Gliding shapes Chemung in two very different ways: Harris Hill offers the public glider rides with aerial views of Chemung County. Passenger flights use a high-performance two-seat ASK-21 glider. The National Soaring Museum preserves the heritage of unpowered flight and presents it to the public. Its collection includes gliders dating from the late 19th century to the present. Together, the rides and collection offer two different perspectives: the aerial view focuses on Chemung County, while the collection places gliding in a broader historical context.
River Valleys and Nature Through the Seasons
The Chemung River flows through the center of Chemung County, offering scenic beauty and opportunities for outdoor activities. At the Two Rivers State Park Recreation Area, outdoor activity goes hand in hand with expansive views: the area offers miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and from a ridge, the view stretches across the valleys of the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers. The trails and viewpoint offer different highlights within the same area.
The Chemung River Valley forms the southern gateway to the Finger Lakes wine region, the largest wine-growing region in New York. This regional context adds a wine-growing perspective to the view of Chemung’s river landscape. The Chemung River itself also represents the region’s scenic character and offers opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities.
At Steege Hill Nature Preserve, the landscape is more varied on a smaller scale: five ravines provide a cooler, more humid habitat than the rest of the preserve. This contrast gives the ravines their distinctive character. In winter, the trails are suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. These activities differ clearly from the hiking and mountain biking trails at Two Rivers State Park: here, the focus is on two winter activities; there, on trails for hiking and mountain biking.
Literature and History
At the Mark Twain Study at Elmira College, Mark Twain wrote substantial portions of several works, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Chemung Valley History Museum has four rotating gallery spaces. The study connects literary history to a specific place; the galleries offer another way to explore history.
The Battle of Newtown was the decisive clash in one of the largest offensive campaigns of the American Revolution. The Newtown Battlefield Reservation was designated a historic landmark in 1973 and added to the National Register of Historic Places. Woodlawn is considered the northernmost Confederate cemetery in the United States. Together, these places and institutions offer different historical perspectives—from Mark Twain’s writing and gallery spaces to a battlefield and a cemetery.
Seasonal and Special Discoveries
The Wisner Market is held at Wisner Park on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June through September. Participants include farmers, artisans, food and beverage vendors, nonprofit organizations and entertainers; the mix may vary by season. Since the market is seasonal, it’s a good idea to check the dates before your visit.
Tanglewood Nature Center is home to more than 40 animal species known as Animal Ambassadors. This focus adds a look at wildlife to the landscape perspectives offered by the river and nature preserve. Another natural feature can be found at Soaring Eagles Golf Course in Mark Twain State Park: the course has 18 holes and includes water-filled depressions known as “kettle ponds.” They formed when buried blocks of ice melted. The golf course and this geological feature share the same grounds.
Discover more destinations: Horseheads, Elmira, Pine City, Schoharie County, Tompkins, Steuben, Delaware County, Oswego.
For the main travel overview: New York.
