This aerial map of South Meadows Nature Area shows the diverse and unique landscape of the preserve.  It is a great destination in any season with its diverse ecosystem, well-maintained trails, ease of access, and short distance from Syracuse.

 

The trail has an elevated boardwalk over a unique shrub marsh, which leads to a mixed deciduous woodland.  There are plenty of benches along the trail where you can soak in the sounds of the songbirds and small mammals that abound on this site.  The woodland trail opens up into a meadow where visitors will enjoy stunning views of the valley before heading back into a mixed deciduous forest of ash, maple, dogwood, and birch.  The second meadow is dotted with mature hardwood trees, and again reveals the beautiful landscape of the valley below.

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Look for goldenrod galls and milkweed seed pods, which are prevalent throughout the meadow before winding your way back through the woods and connecting back to the trail.

 

South Meadows trails are well maintained by our land stewards and the Tully Action Group (TAG), and off street parking is available at Cummings Park, which is a just adjacent to the preserve on Grove Street.