Yellow Barn 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 Dryden, Tompkins County
• Wildlife Management Unit: R7
• Map: Yellow Barn State Forest Map (GeoPDF) - GeoPDF Instructions || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator

Yellow Barn State Forest covers 1,289 acres of land. The forest is primitive in nature and recreational activities such as hunting, trapping, and snowmobiling can be enjoyed here.

Directions

Yellow Barn State Forest may be accessed by taking NY RT 13 west of Dryden, then turning onto Yellow Barn Road which runs north to south along the western portion of the forest. There is also access by taking Irish Settlement Road off of NY RT 13, which crosses thru the eastern portion of the forest.

• Irish Settlement Road crosses through the Yellow Barn State Forest at geographic coordinates (42.46551°N, 76.31872°W) Google Maps
• The snowmobile trailhead on Tehan Road (which runs off of Irish Settlement Road) is at geographic coordinates (42.46984°N, 76.33338°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 Yellow Barn 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 has developed the Twin Sheds Draft Unit Management Plan (PDF) with Maps Part 1 (PDF) and Part 2 (PDF) which describes the management activities for these lands. 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].

Forest Management

The forest is sustainably managed for diverse wildlife habitat and for soil and water conservation. As a managed working forest, Yellow Barn produces forest products such as firewood, paper pulp and sawtimber, while storing large amounts of carbon. Today, strong towering pines, spruce and northern hardwoods cover the landscape.

History

The majority of the lands that cover Yellow Barn State Forest were once used for farming and pasture. However, the land could not support intensive agriculture. Farming came to an end during the Great Depression when many of Upstate New York's hilltop farms became economically unproductive.

Originally part of township number 23 of the military tract, the Yellow Barn State Forest lands were added to the State Forest System from 1956 to 2002. The most significant acquisition took place in January of 1956 when about 1,242 acres of federal lands were added to the State Forest. Chiefly former farms, the federal lands were acquired as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal under what was then called the federal sub marginal land purchase program. In total, 12 farms were acquired under the sub marginal land purchase program, with an average farm size of about 104 acres.

The lands that comprise the Yellow Barn State Forest were once part of a rural farming community. In addition to the village of Dryden, a hamlet called California was settled at the intersection of Yellow Barn and Midline roads. Iva Cornelius Van Pelt (1904-2001) says it receive its name "from a group of pioneers whose original goal had been that far-western state but who so liked the hollow that they decided to remain here instead" (Gutchess, n.d.). The 1866 Atlas of Tompkins County indicates that A. Hard, J.W.D., W. Carpenter, J. Hammond, A.D. Card, D.B. Card, D.A. Chatfield, T. Robinson, O. Smith, A. Simon Est., J.H.N., B. Simons, P.M. Overbaugh, L. Griffin, T. Johnson and J. Vanorder owned land within the Yellow Barn State Forest.

During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt pushed forth his "New Deal" legislation in an effort to combat the rising unemployment epidemic caused by the Depression. This legislation helped start the process of reforestation in New York State. At the state level, the State Reforestation Law of 1929 and the Hewitt Amendment of 1931 were enacted. These laws were created to help stabilize the school tax base and authorized the the Conservation Department (now DEC) to establish State Forests. State Reforestation Areas, consisting of areas no less than 500 acres of contiguous land, were to be forever devoted to "reforestation and the establishment and maintenance of forests for watershed protection, the production of timber and other forest products, and for recreation and other kindred purposes" (Article 9, Title 5 and 7, Environmental Conservation Law).

The New Deal, State Reforestation Law and Hewitt Amendment paved the way for the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933. CCC Camp S-125 planted between 400,000 and 600,000 Scotch pine, European larch, Norway spruce, red pine, white pine, jack pine, red oak and Austrian pine seedlings in Yellow Barn State Forest.

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities and Other Information

State Lands and Facilities

• Danby State Forest
• Hammond Hill State Forest

Where to Find Nearby Amenities

• Gas, food, dining and lodging may be found in the nearby community of Ithaca.

Tompkins 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 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 have little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association for information on outdoor guides.