a.k.a. V.J.

Old Man Stuff

A Secluded Beach

One of my favorite local places to walk is Sterling Nature Center. It’s just over the county line in Cayuga County, about a 20–25-minute drive from my house. (It took a bit longer to get there today as the nature center is just down the way from the local RenFaire, which is now in full swing, and Sterling’s narrow country roads were choked with traffic.)

Sterling has a different feel from some of the other places I go for nature hikes. It’s a little more remote. It’s less crowded. The trails are a little rougher. One of the featured areas is a heron rookery, located in a unique wetland environment so primeval looking that one half expects to see pterodactyls nesting alongside the herons. But for me, the best part of Sterling Nature Center is that it’s on Lake Ontario. In fact, one of the trails will take you to a secluded little beach that is unspoiled by the trappings of many of the area’s other public beaches (i.e., there usually aren’t many people there.)

On today’s visit to the center, I took a walk along the Lake Trail to the off-the-beaten-path stony beach I appreciate so much. Here are some photos I captured along the way.

Sterling Nature Center has always been a no-frills place, but the building under construction in the background appears to be a sizable visitor’s center.
The trail to the water’s edge winds down a fairly steep hill beneath a shady canopy of leaves — a good trail for staying out of the noon sun.
One aspect I enjoy about the Lake Trail is that you emerge onto the beach from a thickly wooded area with limited sight lines. It adds a feeling of discovery when you finally see the water after only hearing the waves along most of the trail.
Erosion has made this part of the shoreline an unstable place for trees. That pine tree on the horizon is at a pretty precarious angle.
Looking westward down the shorline toward nearby Fair Haven State Park.
I wasn’t the only person on the beach today, but I had a wide section of it all to myself.
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Vance Marriner's avatar

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Vance Marriner

3 responses to “A Secluded Beach”

  1. wardo68 Avatar
    wardo68

    Having been dragged on several hikes of late — or as I call them, trudges — I’ve come to appreciate a nice shady environment with tall trees. A body of water, whether a lake, river, or other shore, is also welcome.

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    1. Vance Marriner Avatar
      Vance Marriner

      I only consider a hike to be a trudge if there’s a backpack or snow involved.

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      1. wardo68 Avatar
        wardo68

        Steep incline? Rough terrain? Both can be found on Maui.

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Researcher. Marketer. Teacher. Father of adult children and dogs. 20th Century holdover. Central New York native. Long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. History nerd. Traveler. Vintage advertising enthusiast. Hat wearer.

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