Throughout 2026, the Finger Lakes Land Trust is celebrating 20 years of conservation in Ithaca’s Emerald Necklace. You can help us celebrate by completing the Hiking Challenge! See map and details below.

Finger Lakes Trail & The Emerald Necklace

The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) system runs from Allegany State Park on the Pennsylvania border to the Catskill Forest Preserve, with branch trails to Niagara Falls, the Genesee River valley, the Great Eastern Trail, the central Finger Lakes, and the Syracuse region. The trail is overseen and managed by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. The Emerald Necklace hosts 78 miles of the FLT, passing through some of the most scenic lands in the region including state forests, state parks, Finger Lakes Land Trust nature preserves, and New York’s only national forest. This stretch of the FLT is maintained by the Cayuga Trails Club.

78 Miles, 20 Years Later

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Emerald Necklace, Finger Lakes Land Trust President Andy Zepp will be repeating a trek he completed 20 years ago, hiking all 78 miles of the trail.

FLLT President Andy Zepp and daughter on the inaugural Emerald Necklace hike in 2006.

Along some sections of the trail, Andy will be accompanied by friends and supporters, and these hikes will be documented in an upcoming video this year.

Your Challenge!

The Finger Lakes Land Trust invites you to explore the Emerald Necklace by also hiking these 78 miles along the Finger Lakes Trail! This hiking challenge can be done in sections, at your own pace, and over the course of 2026. Anyone who completes the challenge receives a hiking patch commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Emerald Necklace.

Please refer to the map for information on the entire route, including starting and ending points. The route starts at the trailhead on Satterly Hill Rd. in the Finger Lakes National Forest (Hector, NY) and ends at the intersection of Star Stanton and Canaan roads in Hammond Hill State Forest (Dryden, NY). Note that this challenge does not include any spur trails.

Get Your Patch!

Please document your hiking dates and distances, then email info@fllt.org or call (607) 275-9487 to receive your patch!