Henry A. Smith Woods is a 32-acre old-growth forest located in Trumansburg, New York. Henry Atterbury Smith (1822-1891) was a businessman from New York City who had purchased this parcel of land as a summer residence and although he visited the property sparingly, he was a well known member of the Trumansburg community. In 1909, this undeveloped forest fragment was left to the Village of Trumansburg by Henry A Smith’s sons to be preserved as a public park forever. The purpose of the park is “to execute and carry out the terms of the trust in the spirit of the grant, namely the preservation of the park in its natural state and for educational and recreational purposes”.
In 2007, ownership of this forest was transferred to Cayuga Nature Center to continue it’s use as an educational site. Since the transfer, a loop trail was created and the Cayuga Nature Center staff have continued to uphold the mission of the park through school visits and public hikes. Smith Woods is open to the public year round.
Visiting Smith Woods
Parking for Smith Woods is located along Cemetery Road, on the north side of the woods.
NOTICE: Parking along Falls Road is both unsafe and illegal. Please make sure to park properly!
Smith Woods
The Environmental History of an Old-Growth Forest Remnant in Central New York State
Learn More About Smith Woods
Smith Woods: The Environmental History an Old Growth Forest Remnant in Central New York State by Warren D. Allmon, Marvin P. Pritts, Peter L. Marks, Blake P. Epstein, David A. Bullis, and Kurt A. Jordan is the story of how this little forest came to be, and how it persisted through the years when other old-growth forests met their demise by the axe and saw. Combining perspectives from geology, ecology, history, and anthropology, the authors weave a narrative history of the many influences—human and non-human—that have shaped this patch of land over the past 20,000 years since it emerged from the last glacial period. It is the story not just of Smith Woods, but of the forests that once covered almost all of northeastern North America.
Things to know about visiting Smith Woods
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is one of the many protected plants found in Smith Woods.
The best place to park is along Cemetery Street that runs along the North side of Smith Woods.
Smith Woods is open to the public year round from dawn until dusk. Overnight Camping and campfires are NOT permitted.
Please stay on the trails — the plants and other organisms that live in Smith Woods are delicate and stepping off the trail will disturb their sensitive ecosystems.
To help preserve the forest in it’s natural state, please take only pictures. Do not pick leaves, flowers, or fungi. Many of the plants that live in Smith Woods are protected under New York State Conservation Law and it is a violation to collect or destroy these plants.
Carry in, Carry out. There are no trash receptacles at this location so please bring all garbage out of the park with you.
Alcohol is not permitted on this property.
Be respectful of fellow visitors.
Please limit hiking groups to no more than 8 people at a time — this limit helps to preserve the forest.
Dogs are allowed on leash but please pick up after your pet.
If you have any additional questions or are interested in booking a guided hike of Smith Woods, contact us at [email protected]
Plan Ahead!
Download the Smith Woods Trail Map