We have lots ways to help you find the trail including maps, guidebooks, track and waypoint data for your handheld GPS unit for your , and free trailhead parking coordinates for your automobile GPS. To get a general overview of the trail for planning your hike, you can also use the new Interactive Map of the FLT System.
Maps
The Finger Lakes Trail is composed of many segments, each covered by its own official FLTC map. The overview map below shows this organization--click on any area of the map to view more detail for that area.
The maps of the Finger Lakes Trail System are named as follows:
Main Trail and Branch Trails (1 inch = 1 mile)
Trail Name
Map Names
Main Finger Lakes Trail*
M1, M2, ..., M33
Conservation Trail*
CT1, CT2, ..., CT12
Letchworth Branch
L1, L2
Bristol Hills Branch
B1, B2, B3
Crystal Hills Trail
CH1, CH2, CH3
Interloken Trail
I1
Onondaga Branch
O1, O2
North Country National Scenic Trail
M1, M2, ..., M22, O1, O2
*The MainTrail and the Conservation Trail are the same on the first three maps: M1/CT1, M2/CT2, and M3/CT3.
Loop Trails (1 inch = 1/3 mile)
Trail Name
Map Name
Cobb's 45 Loop
CL (part of M4)
Huckleberry Bog Loop
HBL (part of B3)
Pinnacle S. P. - McCarthy Hill S. F. Loops
PMHL (part of CH2)
Queen Catherine Marsh Loop Trail
QCML
Montour Falls Historic Loop Trail
MFHL
Abbott Loop
AL (part of M17)
International Loops (Spanish Loop and Swedish Loop)
InL (part of M19)
Spanish Loop
SpL (part of IL, M19)
Swedish Loop
SwL (part of IL, M19)
Virgil Mt. Area Loops (Virgil Mt., Dabes Diversion - Kuzia Cutoff, and Lithuanian Loops)
VML (part of M19)
The FLTC and several sporting goods stores throughout New York State sell these maps printed by the FLTC. There are currently 55 maps available that cover the entire FLT System. Most FLTC maps have a scale of 1 inch to the mile, while a few loop trail maps are scaled 3 inches to the mile. Each map has detailed descriptions of one section of the trail and indicates mileages from point to point. The FLTC also has guide books describing the FLT System. You can purchase maps and guidebooks on-line at the FLTC store. Or download a Buyer's Guide and order form as a PDF and then order by US mail..
FLTC maps indicate county boundaries and topographic quadrangle map names to assist you in acquiring the correct county or topographic map. The FLTC does not sell county or USGS maps
County road maps are available for all counties in which the FLT System is located. County maps are helpful in finding back roads and may provide other useful information as well. They are usually more up-to-date than the USGS topographic maps, but do not have contour lines.
USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) topographic maps are available locally from sporting goods and book stores and from USGS Map Sales, Box 25286, Denver, CO 80225. The trails of the FLT system do not appear on USGS maps.
Guidebooks
TheFLT Storesells guidebooks that contain a wealth of information about the trail. These can be very helpful in planning your hike, and many of them come with the latest FLT maps for that section of the trail.
GPS data for handheld units
The FLT Store sells GPS tracks and waypoints on CD-ROM that cover the entire length of the main trail and all of the branch trails. This data can be transferred to compatible GPS units so you can follow your progress as you hike the trail. In addition, the data can also be imported into many mapping programs to help you plan your hike. Read the description in the store to see if the data is compatible with your GPS unit.
Trailhead coordinates for trailheads with parking
Excel spreadsheets – We have two Excel spreadsheets (one for the Main Trail and one for all Branch Trails) you can download to your computer for free using the links below. These spreadsheets contain GPS coordinates of all trailheads and road crossings. You can manually enter these coordinates into your GPS unit to help you find the trail. In addition, you can use these spreadsheets to keep track of which sections of the trail you have hiked (see End-to-End Hiking...).
Automotive GPS files – We offer two GPS coordinate files designed for use with automobile GPS units to help you find trailheads with parking access. You can download these files for free using the links below and then transfer them to your GPS unit.
If you have a Garmin nüvi®, you can download the Point-of-Interest file (FLT Trailheads.gpi) that works automatically once you download it to your nüvi.
For other types of automobile GPS units, or to view the locations on your computer, you can download the GPX file (flt Trailheads.gpx) that contains the parking locations. You will need to read the instructions for your GPS unit to determine if you can use this file, and how to transfer it to your GPS unit.
If your GPS requires points of interest in a CSV (comma separated values) file, you can download a free program (http://www.KMRConsulting.com/free_download.html) that will convert the GPX file below to CSV format.
Be sure to read the documentation file below for instructions in downloading the file and transferring it to your GPS unit.
