Finger Lakes Trail:
As new information surfaces and stay-at-home orders grow increasingly restrictive in New York State, we want to once again provide an update on the Finger Lakes Trail Conference’s response to the COVID-19 health crisis.
Our office in Mt. Morris is completely closed and staff are working remotely. At this time, a staff person is fulfilling map orders from home. Please allow extra time for mailing. Digital maps may still be purchased and downloaded. Online orders from our third-party vendor for FLT merchandise will be fulfilled based on available stock. Delays in processing these orders should be expected.
While the Trail itself remains open, we must make the following statements to support the health and safety of trail users and the communities through which the Trail runs:
1. Please ONLY use the FLT for day hikes if it is accessible to you within your immediate neighborhood or community. DO NOT travel to the FLT if doing so requires you to stop along the way for gas or supplies. All residents of New York State should be staying at or near home as much as possible at this time. We cannot close the trail and do encourage outdoor activity to support physical and mental health, but do not want to encourage travel or contact with other people or communities if not entirely necessary.
2. Please do not plan to start a thru-hike or end-to-end hike or undertake any multi-day backpacking trips—even self-supported—until further notice. In accordance with our first point, we do not want to encourage anyone to travel outside their immediate neighborhood/community at this time.
3. Please DO NOT contact Car Spotters/Trail Angels at this time and until further notice.
We at the Finger Lakes Trail Conference are monitoring this situation carefully and we are paying close attention to how other trail systems are responding. Trail systems that are highly trafficked are asking users to stay off the trails completely. Given the remote locations and limited use of much of the FLT, we do not feel that is necessary at this time. However, we are also aware that more people than usual are getting out on trails in parks and other places, which can make social distancing difficult if not impossible. Please avoid areas that are highly trafficked, and please practice social distance with other users of the trail.
Our previous messages are included below for your reference. Changes to scheduled hikes and other activities beyond those which have already been announced will be shared as decisions are made. Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
