Category: New York State

Montezuma Audubon Center
Montezuma Audubon Center is a state-owned facility operated through a cooperative agreement between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the National Audubon Society.  The Center is one mile north of Savannah, NY.  It is adjacent to two reclaimed marshes, open meadows, upland forest, seasonally flooded forest and a natural lake.  There are 2.5 miles of trail at the Center and given the flat terrain, they are probably easy, but you should call to learn more.
Here is the Center’s website.  Another website from Friends of Montezuma.org  Phone 315-365-3580 or 355-365-3588
? The Warbler Loop Walk  1 mile “begins at the Montezuma Audubon Center and passes by an observation platform that overlooks a restored marsh….The path takes hikers through a diverse forest of hemlock, aspen, and maple, and then winds through grasslands…” Description from TrailWorks.

Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area
Carters Pond is a 446.5 acre Wildlife Management Area and a Bird Conservation Area.
Here is the Area website.  Phone 518-623-1273  Map
Nature Trail 0.5 mile of a 1 mile trail.  The trail accesses a elevated viewing platform.  “The accessible loop trail goes through several habitat areas, providing views of wooded wetlands, upland forest, and the large marshy pond. The trail has a hardened stone dust surface and includes a boardwalk, several foot bridges, and ample passing spaces.”
“A shorter trail leads from the accessible parking area up a very slight grade to a point where it meets a wooden boardwalk with railings. The level board walk extends out toward the pond as the surrounding ground slopes fairly steeply down to the water’s edge. The short board walk ends at a small deck with railings that allows room for a wheelchair to turn around. The viewing platform at the end of the boardwalk provides a pleasant bird’s eye view of the pond.”

Sundown Wild Forest
“The 30,100-acre Sundown Wild Forest covers a large swath of the southeast Catskills, including several ridges and 10 mountains over 2,000 feet. Sundown features an impressive mix of natural features – mountains, waterfalls, valleys and rivers…”
Here is the Forest website.   Phone 845-256-3000  Map
Accessible trail  0.25-mile leads to a streamside picnic area and accessible fishing pier.

Shandaken Wild Forest
Shandaken Wild Forest contains four different parcels.  There are remnants of past industries such as farms, sawmills, bluestone mining and tanneries as well as undeveloped forest with primitive campsites.
Here is the Forest website.   Phone 845-256-3000    Map
“The Lower Birch Creek Road parcel features a small pond with an accessible trail about 3/4 of the way around it.”

Mountain Top Arboretum
“Mountain Top Arboretum is a public garden in the Catskill Mountains dedicated to displaying and managing native plant communities of the northeastern US, in addition to curating its collection of cold-hardy native and exotic trees.”
Here is the Arboretum website.  Phone 518-589-3903 Map
Note that this is a garden, not a park and food, picnicking, barbecuing, smoking, sports activities and swimming are not permitted.
There are numerous easy walks here.  The trail surfaces are soft and not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Catskill Park and Forest Preserve
The Preserve is 287,500 acres of state land within the Catskill Park. “These public lands are primarily forested, but also include meadows, lakes, rivers, wetlands, waterfalls, cliffs, and many species of fish, wildlife, and plant life.”
Here are the websites for  Catskill Preserve and for Catskill Park Interpretive Center.  Phone for the Catskill Interpretive Center 845-688-3369    Map and Guide
Catskill Hikes   The guide suggests you  “Call DEC’s Regional Access Coordinators or the Universal Access Program in Albany at 518-402-9428 for trip-planning information.”
Here is the “Catskill Adventure”, a list of 18 suggested hikes for families.  A few of these are short with small elevation gains of 300′ or less and might be suitable for you.
#13, Alder Lake 1 mile is described as “gentle, mostly level, old road/trail around the lake. ”
Lower Birch Creek Rd. has a wheelchair-accessible path around a pond

 

Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest
The Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest includes nearly 6,000 acres of Pine Barrens and open lands.
Here is the Forest website.   Phone 631-444-0270 Map
“There are 2.12 miles of trails, Firestone Road and Woods Road, in the middle section of the forest that allows motorized access for people with mobility impairments. A permit is required….”
Accessible Trail 0.5 mile is an ADA compliant trail in the southern section of the property.  The trail is not marked on the map, so be sure to call ahead to learn how to get to it.

Ridge Conservation Area
The Ridge Conservation Area has three interpretive trails starting at the southwest corner of Randall Pond by the kiosks. The trails go through a number of habitats including pond, woodland, field and marsh.
Here is the Area Website and Guide.   Phone 631-444-0270  Map
Accessible trail 0.3 mile one way.  Yellow trail markers indicate the current ADA trail along Randall Pond.

Otis Pike Preserve
Otis Pike Preserve Complex is 5,400 acres of mixed oak, pine barrens and open habitat.  The Peconic River runs through the area, and there are many small ponds.
Here is the Preserve website.   Phone 631-444-0270   Hunting Map
Accessible trail 1,000′ to a duck blind overlooking the Peconic River is on the East parcel, at Hunting Spot 17 on Grumman Blvd, just past River Road.

Kings Park Unique Area
“Kings Park Unique Area is a 69-acre green space, located at the southwest corner of Meadow and Lawrence Roads in Kings Park. The area is open for hiking, bowhunting, and wildlife viewing…”
Here is their website.   Phone 631-444-0270  Map
Accessible trail 0.3 mile  The trail is crushed stone and sand and goes  through oak brush and early successional habitat.