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Bye
Preserve
(printable trail map)
This 23.5 acre preserve has a
dense hardwood forest providing excellent habitat for
woodland birds. Second and third growth deciduous forest
and wetlands dominate this preserve. The woods are mixed
with hemlock and dense areas of mountain laurel. Remnant
boundary stone walls criss-cross the preserve. Streams
flow to the south through a large ravine. The trail
has been cleared and (through the generosity of the
Hsu family) visitors can now walk to the Mill River
through the Bye and Hsu land.
The Bye Preserve has a parking area off High Ridge Road
- on the east - close to the Stamford border.
Open dawn till dusk. PRLC maintained.
click
here for an aerial view of the Bye Preserve.
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Carolin’s
Grove
(printable Trail Map)
In the 1930’s Hiram Halle planted
a spruce plantation on this five acre preserve located
on Stone Hill Road. In 1969, Robert Lawther gave the land
to The Nature Conservancy in memory of his wife Carolin.
The Halle Ravine Committee, working with the Pound Ridge
Elementary School and the town, created trails and open
classrooms for the elementary school on this land and
the abutting town-owned property. The trails are open
to the public for passive recreation and are a valuable
resource for students’ field trips.
Carolin's Grove has a parking
area off Stone Hill Road. Open dawn till dusk.
PRLC maintained
click here
for an aerial view of Carolin's Grove.
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Clark
Preserve
(printable trail map)
This gift of seventy acres was
given to the PRLC by Ben and Charlotte Clark The
trails lead through highland, swamp, woodland and field.
Stone fences, rock outcroppings and specimen trees show
the variations of terrain that make Pound Ridge so special.
The upper trail leads to an overlook and then a field
of cedars and dogwood. The hub is at the south end of
a five- acre field, perfect for birding. A magnificent
Black Birch, White Oaks, Beech and Tulip trees dot the
woodlands. A wetland trail was added in 2001.
The Clark Preserve is accessible from a parking area off
Autumn Ridge Road. Open dawn till dusk.
click here
for an aerial view of the Clark Preserve.
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Halle
Ravine
(printable trail map)
The Halle Ravine of 38 acres
is an exceptionally scenic preserve dominated by a steep
gorge and stream running through a majestic first-growth
hemlock forest. A red maple swamp surrounds two ponds
near the main entrance. The preserve is a haven for numerous
species of birds that feed and breed on the property.
A variety of ferns and a profusion of wildflowers including
trout lily, purple trillium and baneberry enhance this
idyllic setting. The trails are well marked and there
are stone benches for resting and contemplation.
The
Halle Ravine entrance is on Trinity Pass just south
of Donbrook Road at a white gate set in a bordering
stone wall. Open dawn till dusk.
click here
for an aerial view of the Halle Ravine.
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Russell
Preserve
(printable trail map)
Mary Jane and Ed Russell donated 9 acres of land with
frontage on High Ridge Road just south of Upper Shad Road
and running in an easterly direction to Old Mill River.
Planned as a bird sanctuary some years ago, it includes
1.5 acres of man-made pond and many trees and shrubs that
were planted to provide food and shelter for bird life.
Over 100 different species of birds have been observed.
They include Woodcock, Great Blue Heron, Bittern, Golden
Winged Warbler, American Redstart, nesting Screech Owls,
Crested Flycatchers, Wood Ducks, and many others.
The
Russell Preserve is accessed from the east side of High
Ridge Road just south of Upper Shad Road. Open
dawn till dusk.
click here
for an aerial view of the Russell Preserve.
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Other PRLC Preserves (no
trails)
Richards
Preserve
This is 15.5 acres of open woodlands on Honey
Hollw Road, abutting New York Water Company's Cross River
Reservoir.
Thalheim
Preserve
This preserve consists of two parcels of marshland and
steep slopes, one which is 35 acres and the other 12 acres.
They are located off Kitchawan Road.
Isaacson
Preserve
These 32 acres, off Donbook Road, contain a series of
special habits, including fens, highland meadow of cedars
and dogwood, and a low-lying bird sanctuary.
Della
Torre Preserve
These 3.5 acres, with large rock outcroppings, is not
accessible, since it is landlocked behind residences on Hack
Green Road and Siscowit Road.
Fancher
Meadow
This is 2.5 acres of beautiful meadowland
right on Fancher Road, protecting an important viewshed in
town.
