Sterling Nature Center - Heron Trail
Sterling Nature Center
15730 Jensvold Road
Sterling, NY 13156
Phone: (315) 947-6143
Fee: Free / Pets: Yes
Parking Areas:
N43 22.665 W76 39.457 – (Parking / Trail #3)
Trail Map: Sterling Nature Center
Fishing: Little Sodus Bay
07/10/2010 (AdvGirl) – This is really an outstanding mid-summer day trip. The nature trails are well maintained. The rookery is awesome but there is a lot of other wildlife in the area as well. McIntyre’s Bluff is located down the lake shore line, follow trail #3 to the lake and then about .25 miles via the rocky shoreline. We did trails #3, #6, #8 and HBF #1 at a very easy pace and enjoyed the seclusion of the beach on an 85 degree day.
07/17/2010 (AdvGirl) – Our second visit to the center. We did trails #2, #3, #4, #5, and #9, totaling 4.2 miles. These trails were a little more challenging with temperatures pushing over 90 degrees. Trail #4 in particular had a couple of points that were muddy or under water. This was the only one of the trails that I would consider “buggy”. The swim in Lake Ontario was revitalizing after this one!
Trail: McIntyre’s Bluff (HBF #1)
Distance: 0.45 miles / Difficulty: Easy
Sterling Nature Center - McIntyre's Bluff
Trail: Bluff Trail (#2 – Blue Markers)
Distance 1.0 miles / Difficulty: Easy
N43 22.896 W76 39.303 – Intersection of trails #2/#9
Bluff Trail - #2
Bluff Trail - #2 - View 2
Trail: Dogwood Extension (#9)
Distance: 1.1 miles / Difficulty: Easy
N43 23.161 W76 39.098 – Intersection of trails #2 /#9
N43 23.186 W76 38.588 – Traceback Pt. / Parking
Dogwood Extension - #9
Trail: Forest Ecology Trail (#7)
Distance: 0.6 miles / Difficulty: Easy
Trail: Heron Trail (#6)
Distance: 0.8 miles / Difficulty: Easy
N43 22.743 W76 39.501 – Intersection of trails #6/#8
N43 22.854 W76 39.095 – Rookery
Sterling Nature Center - Rooker (Trail #6)
Blue Heron
Sterling Nature Center - Dragonfly Pond
Trail: Lake Trail (#3)
Distance: 0.2 miles / Difficulty: Easy
Trail #3 / Lake Ontario Intersection
Trail: Lake View (#8)
Distance: 0.4 miles / Difficulty: Easy
Sterling Nature Center - Trail #8
Trail #8 Observation Deck
Trail: Two Tale Trail (#5 – White Markers)
Distance: 0,8 miles / Difficulty: Easy
N43 23.048 W76 38.652 – Trail head
Two-Tail Trail - #5
Trail: Vernal Pool Trail (#4 – Red Markers)
Distance: 0.7 miles / Difficulty: Easy
N43 23.171 W76 38.691 – Trail head #4/#9
Vernal Pool Trail - #4
Vernal Pool Trail - #4 Alt View
Vernal Pool Trail - #4 Flooding
Trail: Wetland Loop (#1)
Distance: 3.5 miles / Difficulty: Unknown
Note: Currently under construction
“Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, where 1400 acres of wetlands, woodlands and meadows are bordered by two miles of undeveloped lakeshore with Sterling Creek to the South and Nine Mile Creek to the North. Ecologically sensitive areas are protected with a conversation easement.
The center was established by Cayuga County in 1997 to mange the natural resources and foster and understanding and appreciation for the natural environment through guided and unguided nature study and interpretive programs.”
— Cayuga County Parks & Trails
