"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 08, 2022 (7:30 AM) 

Signs of Spring Nature Walk – Sunday, March 20, 2022 (8:00 AM)

Spring Bird Migration – Sunday, May 01, 2022 (7:30 AM)

Breeding Birds and Butterflies – Sunday, June 19, 2022 (8:00 AM)

Tree Identification Walk – Saturday, October 01, 2022 (9:00 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 August 2022. 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 boardwalk along southern loop. No thru access, in-and-back only.
Tree Identification Walk at EBNP - The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are sponsoring a Tree Identification Walk at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve on Saturday, October 01, 2022.  Vern Rist will lead us at a leisurely pace through a variety of woodland habitats in the Nature Preserve.  Fall color should be starting to show as we observe and discuss how and why the leaf color changes and some clues to help identify the tree species. Pre-registration required and group size will be limited.
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