Hike leader: Peter Wood, Ingalls Preserve Land Steward

Location: 

The Preserve is named in memory of former Vice President and longtime Board member Bob Ingalls.

The 50 acres of the Robert Ingalls Preserve consist of mixed hardwood‐hemlock‐pine forests, including some very large trees. Black Brook, a native trout‐spawning stream, flows through a picturesque ravine. A bench provides an idyllic spot to view Black Brook rushing over the rocks. The slopes above the brook have many wet seeps and springs, offering habitat for spring wildflowers, ferns, mosses and liverworts. There are remnants of earlier human use including stone walls, an abandoned logging road, and a small foundation possibly once a small mill. These remnants indicate prior agricultural use of this land where the forest has grown back.

The Robert Ingalls Preserve is open for fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and birding. From the parking lot, a trail leads directly down to Black Brook and the bench. A short trail continues on that side of the brook, and a bridge over Black Brook allows access to the more extensive trail network on the other side.

Learn more here.

Directions: 

The Robert Ingalls Preserve is located in the Town of Stephentown. The parking area is on Garfield Road just west of the intersection of Horse Heaven Rd (County Route 23) and Garfield Rd (County Route 26). From the intersection of Garfield Road and NY Route 66 in East Nassau (.3 mile south of the East Nassau Post Office), go 2.5 miles east on Garfield Road to the parking area on the left.

If you are using a GPS, the closest house coming from Route 66 is 508 Garfield Rd, East Nassau, NY. The Preserve comes up next on the left. Coming from the other direction, the closest house is 546 Garfield Road, East Nassau, NY, and the Preserve comes up next on the right.