Howland Island State Wildlife Management Area is a beautiful natural preserve whose flat trails allow visitors to partake in all sorts of fun outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and biking. This area is often overlooked due to its proximity to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, making this a bit of a hidden gem. Yet, it is it’s closeness to Montezuma that brings all the wildlife.
Exploring Howland Island
This is quite a unique destination with miles of trails that traverse meadows, forests, wetlands, and around ponds. The Seneca River surrounds Howland Island, creating a lovely place to explore nature. Many of the trails are old dirt roads from the time this property was part of the original Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. For a short time during World War II, the camp was utilized as a prisoner-of-war camp. The POWs worked on farms in the area.
We entered the Island over an old abandoned bridge. You get an exquisite view of the Seneca River from here. If you have a problem with heights, consider a different entrance. The metal grate makes it so you can see straight down to the River. We entered here because this is the closest entrance to reach the ponds.
Unlike Montezuma and the other protected lands surrounding Howland Island, hunting is permitted here. I recommend planning your visit outside of hunting season. If you do visit during hunting season, please dress appropriately in high-vis jackets or vests.
Dogs are permitted at Howland Island, however, they must be leashed at all times. Please be respectful of those visiting after you and clean up after your pets.
Trails
There are approximately 28 miles of trails at Howland Island. If you are looking for an easy but beautiful nature hike, it doesn’t get much better than Howland Island. These trails are all, for the most part, flat. Making Howland Island an excellent destination for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, biking, and horseback riding. (Watch your step for road apples – we saw them on some trails.)
This is another location where you can use Google Maps on your phone to navigate the trails since they are shown on the map.
Ponds
There are nine gorgeous man-made ponds on Howland Island. Visitors can walk along side the ponds, spotting all sorts of wildlife. The ponds are all located fairly close together, so you can see several ponds in a single visit. Although, if you want to visit all of them, it could take several trips.
This wildlife management area is a stopover for migratory birds. If you are a bird watcher, this is the place to be. Bonus: We didn’t encounter a lot of people here, which makes wildlife watching that much easier. We heard numerous flocks of turkeys as we hiked. This always makes me smile because I feel a great deal better about where I’m hiking. (A lot of people don’t know this, but a grown turkey will eat up to 200 ticks per day.)
The ponds are each named (there are name markers on the ponds), and they are all different. We visited in the fall. The colors here at Howland Island, especially around the ponds, were quite stunning and brilliant, made even more so by their reflection in the water.
Getting to Howland Island WMA
There are several parking areas and trailheads on Howland Island. I recommend consulting Google Maps to select where you want to begin your hike.
Address: Howland Island Rd, Port Byron, NY