Goldfein
Preserve
These 2.8 acres on Trinity Pass preserves a developable
lot in perpetuity and also protects a wooded viewshed.
Robert
Whitehad Preserve
This 29 acres of woodlands, wetlands, steep slopes and
rock outcroppings, bordered by Salem Road and Stone Hill Road.
Miss Caldwell and her sons donated the land
in memory of her husband and their father, Robert Whitehead,
who passed away in 2002. “This land is so beautiful,
and it has always been a kind of refuge for our family,”
said Miss Caldwell. “We are very happy to be able to
preserve it, and we are sure Robert – who loved it as
well – would agree wholeheartedly.”
Armstrong
Preserve
44 acres of forest, wetlands and rock outcroppings, along
with a 1500 sq. ft. house, were bequeathed to the Pound Ridge
Land Conservancy by Carlsbad, NM pediatrician Catherine Armstrong
upon her death in 2003. Currently, it is not open to the public
and the Land Conservancy is converting the house to be a 4-season
land steward home. A trail linking the western edge of Pound
Ridge Ward Reservation, Richards (off Honey Hollow Rd.) and
the Armstrong preserve is underway.
Schwartz
Preserve
8 acres of forested land and wetlands that abut Lake Kitchawan.
Note:
In addition to the above 333 acres owned outright by the Pound
Ridge Land Conservancy, PRLC also holds a conservation easement
on the Zofnass Family Preserve, 5.7 acres off Upper Shad that
serves as a continuation of the Westchester Wilderness Walk
and is owned by Westchester Land Trust. PRLC also holds a
conservation easement on the Pauley-Trudeau Preserve, another
46.692 acres, also part of the Westchester Wilderness Walk,
owned by Westchester Land Trust. PRLC holds backup easements
on those parcels in Pound Ridge owned by the Westchester Land
Trust.
Other Walking Trails in Pound Ridge
The
Westchester Wilderness Walk
150 acres of diverse terrain, the Westchester Wilderness Walk
offers over 10 miles of meandering hiking trails. The Walk offers
the hiker such highlights as a stairway of stepping-stones mounting
through the middle of a cascading waterfall. Some sections of
the trail are steep and hiking boots are recommended. (more info)
Access
is at the trailhead off Upper Shad Road, between High Ridge
and Long Ridge Roads. Open dawn till dusk. This
Preserve is maintained by the Westchester Land Trust.
The
Morgenthau Preserve
The Henry Morgenthau Preserve of 34 acres is set along the shore of 100-acre Blue Heron Lake,
the preserve includes a portion of the lake, a small island,
wetlands, vernal ponds, a small stream and woodlands. A 35-year
old lakeshore conifer plantation is gradually giving way to
neighboring hardwoods. A 200-year-old oak can be found on
the yellow trail. Numerous waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds
are present. (more info)
The
preserve is on Rt. 172, on the south, near the intersection
with Tatomuck Road. Look for a small parking area with a sign
to the right. Open dawn till dusk. This Preserve
is maintained by the Nature Conservancy.
Mianus
River Gorge Preserve
The Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Inc. protects over 750 acres.
The cool, moist micro-climate provides an ideal environment
for the growth of a climax forest of oak, beech, black birch
and eastern hemlocks, estimated in many instances to be up
to 300 years old. The terrain is rugged and spectacular with
mineral outcroppings of many varieties and bold rocky promontories
jutting out in the gorge. The river makes its way to Mianus
Harbor on Long Island Sound. Over 800 species of trees, shrubs
and vines; wildflowers, ferns and lichens; birds and animals;
and reptiles, fishes and amphibians have been identified and
catalogued. (www.mianus.org).
The
Gorge is open daily 9:30 until 5:50: April through November.
From Long Ridge Road, take Miller’s Mill Road to Mianus River
Road. There is parking for 30 cars; maps are available at
the trail shelter. This Preserve is maintained by the
Nature Conservancy. (more info)
Ward
Pound Ridge Reservation
This wonderful County park of 4,700 acres, over 3,000 of which
are in Pound Ridge, was assembled under the leadership of
William Ward in 1925. The main entrance is on Route 121 in
Cross River. Open dawn till dusk. This Park is
maintained by Westchester County. (more info)
Pound Ridge Town Park
The town park has 3 different walking trails. A walking
trail through the woods at the back of the park; a small nature
path rings the pond; a paved trail leads from the park to
Scotts Corners.
