Category: New York State

Tug Hill State Forest
The 12,242-acre Tug Hill State Forest is on the Tug Hill Plateau, an area that is renowned for its harsh winters and heavy snowfalls.  “The trails along Inman Gulf on the northern edge of the state forest provide spectacular vistas into the 200- to more than 300-foot deep canyon. John Young’s Trail, Oak Rim and Inman Glide Trails follow the top of the gulf for 4.6 miles.  Rainbow Falls can be seen on the opposite side of the gulf where it drops about 100 feet and is often completely frozen in the winter.”
Here is the Forest website.    Phone 315-376-3521   Map
John Young Nature Trail is an interpretive which goes 1.7 miles from the Williams Road to the edge of the Inman Gulf.
Clydes Trail 0.63 mile off County Route 93 is a designated motorized access route for people with qualifying disabilities for hunting and wildlife viewing.  You need a permit from a DEC office.

Black Pond Wildlife Management Area 
This 526 acre WMA in Jefferson County is “…a natural wetland complex consisting of a barrier beach, dune, open water, emergent marsh, and wooded/shrub swamp. ”
Here is the WMA’s website.    Phone  315-785-2263  Map
Accessible 0.4 mile “passing through woodland, wetland and dune areas, ending on the Lake Ontario shoreline. The trail also provides opportunities for wildlife observation, a fishing pier, and an observation deck.”

Vosburgh Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Vosburgh Swamp MA is  “…290 acres of forested uplands, tidal forested wetlands, tidal marsh, and small areas of freshwater wetlands.Estuary….The various upland and wetland habitat types found on the WMA support a great variety of fish, wildlife, and plant species. There are several unique ecological communities to explore and a great variety of wildlife species to view.”
Here is the WMA’s website.   Phone 518-357-2154  Map
“An accessible waterfowl hunting and wildlife viewing blind is located at the north end of Vosburgh Swamp, along the eastern shore. A trail and short boardwalk to this blind originates from the middle parking lot off of Four Mile Point Rd.”

Kaaterskill Wild Forest
The 7,620-acre Kaaterskill Wild Forest, includes “…sprawling mountains, dramatic cliffs, scenic waterfalls, and deep valleys. The area is occupied by deciduous and boreal forest species as well as an abundance of other plants and wildlife.”
Here is the Forest website.   Phone 607-652-7365  Map
The Kaaterskill Falls trail 0.3 miles from the Laurel-House Road parking lot to the Observation deck.  The surface is firm crushed stone, with a grade mostly 7%.  541 feet is “…greater than 8% (the slope of a standard ramp). “

Peck Hill State Forest
Peck Hill State Forest is a 2,868-acre property located just south of the Adirondack Park Blue Line in Fulton County.
Here is the Forest website.    Phone 518-863-4545   Map  Willie Wildlife Marsh Map
Willie Wildlife Marsh  1.47miles through wetland habitat.  “There is a viewing platform, interpretive stops and boardwalks that traverse the marsh and open water, as well as some features that are accessible for people of all abilities. A trail guide and maps are available at the trailhead.”
“There are a few routes (totaling about 4.78 miles) that start in the northwestern section of the unit and cross the center of the property to the southeastern corner of the forest. These routes allow motorized access for people with mobility impairments. A permit is required through the Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities.”

 

Tillman Road Wildlife Management Area
Tillman Road WMA “…is a wet lowland with an emergent marsh, open water, grassy fields, a deciduous swamp and hardwood forest. Walk the boardwalk during the spring and summer and listen to a serenade of song from seven different species of frogs.”
Here is the Area website.   Phone  716-372-0645  Map
Boardwalk is 300 feet  with a viewing platform.

The rest of the trail around the wetlands looks pretty easy, but you might want to call first in case there are steps or other obstacles.

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve & Environmental Education Center
Reinstein Woods is 292 acres of forests, ponds, and wetlands surrounded by suburban development.
Here is their website.    Phone 716-683-5959  Trail Map 
The numerous trails are described as “… are flat or gentle grades with crushed stone and mowed grass surfaces.”

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
“The Center suffered severe storm damage on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. For the safety of visitors and to assist with cleanup, posted trails are closed due to hazardous trees until further notice. Paved roads are still open to the public for walking.”  Muller Pond Trail is also open for walking.  The Visitor Center is closed.
Stony Kill Farm EEC “… includes over 1000 acres of rolling country side, farmland, ponds, woodlands, meadows, cultivated fields, and fallow fields.”  It is in Dutchess County in SE New York.
Here is the DEC  website   “Stony Kill’s website.  Phone  845-831-3800.    Map 
Woodland Trail  1 mile loop

Muller Pond Trail a little over 0.5 mile on mowed grass and hard dirt.  Goes through hardwood forest, wetland, and open meadow habitats.

Little Pond Campground & Day Use Area
“Little Pond is a quiet picturesque campground located in the Catskill Forest Preserve which offers a leisurely hiking trail around a 13-acre pond, and the opportunity to venture along trails leading to the ruins of an old farm or enjoy breathtaking views atop the Touchmenot Mountains.”
Here is the Area’s website.   Phone 845-439-5480   Map
“The campground offers accessible campsites with a mile long trail around the pond. A newly constructed ADA fishing platform is at the end of the trail near the day use area. There is also a new ADA path to the beach.”

Split Rock Mountain Wild Forest
The 3,700-acre Split Rock Wild Forest is part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve in Essex County.
“Webb Royce Swamp is reached by a 700-foot-long accessible trail. This hardened trail travels through a field in the early stages of succession, then crosses a hedgerow into another field that is actively mowed before ending at a raised pad overlooking the swamp. “