McDonough State Forest

Welcome to New York's McDonough State Forest, a spruce and pine forest located in Chenango County in the Appalachian foothills of the Allegheny Plateau. Like much of the State of New York, some of the first European migrants to this region arrived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Over the years they exploited many of the region's resources including timber, stone, and water. The lands were used mainly for agricultural purposes until people moved on to other regions for farming in the late 19th century. In 1929 the New York legislature passed the Hewitt Amendment and State Reforestation Act which led to the purchase of many lands by the State including what is today's McDonough State Forest, which was the first to be reforested in Chenango County with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

New York State Law requires that when visiting any State Forest you must;

*Never move firewood! Doing so helps spread pests and diseases.

*No littering! Please carry out whatever you carry in.

*Never leave fires unattended. Please extenguish all fires upon your departure.

*Unless otherwise designated, all camping must be done with 150 feet of roads, trails, and bodies of water. Camping more than 3 consecutive nights requires special permit that can be obtained from the local forest ranger.

*All human excrement must be buried in holes no less than 6 inches deep.

*All motor vehicles must stay in designated areas.

*No building of structures or cutting of vegetation.

Please respect these laws and New York's forests.