Great Bear Springs Rec Area, Fulton/Phoenix NY

Great Bear Springs Recreational Area is a 444 acre land trust owned by the city of Fulton and the town of Volney. It sits on the east bank of the Oswego River. With a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails, you’ll find this gem on Route 57, at the intersection of Rt 57, Great Bear Rd and Hawthorn Rd, smack dab between Fulton and Phoenix. There is a large parking lot at the intersection, then you walk through a gate to get to the trails. Just through the gate and up on the right is an info board with a map. Some trails are marked, some are not. I thought some of the marked trails could be marked better. Its great place for walking your dog. When we got down to the Oswego River there were 9 (well behaved and friendly) dogs there, frolicking and playing in the river. I met a small group lead by a guide foraging for edibles, and a photographer doing a photo shoot at the old Spring House. There is also a locke and a towpath. So many friendly and interesting people, as well as interesting history here too. I took Alec’s Trail to the Yellow Trail. Loved it!!! Mature forest, natural trails, lots of elevation changes, hills and knolls. Miles of trails the lots of variety.