The Bear's Den Preserve consists of 15.4 acres on the summit and western escarpment of Butternut Hill, located the middle of the Taconic valley on the Berlin-Stephentown line. The principal feature of the parcel is Bear's Den, a rock shelter cave with a main chamber about 15 feet in diameter. The cave was known to early settlers and probably Native Americans as well.

The hill is composed of limestone rock, which accounts for the presence of the cave, and is also visible on steep exposed cliffs on the western face of the hill. A wide variety of plants are found here because of the limestone influence. These include two native orchids, Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens, Yellow ladyslipper, and Galearis spectabilis, Showy orchis. A rich sloping fen (a calcareous wetland) is found on the southwest corner of the property. The Shrubby cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa ssp. floribunda, grows here.

This property was donated to the R-TLC by the Smith family. Because access involves crossing private property of adjoining neighbors, prior permission must be obtained through the RLT. Access is restricted to interested groups and researchers and through the RLT's outings program.

Property owned by the RLT.