Finger Lakes National Forest County Road 1

The abandoned Seneca Army Depot left behind a network of gravel roads that now snake through 16,000 acres of recovering forest between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. County Road 1 and connecting forest service roads pass concrete bunkers, rusted fence lines, and artillery storage sites from the Cold War era while threading through grasslands where white deer—descendants of a captive herd—still roam. The main route crosses Burnt Hill Road and connects to the Finger Lakes Trail system near Picnic Area Road.

This is easy high-clearance territory suitable for any SUV or pickup, though spring mud can challenge two-wheel drives on side spurs. The 12-mile network stays open year-round but hunting seasons (October-December) bring orange-clad traffic. No permits required, and primitive camping is allowed in designated areas along Burnt Hill Road. You’ll find solitude, Cold War history, and some of the cleanest forest roads in western New York—plus those legendary white deer if you’re patient.