning views of the surrounding hills and borders Catatonk Creek.
The 285-acre property was donated by Ithaca residents Betsy and Dick Darlington, who have a long history with the Land Trust. Betsy was a founding board member when the Land Trust was created in 1989, and she played an integral role in building its land protection and stewardship programs. The Darlington family also donated the Land Trust’s first-ever conservation easement on this very property in 1990.
Photo: Bill Hecht
The Darlingtons purchased the property in 1972, seeking a natural area for their family to get out and explore. After enjoying this peaceful retreat for more than 40 years, the family decided to donate all but a small portion of the property to the Land Trust, to be managed as a nature preserve. Now known as the Logan Hill Nature Preserve, the property features a wondrous cross-section of Finger Lakes landscapes and diverse habitats
Visitors can walk directly from the village of Candor, up Logan Hill Road, to the 2.5 mile trail system which passes through mature forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Open fields, ponds, and vernal pools provide excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife.
Guided hikes on the property will be led by Land Trust staff beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 10. Public parking is limited, because Logan Hill Road is a minimum maintenance road. Attendees are encouraged to park in the United Health Services parking lot at 54 Main Street, just past the Candor Central School. Land Trust volunteers will offer a shuttle service to the preserve, approx. 1 mile away on a seasonal road.
