Area Nature Preserves, Parks and Trails

My ongoing wildflower inventories and other wanderings have given me the opportunity to explore these area nature preserves, parks and trails:

• 100 Acre Wood (Town of Malta)
• Anchor Diamond Park at Hawkwood (Town of Ballston)
• Ann Lee Pond Nature and Historic Preserve (Town of Colonie)
• Ashford Glen Preserve (Town of Colonie)
• Ballston Creek Preserve (Town of Ballston)
• Balsam Way Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Bauer Environmental Park (Town of Colonie)
• Community Connector Trail (Towns of Clifton Park and Halfmoon)
• Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve (Town of Clifton Park)
• Fox Preserve (Town of Colonie)
• Garnsey Park (Town of Clifton Park)
• Hayes Nature Park (Town of Clifton Park)
• Historic Champlain Canalway Trail (Towns of Halfmoon and Waterford)
• Mohawk Hudson Bike-Hike Trail (portion within City of Cohoes and Town of Colonie)
• Mohawk Landing Nature Preserve (Town of Clifton Park)
• North Woods Nature Preserve (Town of Clifton Park)
• Old Iron Spring Fitness Trail (Town of Ballston)
• Peter Desrochers Memorial Country Knolls Trails (Town of Clifton Park)
• Settlers Hill Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Shenantaha Creek Park (Town of Malta)
• Stillwater Multi-Use Trail (Town of Stillwater)
• Summer Hill Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Swatling Falls Nature Trails (Town of Halfmoon)
• Town Park nature trails (Town of Halfmoon)
• Ushers Road State Forest (Towns of Clifton Park and Halfmoon)
• Veterans Bike Path (Town of Ballston)
• Veterans Memorial Park (Town of Clifton Park)
• Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve (Town of Clifton Park)
• West Sky Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Woodcock Preserve (Town of Clifton Park)
• Zim Smith Trail (Towns of Ballston, Clifton Park, Halfmoon and Malta)

I encourage you to visit each.  When you do so, I hope that you’ll find or experience some “new” discovery about your natural world.  Read more about a few of these locations as featured in “Getting Outdoors in Southern Saratoga” (shown below; click on it to read article) in the “Southern Saratoga Make Yourself at Home” supplement to The Daily Gazette.

Please note that the following sites have wheelchair-accessible trails:

• Balsam Way Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Bauer Environmental Park (Town of Colonie)
• Community Connector Trail (Towns of Clifton Park and Halfmoon)
• Hayes Nature Park (Town of Clifton Park)
• Historic Champlain Canalway Trail (Town of Halfmoon)
• Mohawk Hudson Bike-Hike Trail (portion within City of Cohoes and Town of Colonie) – NOTE:  This trail has an asphalt surface and is wheelchair accessible.  However, please be advised that the entrance from Island View Road is a long and rather steep slope (particularly when exiting the trail from this hill) and may not be safe for non-motorized wheelchair use.
• Mohawk Landing Nature Preserve (Town of Clifton Park)
• Old Iron Spring Fitness Trail (Town of Ballston)
• Settlers Hill Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Stillwater Multi-Use Trail (Town of Stillwater)
• Summer Hill Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Swatling Falls Nature Trails (Town of Halfmoon) – NOTE:  Both the Path along McDonald Creek and East Woodland Trail have asphalt surfaces and are wheelchair accessible. However, please be advised that East Woodland Trail contains several long and steep slopes and may not be safe for non-motorized wheelchair use.
• Town Park nature trails (Town of Halfmoon)
• Veterans Bike Path (Town of Ballston)
• West Sky Natural Area (Town of Clifton Park)
• Zim Smith Trail (Towns of Ballston, Clifton Park, Halfmoon and Malta)

Enjoy.  Happy trails!