The “ody trails” you’re seeing talked about in NY are almost certainly the Owen D. Young (ODY) Nature Trail and the adjacent Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center in southern Herkimer County, New York.

Quick Scoop

Owen D. Young = “ODY”
The ODY Nature Trail and Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center sit behind Owen D. Young Central School in the tiny village of Van Hornesville, NY, along NY Route 80.

In forum posts and local hiking chatter, people often just say “the ODY trails,” meaning the short but scenic loop with waterfalls, small caves, and wooded gorge paths on this property.

Where They Actually Are

  • Location: Van Hornesville, in southern Herkimer County, central New York.
  • Access: The entrance is via the driveway on the north side of Owen D. Young Central School , off New York State Route 80.
  • Setting: The trails sit in the gorge of Otsquago Creek , with bridges, woods, and water features.

In practical terms, if you plug “Owen D. Young Central School, Van Hornesville NY” or “Owen D Young Nature Trail” into your map app, you’ll land right at the ODY trails.

ODY Nature Trail Details

The ODY Nature Trail is described as:

  • Short, easy loop: About 1.4 miles, roughly 0.5–1 hour to walk.
  • Gentle elevation: Around 170 ft of gain; suitable for most fitness levels.
  • Features: Several waterfalls , some small caves , and a scenic wooded gorge.

Local hikers and pages call it a “short and beautiful hike” and highlight it as a low-key gem near Fort Plain / southern Herkimer County.

Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center

Right next to the trail is the Robert B. Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center , which shares the same general property:

  • About 50+ acres of natural land in the gorge of Otsquago Creek behind the school.
  • Self-guided, open in daylight hours year-round , with a small parking area near a bridge.
  • Important: It’s closed to the public during school hours (7:00–3:30, Monday–Friday) during the school year and summer program.

This is why some people talk about “ODY trails” and “Woodruff Center” as one combined spot—they’re directly connected.

If You’re Planning a Visit

Here’s how people typically do it, based on public info:

  1. Navigate to Owen D. Young Central School on NY‑80.
  2. Use the north-side driveway and follow it down the hill, bearing left until you reach the small parking area by the bridge and trail entrance.
  1. Walk the 1.4‑mile ODY Nature Trail loop , checking out waterfalls and caves along the way.
  1. Keep an eye on school hours so you don’t arrive when the facility is closed to the public.

Related “Off-Road / Trails in NY”

If you were actually asking about off-road driving “ODY” trails” or just general NY trails:

  • Sites like AllTrails list lots of New York hiking trails , including famous spots like Breakneck Ridge, Kaaterskill Falls, Bear Mountain, and more.
  • Off-road (OHV) trail maps are available for New York through specialized platforms that show trail difficulty and GPS routes.

But when someone specifically writes “ody trails in NY,” current public hiking content almost always points back to the Owen D. Young Nature Trail area.

TL;DR:
“ODY trails in NY” are the Owen D. Young Nature Trail and Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center behind Owen D. Young Central School in Van Hornesville, southern Herkimer County, New York , accessed off Route 80 through the school’s north driveway.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.