Our Preserves
Jack & Louise Birnberg Preserve, Chester, NY
The Birnberg Preserve is a 187-acre nature preserve comprising former farm fields, wildflower meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. The Preserve is home to a variety of amphibians and bird species as well as two nature trails: a 3/4-mile looped trail through woodlands and a mowed 1-mile looped trail providing views of Goosepond Mountain and the Young’s Brook wetlands. The Preserve is open to the public for hiking, photography, birding, and other forms of passive recreation. Click for pdf/map.
Fuller Mountain, Warwick, NY
This magnificent 255-acre wooded ravine on Fuller Mountain in Warwick stretches from north of Black Rock Road to the New Jersey border. Fuller Mountain Preserve is one of Orange County’s best kept secrets. The overlook at the terminal point of the Orange Trail bears striking resemblance to the site of a 1872 painting by Jasper Cropsey, Hudson River School painter and nearby Greenwood Lake resident.
A stream called Fuller’s Brook runs the length of the preserve. Frogs, toads and salamanders live in the wetlands around the stream. The woods are home to many mammals, including the long-tailed weasel and black bear, several unusual plants, and an abundance of bird life. The preserve has a small parking area and information kiosk with maps of the preserve’s three trails: a moderate 1.75 mile round trip trail and 1.5 mile round trip trail that both lead to a fantastic vista overlooking the Warwick Valley and an enchanting ¾ mile loop that meanders along and over Fuller’s Brook. Click for pdf/map.
Please Note: If the preserve’s parking lot is full, visitors are asked to return another time or seek alternative plans. Parking alongside Bowen Road is prohibited and vehicles may be towed and/or ticketed as a result. In addition, dogs must remain leashed at all times.
Directions:
From Rt. 17, take exit 124 to 17A, continuing on 17A/94 through Warwick.
Stay on Rt. 94 when 17A turns off. Turn left onto CR 21/Warwick Turnpike (ShopRite mall on corner). Continue on CR 21 about 1.7 mi, turning left onto Bowen Road. The entrance is about 3/4 mile ahead on the right at the bottom of the hill.
GPS:
Use 70 Bowen Road, Warwick, NY 10990
Hamptonburgh Preserve, Town of Hamptonburgh, NY
130 acres of prime nesting habitat for waterfowl, woodpeckers, bluebirds, and other cavity-nesting birds, plus 74 acres of rolling wildflower meadows, farmland, and riverine forest along the Wallkill River. Parts of the land are being farmed, but the site is open to the public for walking, photography, and birding.
Be advised that trail improvements are currently underway. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Hunter Farm, Slate Hill, NY
The Land Trust’s first acquisition, this 60-acre nature preserve of open, rolling fields, woodlands and two ponds is open to the public year-round for walking, photography, birdwatching and fishing. This preserve has an abundance of wildlife. The ponds are home to beaver, heron, wood ducks, turtles, frogs and dragonflies. The fields are home to numerous bird species and one of the largest concentrations of butterflies in the northeast. Also found on this preserve is The Tadpole Trail, the Land Trust’s exploratory nature trail for children, consisting of a ¾ mile trail with seven outdoor learning stations. Click for pdf/map.
The Tadpole Trail Nature Trail for Children
With a grant from Orange & Rockland Utilities, the Orange County Land Trust is pleased to announce the completion of The Tadpole Trail, a hands-on outdoor learning area featuring a self-guided children’s exploratory trail. Hunter Farm Preserve is a 60-acre nature preserve with an abundance of wildlife- ponds with beaver, heron, wood ducks, turtles, frogs and dragonflies and fields that are home to numerous bird species and over 28 documented species of butterfly- one of the largest concentrations of butterfly in the eastern United States!
Bring the entire family to walk along our ¾ mile trail with 7 activity stations that focus on the preserve’s natural habitat and seasonal indicators of wildlife and plant life. The trail is a perfect field trip destination for school groups, girl and boy scout troops and summer day camps.
Laurel Hill Preserve, Westtown, NY
Laurel Hill Preserve is comprised of 89 acres of varied habitat – woodland, fields, wetlands, vernal pools and the Tunkamoes Creek, which creates niches for a great variety of plant and animal species. Click for pdf/map.
Contact us for more information about this preserve.
Lower Bashakill, Cuddebackville, NY
138-acres of working farmland, floodplain habitat, and wooded slopes flanking the Bashakill at the foot of the Shawangunks. There are no hiking trails or amenities at this preserve. Open to the public for hiking, birding and fishing. Please note: Barber’s Eddy Hunting Club is granted access for hunting during the NYS fall hunting season. Visitors should use caution during this period. Click here for NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation website.
Directions:
From Middletown, take Rt. 211 west. At the stop sign at Otisville, turn left and continue on Rt. 211 west over the Shawangunk Ridge for approximately 3 miles. The preserve sign and parking area are on your left across from the Red Barn Auction, just before the intersection with Rt. 209 in Cuddebackville.
For GPS:
Use 26-36 State Route 211, Cuddebackville, NY 12729.
Moonbeams Preserve, Middletown, NY
150 acres of fields, forest, and wetlands located at the base of the Shawangunk Ridge and bordering the Shawangunk Kill; Moonbeams is a quiet hidden gem. Donated to the Orange County Land Trust by The Nature Conservancy, this lovely preserve is open to the public for hiking, birding, and nature study. Grass field parking and an informational kiosk – describing the preserve’s two trail systems, history, and interesting flora and fauna found on the preserve – are available at the entrance. Click for pdf/map.
Be advised that due to ground-nesting bird habitat, dogs are not permitted on this preserve. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Directions:
Take Rt. 17 west from Middletown. Take exit 118 and turn left at the exit’s stop sign onto Brown Road. After the overpass, turn right onto Rt. 76. After 1.1 miles, turn left onto Prosperous Valley Road (called Shawangunk Rd on the opposite side of Rt. 76). Follow Prosperous Valley Road 0.6 miles to stop sign. Turn left there, continuing on Prosperous Valley Road an additional 1.6 miles to the Preserve. There will be a sign for Moonbeams Preserve on your left with the parking area immediately beforehand on the right. Park in the grassy area adjacent to the large red barn. The barn is private property and not part of the preserve.
For GPS:
Use 219 Prosperous Valley Road, Middletown, NY 10940.