Day 3.188: Bennett Hill Preserve

As a family who likes to get out and do a short hike and one that likes to go to new places, you might think that we would have exhausted good local short-hike venues by now. You would be wrong.

A few months ago Exile #2 found a website containing several preserves open to the public nearby which are owned by the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy. Several are within striking range for a quick walk. Today we finally got around to trying one - and it is quite a treasure.

Top left:  The green trail leads from the parking lot through deciduous woodland next to farmland - it felt rather English to us.

Top centre: There is plenty to keep the interest up - including some nice trail repairs using small logs.

Top right: Exile #4 didn't fancy a bath much.

Mid left: There were some nice views from the top - which was a strange world of stunted trees and ground-cover.

Mid right: We came down the red trail with its warnings of 'steep grades'.  They weren't kidding.

Bottom left: More exciting trail obstacles.

Bottom right: Survivors photo.

We saw lots of interesting things, but I'll save them for another day once I've sorted the photos out and worked out what was what.  In total we walked about two miles in two hours - the climb was about 400 feet.  Fortunately, with the temperatures still in the upper-80's, most of the trail was shady.   We'd planned to take the steep route up, but missed the turning onto the red trail (at a rather splendid stone trail repair it turned out).  We also missed the side-trail to the wetland area on the plateau.  I suppose we will just have to go back!