"Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature."

― Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Upcoming Hikes / Paddles

Annual Winter Bird Count – Saturday, January 07, 2023 (7:30 AM) 

Signs of Spring Nature Walk – Sunday, March 19, 2023 (8:00 AM)

Tree Identification Walk – Saturday, April 22, 2023 (9:00 AM)

Spring Bird Migration – Sunday, April 30, 2023 (7:30 AM)

Breeding Birds and Butterflies – Sunday, June 18, 2023 (8:00 AM)

 

 

Events are free, pre-registration is required and group size will be limited.  No pets please. 

 

Directions to the ECC Preserve

Esopus Bend Nature Preserve

DOWNLOAD HERE – ESOPUS BEND_Trail Guide 7_2016

Directions:

SHADY LANE ENTRANCE at 10 Shady Lane  – From 9W:  Take Overbaugh St.  Make a left onto Simmons Dr., a right onto Appletree Dr., and a left onto Shady Ln.  Small parking lot available.

STERLEY AVENUE ENTRANCE at 50 Sterley Avenue – From 9W:  Look for a sign on the Saugerties Bowlers Club sign post.  Take Highland Ave. across from Barclay Heights Diner.  Make a left behind Simmons Plaza, continuing along Highland Ave.  Take a right on Blue Hills Dr., a left on Dewitt Dr., and a right on Sterley Ave.  Parking lot and entrance at end.  Please note: parking area is not plowed in winter and may be inaccessible.  Open dawn to dusk, no parking after hours.

KALINA DRIVE walk-in entrance at One Preserve Way  From 9W: Take Overbaugh St. which continues to Kalina Drive.  Entrance is on the right, just before Edgewood Dr.

Parking is limited.  Please carpool whenever possible.

Around the Bend

Bridge and Trail Closures - Please note the following trail and bridge closures as of January 2023. South Bridge CLOSED. Access north trails from Shady Lane entrance, south trails from Sterley Ave. entrance. ______________________________________________ Section of South Trail closed along eastern loop. No thru access, in-and-back only. ______________________________________________ Section of East Trail closed at bridge along northern loop. No thru access, in-and-back only.
Spring Tree Identification Walk - Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a Tree Identification Walk at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Vern Rist will lead us at a leisurely pace through a variety of woodland habitats in the Nature Preserve.  Spring leaves should be starting to show as we observe and discuss bark and branch features that provide clues to help identify the tree species. Pre-registration is required and group size will be limited.
Spring Bird Migration - Esopus Creek Conservancy and the John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided nature walk through woodlands and wetlands in the Town of Saugerties on Sunday, April 30, 2023. The first week in May is typically the peak migration period for neotropical birds, and early morning is the best time to see and hear recently arrived songbirds in their brilliant spring plumage.  We will explore a variety of ecologically rich habitats to experience this annual rite of spring, identifying birds by sight and sound while pausing along the way to observe a diversity of wildflowers and animal life. 
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