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THE PARK:
New York State has
been scraped and gouged by glaciers advancing and retreating
in several Ice Ages. The souvenirs from these ice sheets are
most famously the 11 Finger Lakes that stretch across the north-central
tier of the state. The Finger Lakes Region is speckled with spectacular
waterfalls and gorges such as is found in Fillmore Glen. Dr.
Charles Atwood, a local physician by vocation and a botanist
by avocation led the preservationist movement to create this
park in the 1920s.
WALKS:
The main canine hiking
experience at Fillmore Glen is on the Gorge Trail that crosses
Dry Creek on nine bridges. Much of the elaborate stonework along
the trail was constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps stonemasons
during the Great Depression. This is an easy trot for your dog
for two miles into the glen.
To complete a hiking
loop back to the parking area you have two choices - the South
Rim Trail and the North Rim Trail. The South Rim is the more
benign of the two as it connects several picnic pavilions. The
heartier canine hike is through the hemlocks on the higher side,
the north side. The most scenic side waterfall drops from this
side.
Your dog is welcome
on the trails and will enjoy the natural swimming pool beyond
the Cowsheds, a cover-worthy waterfall that drops into a semi-circular
ampitheatre. Dogs are also welcome in the park campground but
make sure you bring a written veterinarian's certificate - the
collar tag will not be accepted as proof. The Gorge Trail and
campground are closed in the winter.
BONUS:
Fillmore Glen is
named for Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United
States, the first president born when George Washington was no
longer alive and the last president who was neither a Democrat
or Republican (he was a Whig). Millard Fillmore was born in a
log cabin five miles from the park in 1800 and a replica of the
cabin constructed from similar materials is on display near the
parking lot.
Fillmore was the first
non-elected President, ascending to office from the vice-presidency
in July 1850 with the death of Zachary Taylor. Interestingly,
he served as President without a Vice-president. Fillmore supported
the Compromise of 1850 that was admitted California as a free
state but also established a stricter slave law that was so controversial
he was not even nominated by his own party to run for President
again in 1852.
DIRECTIONS
TO FILLMORE GLEN STATE PARK:
The park is directly
on Route 38, one mile south of the town of Moravia and south
of Owasco Lake.
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