Hewitt State Forest

• Open for recreation: Year-round

• Fee: Free
• Contact Information:
  • DEC Region 7 Cortland Office (M-F, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM), (607) 753-3095; [email protected]
  • Search, rescue, wildfire, and enforcement matters: 911- or - 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) 
    A local Forest Ranger is a valuable source of information for the state land you would like to visit.
• Location: Town of Scott, Cortland County
• Wildlife Management Unit: 7J
• Map: Hewitt State Forest Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator

Hewitt State Forest is located just off of State Highway 41 on Hewitt Road. Although there are no formal hiking trails on the property, hiking is allowed anywhere unless posted otherwise.

Directions

To access the Forest from points north, take State Route 41 south to Old State Road West. Make a left turn onto Old State Road West and then left on Brake Hill Road. Brake Hill Road runs through the Forest.

Coming from the south, take State 41 North and make a right onto Old State Road West. Follow directions above from here.

• Hewitt Road Parking Lot (42.747603°N, 76.223207°W) Google Maps

All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.

Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety

Practice Leave No Trace Principles when recreating on state land to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, minimize impact on the natural resources and avoid conflicts with other users.

All users of Hewitt State Forest must follow all State Land Use Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.

Planning and Management

DEC manages these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the Hewitt-Cayuga Highlands Unit Management Plan (PDF, Part 1) (PDF, Part 2, 7MB). In addition to management objectives, the UMP contains detailed information on natural features, recreational infrastructure, geology, natural and human history, habitats, wildlife, fisheries and much more.

If you have questions and/or comments about this UMP, please email us at [email protected].

History

Hewitt State Forest is New York State's first State Forest.

Settlers arrived in the area as early as 1799 and claimed the area had an abundance of wildlife, which was both problematic and helpful. For instance, bears were troublesome because they were predators, and tended to destroy the settlers' corn crops, but they were also so abundant that the settlers could hunt them. On one such hunt, three settlers set out to track and kill a notorious predator, but never succeeded in finding it. After a brief search for the bear, one of the hunters gave up the hunt while the other two pushed forward. These two had no luck finding the bear either, but they succeeded in finding another bear known to be a nuisance. They shot the second bear instead, but they only wounded it. Eight miles later they finally killed it and made bear skin caps from its hide to commemorate the event. Deer were also a nuisance animal because of their large populations and tendency to consume crops.

From the time of the first European inhabitants to around 1865, the town of Scott grew to a population of about 1,149. Settlers were spread throughout the town's 12,928 acres and there were a number of sawmills and gristmills which dotted the landscape. The land surrounding the town was primarily used for agricultural purposes and still remains that way today with the exception of 938 acres reserved for Hewitt State Forest.

Unfortunately for the early farmers, Scott's soil was not conducive to agriculture. Due to the area's soil make-up, many farms became non-profitable around the time of the Great Depression and were sold to the State for reforestation.

Hewitt State Forest was established between 1929 and 1942 to reduce soil erosion, produce forest products, help stabilize the tax base, and provide recreational opportunities. Between 1929 and 1947 approximately 1,056,872 pine, spruce, cedar, dogwood and red oak were planted by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp S-96, based in Sempronius, New York. Today the forest provides a diverse group of ecological, economic, and recreational services

This "State Reforestation Area", as it was called then, was eventually named after Senator Charles J. Hewitt from nearby Locke. Senator Hewitt was the sponsor of the Hewitt Reforestation Act that established State Forests outside of the Forest Preserves. On October 3, 1929, in an impressive ceremony, four Norway spruce from the State Nursery at Saratoga were planted on the former Harmon Farm. Planting these trees were: Nelson C. Brown, acting Dean of the State College of Forestry in Syracuse (now the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (leaves DEC website)), who represented Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, Senator Charles J. Hewitt, Conservation Commissioner Alexander Macdonald, and George D. Pratt, President of the American Forestry Association and a former Conservation Commissioner.

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities and Other Information

State Lands and Facilities

• Bear Swamp State Forest
• Frozen Ocean State Forest
• Summerhill State Forest

Where to Find Nearby Amenities

• Gas, food, dining and lodging may be found in the nearby communities of Tully and Homer.

Cortland County Tourism Office can provide information about other recreation, attractions and amenities in this area.

Numerous guidebooks and maps are available with information on the lands, waters, trails and other recreational facilities in this area. These can be purchased at most outdoor equipment retailers, bookstores, and online booksellers.

Additional information, outdoor equipment, trip suggestions and guided or self-guided tours may be obtained from outdoor guide and outfitting businesses. Check area chambers of commerce, telephone directories or search online for listings.

Consider hiring an outdoor guide if you have little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association for information on outdoor guides.