Cumming Nature Center is such a gem and definitely worth the drive to Naples. This environmental education center not only offers one-of-a-kind trails, but also a natural playground, nature center and even a Forest School for toddlers to students 15 years old!
Be sure to check https://rmsc.org/ before heading our for hours, special events and/or schedule changes.
6472 Gulick Rd, Naples, NY 14512
Take Me There
The Nature Center
The Nature Center is free for RMSC members and CNC Pine Pass member, $3 per person/$10 per family for the general public and $5 per person/$15 per family during skiing & snowshoeing season.
There is a discovery room here as well with various activities for little ones. Activities include a touch table, craft station, animal bins with various furs and footprints to explore and stations to match animals with their category and habitat.
Rentals
A variety of rentals are available during you visit to Cumming Nature Center. Year round, you can check out an adventure pack for $5 to be used during your visit.
Winter Rentals are as follows:
Snowshoe rentals are $5
Skis (including boots and poles): $15,
Ski Pulk: $15 for per hours, 2 hour minimum.
Ski lessons are also offered on weekends for an additional charge
The Gnome Roam
This is our preferred trail during winter visits! Her you will find a variety of gnomes along a 3/4 loops trail. The path is flat and easy for kids to enjoy! It is especially beautifully after freshly fallen snow. Be sure to grab a map from the nature center before heading out. On the back of the map are tips and rules for this trail including: “Pick up littler treasure that you find along the trail to leave as a thank you gift at the end” and “Use the universal gnome-call at the start of the trail…” So fun!
Keep a close eye out. Some gnomes are large and easy to spot. Others are more tucked away. Don’t forget to peak under the bridge! But be sure not to provoke the trolls there!
As stated in the rule guide, encourage little ones to find treasures such as pinecones and acorns along the way. At the end of the trail, there is a spot to leave a gift for the gnomes!
The Natural Playground
This natural playground at Cumming Nature Center greets you before hitting the trails within the beautiful pine forest! The playground can be found just before the start of the yellow trail, towards the back of the courtyard. There’s a little hut, a log balance beam and several other stump and log structures to climb on.
The Hiking
There are several trails at Cumming Nature Center that are well marked and easy to follow especially with a map.
A popular pick is the Beaver Trail. This is the yellow trail on the map and 1.5 miles of fairly flat terrain with beautiful boardwalks along the way. It could be stroller friendly, but there are some roots and divots so a carrier for the little ones is probably easier. There are picnic tables around the natural center so pack a lunch to refuel after your hike!
Another great hike is Conservation (Blue) Trail. This trail starts off through the thick pine forest, just as the above beaver trail does. However, to get to the tower, you will take a right turn to cross a bridge and enter the blue trail. This trail is a 1 mile loop but you can continue onto other trails to extend the hike.
