Welcome to Great Bear

Welcome to Great Bear

Welcome to Great BearWelcome to Great BearWelcome to Great Bear

 Great Bear is a great place to hike, walk the dog, ride a mountain bike.

In the winter you can ski or snowshoe.

Welcome to Great Bear

Welcome to Great Bear

Welcome to Great BearWelcome to Great BearWelcome to Great Bear

 Great Bear is a great place to hike, walk the dog, ride a mountain bike.

In the winter you can ski or snowshoe.

Social Distancing with COVID-19

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During this time of turmoil with the COVID-19 pandemic, please follow the state stay-at-home order and only exercise alone or with people you live with to reduce opportunities for disease transmission.


Please enjoy the natural woods of Great Bear Springs safely, stay 6-feet from others and wear a face covering as you pass on the trails and take care in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please respect the rules and others or risk park closure. Thank you, Friends of Great Bear.

Please Pick up After Your Dog

Be thoughtful to others and carry out dog waste

We love dogs are Great Bear but they make a mess, please pick up after them. With the increased use of Great Bear recently the dog poop is getting out hand. If you bring dogs to Great Bear, you must be in control of them at all times AND pick up and take home their waste. Don't leave it on the trail or in the parking lot.  Thank you.

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Thank You for Saving Whiskey Island

With the help of many individuals and organizations, Whiskey Island and the northwest section remains part of Great Bear Recreation Area for all to enjoy.

About Us

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Who are Friends of Great Bear

Friends of Great Bear is made up of local residents interested in the conservation and protection of the Great Bear Recreation Area.


In cooperation with the City of Fulton, Town of Volney and CNY Land Trust, we are advocates for the preservation and protection of this natural environment, while providing a great recreational resource.


We thank the many contributors and businesses.

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What can you do at Great Bear

A diversity of flora and fauna, varying terrain and the Oswego River and Canal make Great Bear a great place for non-motorized recreation.


At Great Bear, you can hike, walk the dog, and ride a mountain bike. You can also walk down to the Oswego River to swim or fish. In the winter you can cross-country ski or snowshoe. Trails are all wooded single-track.   Great Bear is open dawn to dusk and is always free.

Contact Us

 A great way to get get involved or ask a question is to post or message us on Facebook 

Friends of Great Bear

Great Bear Road, Phoenix, New York 13135, United States

(315) 343-4565

Drop us a line!

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