Cumming Nature Center
Cumming Nature Center Trails & Exhibits
The Nature Center’s landscape is constantly changing. Day by day, season by season, the cycles of nature play out in vernal pools, quiet glades, and deep snowbanks. And the best part is, you can experience all of it! During spring, summer, and fall, visitors can explore 12 miles of hiking trails through wetlands, meadows, and upland forests. In winter, we offer 9 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails and 3 miles of snowshoe trails.
Trail Information
The nature center’s landscape is constantly changing. Day by day, season by season, the cycles of nature play out in vernal pools, quiet glades, and deep snowbanks. And the best part is, you can experience all of it! During spring, summer, and fall, visitors can explore 12 miles of hiking trails through wetlands, meadows, and upland forests. In winter, we offer 9 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails and 3 miles of snowshoe trails.
Please note: the gnomes on the Helen Gordon Trail migrate north during the warmer months. They return to the CNC every winter from mid-December through end-of-March!
Overview of Interpretive Trails
During warmer months, CNC offers five interpretive trails, each with a different theme:
- The Beaver Trail introduces you to the important cycles of nature. You’ll see forest, stream, marsh, and meadow habitats rich with plant and animal life on your way to an observation tower overlooking a 35-acre beaver pond. See first-hand one of the most stunning examples of an animal’s interaction with its environment.
- The Helen Gordon Trail is an outdoor art gallery with paintings by artists Jerry Czech and Helen Edinger that will acquaint you with the birds and other animals of the area.
- The Haudenosaunee Trail paintings by Seneca artist Ernest Smith introduce the fascinating culture and tradition of the Haudenosaunee and evoke images of a time long past.
- The Pioneer Trail features a reconstructed 18th-century homestead and our working Sugar House.
- The Conservation Trail communicates our forest conservation and management practices. Trail signs identify tree species and explain their uses to both wildlife and humans. These signs, along with a working sawmill and a replica of a fire tower, show how informed management practices can result in a sustainable, mature forest.
Exhibit Information
CNC offers a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits and trail features throughout the year.
TREEHOUSE (COMING SOON)
We are thrilled to announce that in 2026 we are building a treehouse for members and visitors to enjoy!
Beaver Pond Observation Deck
Come check out the observation deck overlooking Beaver Pond at the end of the Beaver Trail!
Is It Local?
View wildlife up close and explore each animal’s relationship to the local landscape.
Seneca Clans: Family, Unity, Shared Responsibility
Learn more about the culture and history of the Seneca people and their relationship to the local landscape.
Discovery Zone
Dive into a new, fascinating theme at the Investigation Station, tinker at the touch table, hide animals within their habitats, play in the Rain Garden Theater, and so much more in the Discovery Zone.
Take A Tour of the Visitor Center
Take a virtual tour of the visitor center before you visit to become familiar with the space!
FROST TOWN: HISTORY & ECOLOGY OF A GHOST TOWN
Explore the story of the 19th-century town once located at the nature center.
Leapfrog Pond
Enjoy this permanent play space designed especially for preschoolers. Over-sized frogs, turtles, tadpoles, lily pads, and mushrooms fill a make-believe pond.
Camouflage & Habitat
Try to spot what plants and animals are hiding in highly detailed murals. Explore what it means to share a “habitat” and a “community with living and non-living things.
Gnome Roam
Gnomes are on the loose at Cumming Nature Center from December through March, and you’re invited to come hike or snowshoe as you join in the fun!
Discover three floors filled with over 200 interactive science and history theme exhibits and science demonstrations.
Take a trip across the universe in our 65ft domed Star theater. Explore Star shows, laser shows, and featured giant screen films.