State Land

Labrador Hollow Unique Area

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Map of Labrador Hollow Unique Area

Labrador Hollow Unique Area was acquired with funds provided by the Environmental Quality Bond Act of 1972 as a means to protect areas of great natural beauty, wilderness, and/or historical, geological or ecological significance. This includes rare plant life and scarce animal habitats.

Featured Activities

General information on paddling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Labrador Hollow Unique Area features paddling on Labrador Pond. There is a hand boat launch on the west side of the pond.

General information on fishing includes how to-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Labrador Pond is relatively shallow, averaging about 4 feet in depth. The pond has an accessible fishing pier that provides good access to pan fish and largemouth bass fishing. Other common species found in the pond include: small yellow perch, pumpkinseed, bluegills and brown bullheads.

To reach the fishing pier, turn left from the boardwalk parking area onto Labrador Cross Road. Turn left on Markham Hollow Road. Proceed about 0.5 mile south down the road along the western shore.

General information on hiking includes how to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Through partnerships with the Onondaga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (leaves DEC website), there are 4.8 miles of well-marked hiking trails that are quite popular. Some of the trails run through the Unique Area and continue east and west through the adjacent Morgan Hill and Kettlebail State Forests, linking these three tracts of state land.

Wildlife Management Unit: 7M

General information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Labrador Hollow Unique Area is open for hunting. Specific hunting regulations in Labrador Hollow are outlined in the rules, regulations and outdoor safety section of this page.

Wildlife Management Unit: 7M

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Labrador Hollow Unique Area is open for trapping. Specific trapping regulations in Labrador Hollow are outlined in the rules, regulations and outdoor safety section of this page.

General information on cross-county skiing and snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The hiking trails can be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

Wildlife is diverse; turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and various waterfowl species inhabit Labrador Hollow. An osprey nesting platform was installed on the west side of the pond in March of 2010.

Reports have identified more than 107 different bird species within Labrador Hollow. At least twelve different species of warblers have been identified, including the Kentucky warbler (leaves DEC website) which has been identified as a rare and protected species by the New York Natural Heritage Program. Canada geese are the primary water fowl in the area, however, keep an eye out for the more rare species such as the great blue heron and the pied-billed grebe, as their range is known to extend through Labrador Hollow Unique Area.

View of Labrador Hollow from Accessible Boardwalk

Accessible Features

From the Markham Hollow Road Parking Area on western side of the pond, wheelchair accessible features include the:

  • Fishing/viewing platform

The fishing pier is 230 feet from the parking area.

From the Main Parking Area on Labrador Crossroad, wheelchair accessible features include the:

  • Hiking trail with boardwalk; and
  • Portable toilet (seasonal)

The Labrador Hollow Boardwalk is a 0.4 mile loop trail with a gentle grade (max. slope 5%), wide tread (min. width 5 feet), and firm boardwalk surface.

From the Tinker Falls Parking Area, off Route 91, wheelchair accessible features include:

  • Hiking trail

The Tinker Falls Trail is 0.25 mile one way with a gentle grade (max. slope 5%), wide tread (min. width 8 feet), and firm compacted stone surface.

See Maps, Directions, and Featured Activities sections on this page for more details on these features. Visit the DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations web page for additional accessible recreation opportunities.

Directions

From NY 80 to NY 91, Labrador Hollow Unique Area may be accessed from Labrador Crossroad as well as Markham Hollow Road.

  • The main parking area is just north of the pond off Labrador Crossroad. (42.792524°N, 76.051974°W) Google Maps 
  • Parking for Tinker Falls is available form RT 91, across from the trail entrance. (42.779546°N, 76.035718°W) Google Maps 
  • The hand boat launch and pier is off Markham Hollow Road. (42.785608°N, 76.054347°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 Labrador Hollow Unique Area 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.

Site-Specific Rules

  • Bathing and swimming are prohibited.
  • Boat launching is permitted only from the designated boat launch on the west side of Labrador Pond.
  • Motorized boats are prohibited.
  • Camping and open fires are prohibited.
  • Snowmobiling is prohibited.
  • Domestic animals must be under the complete control of their owner/handler.
  • Off‐road vehicle traffic is prohibited.
  • Hunting and trapping are permitted as follows (See map (PDF)):
    • Zone 1 (556 acres) ‐ Hunting and trapping are prohibited. This area includes all of Labrador Pond, the boardwalk, Tinker Falls, and most of the trails.
    • Zone 2 (918 acres) ‐ Hunting and trapping are permitted. Zone 2 is the remaining area of Labrador Hollow Unique Area outside of Zone 1
  • Fishing in Zone 1 is permitted only from a boat on the pond or creek or from the fishing pier. To protect the shoreline vegetation, fishing from the shoreline is prohibited. Fishing is permitted in Zone 2.
  • Non‐motorized hang‐gliding is allowed by special permit only. See contact information above.
  • Although not legally prohibited, there are no approved horseback riding or mountain biking trails or facilities in Labrador Hollow Unique Area.

Planning and Management

DEC manages these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the Hill and Hollow Unit Management Plan (PDF, 8MB). 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].

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information

State Lands and Facilities

Where to Find Nearby Amenities

  • Gas, food and dining can be found in the nearby community of Tully.
  • Lodging can be found in the nearby community of Tully and Cortland.

Cortland County Tourism and Finger Lakes Tourism 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 on-line 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 the internet for listings.

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

History

Labrador Hollow's topography is responsible for its unique character. The area is located in the middle of a valley running north to south that was dug out by glacial movement that occurred during the Pleistocene Epoch. Massive ice sheets from the last glaciation episode (Wisconsinan glaciation episode) retreated from the area approximately ten thousand years ago. They left behind numerous sedimentary deposits and superficial features, some of which filled with water and are now called the Finger Lakes, while others became known as valleys.

The floor of Labrador Hollow's valley is only about one-half mile wide, but its walls rise abruptly for several hundred feet. Today, this unique and attractive area provides diverse ecological, economic, and recreational services for many New York residents and visitors alike.

Important Links

New York Natural Heritage Program
Finger Lakes Trail Conference
ADK Mountain Club- Onondaga Chapter
Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Finger Lakes Tourism
Contact for this Page

NYSDEC Region7 Cortland Sub-office
1285 Fisher Ave
Cortland, NY 13045

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