Lake Otsego New York: A Hike On The Owen D. Young Nature Trail In Nearby Historic Van Hornesville.

It was  cloudy. again, Sunday  morning when I awoke  in my room at the Lake n Pines Hotel along the northwestern shore of Lake Otsego New York. I had already  accomplished my mission on Saturday and splashed in the headwaters of the Susquehanna River  as it  flowed from  Lake Otsego.  I had planned to again hike in Glimmerglass State Park before driving home.  However,  I saw a nature trail on my AllTrail app and decided to drive to the sleepy village of Van Hornesville and hike on the Owen D. Young Nature Trail.

It was about a 12 mile scenic  drive to the tiny town located in rural New York. The trailhead is   next to a  school donated by  a famous resident of this small town. I had never heard of before, Owen D. Young. but he was a famous businessman, lawyer and diplomat and the founder of the RCA corporation in 1919.  I parked across from the school,

and began my hike on the trailhead,

and soon crossed the Otsquago Creek. 

The trail followed this creek through an old  hardwood forest. The overcast skies and thick  canopy of leaves made it very dark along the trail.

The start of the trail was well maintained and easy to walk. I soon came to the first of a series of small waterfalls on the fast moving creek.

The fast  waters of the Otsuqago Creek were an ideal location for early industrial  development. Near the first waterfall were the ruins and abandoned machinery form a early sawmill.

A short distance after the site of the sawmill the trail split. I followed the trails signs that   indicated there were some caves near the creek  and decided to take that trail.

The trail was not as well maintained here. I had to walk over tree roots and muddy,  slippery slopes. 

I followed it down  to  the creek, hearing a few birds, mostly red-eyed vireos and eastern wood pee wees but it was hard to see them in  the dark conditions along the creek.

I soon came to the limestone caves.

I love exploring caves as a child  and imagined the children in this area exploring them after school or when they were out of  school in the Summer.

There was a stairs here overlooking another waterfalls, Creamery Falls. .

After enjoying the rushing waters of the falls I continued my hike and discovered a bridge over a small stream was closed,

actually it was demolished. I decided to crawl over the fallen bridge and across the creek. It wasn’t easy, the trail near the creek was wet and very slippery.

After crossing the stream I continued along trail which continued in the dark woodland.  Ferns grew along the trail and my  PictureThis  iPhone App identified them as glade or log ferns, a species I never have seen before.

Large areas of the trail also had wood nettles and

jewel weed or touch me not plants.

The trail split again, one path led down to the creek and another up a wooden stairs named Jane’s Lane. .   I followed the wooden stairs up a ridge. They have not been maintained and were in disrepair. I had to be careful s a climbed them.

At the top of the stairs  I saw a 100 foot waterfall meandering down a ridge. Here you could continue on Plank Road Trail but I decided to hike back on the other path to the creek.

This trail  was steep and muddy. I had to hang on to branches and tree roots to make it down but it was worth it.

The trail  took me to Kelly’s Falls

and a, a short distance further, peaceful secluded spot along the creek .

It was here I heard a few eastern pee wees and finally was able to get a photo of one.  After enjoying the  the solitude of the creek and the sound of the rushing water,  

I hiked back up the trail and up the stairs to the Plank Road. Trail.   The Plank Road was once an  once important road  connecting Van Hornesville and it’s industry with  surrounding towns and villages.

I followed the trail under a more mature mixed woodland of hardwood with  some pine and hemlock trees.

There were many red efts crawling along the trail,

they are the land phase of the eastern. I gathered a few for this photo.

A  few mushrooms, including this coral mushroom ,

and this russula mushroom were growing along the dark trail.

After about a 1/2 mile the trail continued but  there were signs indicating it was private property and no trespassing.  So  I hiked back  and returned to the trailhead on the Plank Road .  Here is a link to a gallery  on my blog  website with some more more photos from my  my hike on the nature trail .  Lake Otsego New York Owen D. Young Nature Trail  August 18 2024

I had hiked about 2 1/2 miles on the trail. It was around 8 a.m. when I finished my hike. I wanted to be on the road for 9 a.m. so I had some time to explore the quaint and historic village of Van Hornesville.  The town was founded by Abraham Van Horne in 1791. He established the saw mill on the Otsquago Creek in 1793.

I walked down the Main Street of this sleepy town of a few dozen residents.

I walked past the school,

a few homes and a couple of churches. I didn’t see a person or automobile on my 1/2 mile walk to the end of the town.

On the way back I saw a sign for  Cemetery Road and had to investigate. I love cemeteries. I followed the road up a steep hill and came to two cemeteries, one obviously much older than the other.

I walked into the older cemetery and past the graves of the folks who lived their lives in this beautiful part of New York. As usual I reflected on their lives, what the did, where they went to school, whether they found loved, got married, had children or died , young or old, alone or in the company of loved ones.

The oldest grave I found was of the village founder Abraham Van Horne who died in 1810. I could have spent hours in the cemetery but I had to head back.

On the way I met an elderly gentleman walking his dog and we had a pleasant conversation about the town, it’s residents and history.  After our pleasant chat I met another man near on of the churches,

and, after another  pleasant chat he was so kind as to allow me in the  church. I didn’t ask, but he must have been the pastor or caretaker. It was a beautiful  church. I finished my 1 1/2 mile walk in this delightful small hamlet and drove back to my hotel.  Here is a link to a gallery  on my blog  website with some more more photos from my hike in Van Hornesville.  .  Lake Otsego New York    August 18 2024.

I quickly showered, packed  and began my three hour drive home at exactly 9 a.m.  On the drive home I reflected on another  great adventure. I had only intended to visit Lake Otsego, Glimmerglass State Park and the headwaters of the Susquehanna River. But, once again I got more from my trip, including a bucket list visit to the  Baseball Hall of Fame, a walk through historic Cooperstown and Van Hornesville and so much new knowledge about the history of this wonderful area. I love to travel and share my adventures on my blog. Thanks, again, for joining me.

“Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.” – Lovelle Drachman