Nature Trails : Hike our nature trails through four seasons.

Our trails lead you through a variety of habitats, allowing you experience fields, woodlands, wetlands and more. During the winter, snowshoe ($5) and cross country ski ($10) rentals are available on a first-come basis. Call (585) 538-6822 ext. 262 for snow and trail conditions. Rentals and trail maps available at admissions.

Please respect the fragile habitats, leaving plants, stones, fossils and wildlife in their place and undisturbed. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. No pets allowed, except for service animals. No smoking, please.

Trail map

 

Trail Hours (The trails are closed during November and December. )

May 14-Oct. 16, 2011: Tuesday-Friday, 10-4
  Saturday-Sunday, 10-5

Jan.-first weekend in March:

 Saturday-Sunday, 10-5
Last 3 weekends in March: Sap, Syrup & Sugar events, special admission cost applies

Trail Descriptions

Perimeter Trail (yellow) 1.9 miles

Habitats include old field, deciduous woodland and woodland edge. Along the way you’ll encounter several limestone and dolostone walls built in the 19th century. Look for small pieces of flint, a naturally occurring mineral in the local limestone bedrock.

Geology Trail (green) 1.8 miles

Discover 375-million-year-old fossils, an extinct waterfall, glacial erratic boulders and other unique geologic features while exploring an oak opening and a wooded ridge. On various portions of the trail, the limestone bedrock is completely exposed.

Succession Trail (orange) 1.1 miles

Observe changing plant and wildlife as you travel from open field to old field to woodland habitats. In spring you can hear the songs of towhees, field sparrows and blue-winged warblers in the old field, while wood thrushes, tanagers and cerulean warblers sing in the wooded areas. Look for smooth green snakes in open areas. Notice how lichens have colonized the bedrock, paving the way for succession.

Web Of Life Trail (blue) .8 mile

This woodland trail is particularly stunning during spring, when wildflowers abound and the temporary vernal pond hosts myriad aquatic creatures, including wood frogs, fairy shrimp and wood ducks. The pond disappears during dry months. However, the eggs of many miniscule creatures survive in the soil, ready to hatch when water returns in late winter. The pond also is a breeding site for spotted and blue-spotted salamanders, both listed as New York species of special concern.

Lower Meadow Trail (black) .3 mile

This open meadow trail is filled with a variety of grasses and summer wildflowers. The bird boxes provide nesting sites for several species, including the eastern bluebird, house wren, tree swallow and chickadee.

Trail photos courtesy of Robert Dudzic of Bronwyn Photo.