Montezuma Wildlife Refuge © 2007

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A day spent at Montezuma Wildlife Refuge would be a day well spent. Or even a few hours, if that is all the time you have. The Refuge is located just south of the New York Thruway. Take Exit 41, follow State Route 414 south a couple of miles to State Route 318 and turn left (east). This will take you to State Route 5 & 20. Go east, the entrance to the Refuge is on the left. From Ithaca Falls, just follow Route 5 & 20 out of town to the Refuge.

You will want to start out at the Visitor's Center. There is a viewing platform on the roof from which you can get a bird's eye view of the refuge. There are some excellent educational displays inside the Center. The restrooms are usually in good shape, too. There are detailed maps of the property, here too, so you can maximize your visit by using these.

A short hiking trail of about a mile is near the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. It is around a mile or so long. It loops around towards another viewing platform, crosses the Auto Tour road and follows the Cayuga Seneca Barge Canal for a bit. There is a boat ramp here for persons traveling the barge system by boat. You can tie up here and hike around the Refuge a bit.

The Auto Tour travels south from the Visitor Center and goes between the Cayuga Seneca Barge Canal and the Main Pool of Benning Marsh. There are a couple of short trails here which allow a more intimate inspection of the fauna and flora of Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. If you have the time and inclination, a few minutes spent walking these easy trails is well worth the time and effort.

The Auto Tour exits the marsh onto State Route 89. You need only turn left (south) to return to Route 5 & 20. There are a couple of hiking trails accessed from this area. One is right on Route 89 just past South Spring Pool on the west side of the road. The other is located on East Tye Road. This road is a couple of miles past South Spring Pool on the west side of the road. The trailhead is north of Lay Road and is in the east side of East Tye Road.

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge is a good place to see nature. You can drive through marsh land, walk the trails and view the wildlife so abundant in the wonderful nature preserve. Have fun.

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Map

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Hiking Trail

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Benning Marsh

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Seneca Barge Canal

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Canada Geese

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge New York State Barge Canal

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Wildflowers

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