AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Pinnacle State Forest Park crowns Orr Hill above the Village of Addison in Steuben County, on New York's Southern Tier. From this Allegheny Plateau summit you look out across the Canisteo River Valley, toward Harris Hill and the hills ringing Coopers Plain—a broad, open panorama that makes the high ground the real attraction here.↗↗
The site is in the middle of a quiet transformation. Its hillside nine-hole golf course closed in 2017, the lodge and other buildings have been dismantled, and the land is being folded into the neighboring McCarthy Hill State Forest as working public woodland—open year-round and free.↗
What remains is low-key, scenic outdoor recreation: easy walks along old paths and mowed trails, a picnic spot on the shore of Levi Pond, viewpoints like the Addison Vista, and links into the long-distance Finger Lakes Trail / Great Eastern Trail. It suits a short, peaceful outing or a trail-hopping day rather than a busy attraction.↗↗↗
A Hilltop in Transition
For decades this ridge above Addison was known as Pinnacle State Park, complete with a distinctive hillside nine-hole golf course built in the 1960s. When the course closed in 2017 and the clubhouse stood empty, the land's future changed. Buildings and infrastructure have been removed, and roughly 700 acres that once formed the park are being absorbed into McCarthy Hill State Forest to the east, effectively doubling that woodland's size.↗
The result is a shift from developed park to rustic state forest. DEC describes the combined land as focused on simple, low-impact recreation—sustainable forestry, wildlife habitat, clean water and trails—managed by local Forest Rangers who run search-and-rescue and keep watch over public land. It stays open all year with no entrance fee, and the old golf fairways are being coaxed back toward natural wildlife habitat.↗
Views Over the Canisteo Valley
Elevation is the park's calling card. Orr Hill rises steeply out of the Canisteo River Valley and the village below, and from the summit the sightlines open wide across the valley, toward Harris Hill and the patchwork of ridges that define the Twin Tiers region.↗↗
Several viewpoints punctuate the high ground. The Addison Vista, tucked behind the former lodge site, looks down on the village in the valley and the mountains that surround it; other pull-offs along the old course give views north toward Coopers Plain, and hikers on the through-trails note open lookouts on the way up from Reep Road.↗↗
Walking, Skiing and the Trail Network
The gentlest introduction is the Pinnacle Golf Loop, a roughly two-mile, easy semi-paved circuit that winds over the old grounds past ponds, weeping willows and the remnants of pavilions, grills and picnic tables before climbing to the lodge site and the Addison Vista. The shorter Levi Pond Trail hugs the pond's shoreline for an even quieter stroll.↗↗
Beyond the loops, the highlands link into the long-distance Finger Lakes Trail / Great Eastern Trail. Hikers on that route pass scenic Levi Pond with its picnic tables, then follow named forest trails such as the Beaver Pond, Squirrel and Grouse Point paths into McCarthy Hill, where a lean-to with an open pit toilet offers an overnight stop. In winter, the same open meadow and forest trails—several miles of them—become pleasant cross-country skiing and snowshoeing terrain.↗↗↗
Water, Wildlife and Quiet Pastimes
Levi Pond is the natural gathering spot, where anglers cast for bass, bluegill and bullheads and picnickers make use of the tables and grills along the bank. The open meadows and wetlands around the former course give the area an airy, pastoral feel unusual for deep Southern Tier forest.↗↗
This corner of the Southern Tier is a mosaic of hills, forest, grassland and wetland, so wildlife-watching comes easily. Black bear, wild turkey and white-tailed deer move through the woods, beaver and mink work the wetlands, and the grasslands shelter birds including the northern harrier and the state-endangered Henslow's sparrow. Deer, turkey and small-game hunting, plus trapping, are permitted in season.↗↗
Planning Your Visit
This is passive recreation country with limited amenities, so treat it as a relaxed outing rather than a full-day destination. The land sits on a hillside, trails can be muddy or snowy underfoot, and the former park has no staffed facilities or developed parking lot—the old Pinnacle Road entrance has had a vehicle gate, and walkers park in small turnouts on the road and proceed on foot, so check current access before you go.↗↗
Primitive camping is allowed in the state forest, with the McCarthy Hill lean-to the one designated site and at-large campsites required to stay well clear of roads, trails and water; longer stays or larger groups need a Forest Ranger permit. Keep dogs leashed, watch for ticks in the grassy and brushy stretches, and bring your own water and food, since services are minimal. As land, access rules and trailheads can change during the transition from park to forest, the DEC and local ranger offices are the best place to confirm conditions on the day you visit.↗↗
What makes it special
Sweeping overlooks across the Canisteo River Valley, Harris Hill and the Addison hills from the summit of Orr Hill.↗↗
The easy, semi-paved ~2-mile Pinnacle Golf Loop through ponds, pavilions and the Addison Vista.↗
A link into the long-distance Finger Lakes / Great Eastern Trail network and a McCarthy Hill lean-to for overnights.↗↗
Open year-round and free, with room for skiing, snowshoeing, birding and seasonal hunting.
A little planning goes a long way
- Plan a short, low-key visit: this is scenic passive recreation with limited facilities, not a full-day attraction.↗
- Confirm current vehicle access—Pinnacle Road has had a gate, and hikers often park in roadside turnouts near Ackerson Road and walk in.↗
- Expect mud and snow on hillside trails, bring your own water and food, keep dogs leashed, and check for ticks in grassy areas.↗
- For backcountry overnights, use the McCarthy Hill lean-to or camp at least 150 feet from any road, trail or water; permits from a Forest Ranger are needed for longer stays or bigger groups.↗
About this guide
Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.
