Our venerable Tuesday walk all start at 10 a.m. As usual there is no pre-registration. For information, email mailto:[email protected]. Cancellations or changes may be found at our website, ecosny.org, or www.facebook.com/ecosny.
Tuesday, April 14: Vale Park and Cemetery. Betsy Henry, leader. A leisurely focus on trees, wildflowers, ferns, and mushrooms, in the park’s wooded ravine area. Most trails are paved. Directions: Use the entrance off Nott Terrace; from Schenectady’s State St. turn north on Nott Terrace then right through the entrance; from Union Street, turn south on Nott Terrace and left through the entrance. Address: 171 Nott Terrace, Schenectady.
Tuesday, April 21: Pine Hollow Arboretum. Sigrin Newell, leader. If timing is right, we’ll wander through magnolias in bloom, as well as exploring various plant regions from Europe to Asia to America. Easy hiking, mostly level, though it might be muddy. Directions: Take Rt. 890 east to the NY Thruway; get off at its exit 24 and follow onto Rt. 90, taking its exit 4 to Rt. 85 and continuing until the left turn onto Maple Avenue. The arboretum is on the left. Address: 34 Pine Hollow Rd., Slingerlands.
Tuesday, April 28: Reist Sanctuary. Kathleen LoGiudice, leader. In this Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club sanctuary, we’ll walk through woods and wetlands and over dunes where there is a variety of flowers as well as ferns, mosses, giant trees, and of course birds. Often very muddy. Meet at the west end of the sanctuary, which has better parking. Directions: From the intersection of Balltown and Consaul, go east past the Hannaford Plaza. Take the first left onto Oakmont. Pass all the town houses. When you’ve passed the last one, parking for the Sanctuary is on the right. Address: Just north of 35 Oakmont St., Niskayuna.
Tuesday, May 5: Valentino Family Community Forest. Tom Phillips, leader. Trails pass through hemlock and hardwood forests, along streams and ponds with impressive beaver dams. Pace depends on energy levels and quantity of ephemerals. Directions: The forest is on Rt. 2 between Cropseyville and Grafton; from Rt. 2, turn north onto Stuffle Street and park at the first marked parking area. You can also take Rt. 7 through north Troy for roughly 4 miles (from the river) until it becomes Rt. 278, which becomes Rt. 2. Address: 90 Stuffle St., Cropseyville.
Tuesday, May 12: Vischers Ferry Preserve. Elizabeth Collins, leader. An easy and leisurely walk, with detailed observation of the many spring ephemerals. If mosquitoes have hatched, use bug repellent. Directions: Following Balltown Road over Rexford Bridge, turn east at Stewarts onto Riverview Road. Bear right at the firehouse in Vischers Ferry and continue on Riverview until you see the preserve sign at the junction with Van Vranken Road. Parking is near the Whipple Bridge. Address: Riverview Road, Rexford.
Tuesday, May 19: Kinns Road Park. Steve Jones, leader. A new addition to our walks! ECOS’s Natural Areas of Saratoga guide says “spring wildflowers carpet the ground” within a rich understory. The park is fairly small and mostly level, so expect a casual walk with much time for observation. Directions: From Rt. 146A one can turn right (east) onto Kinns Road; the park is about a half mile, on the right. From Rt. 87 take exit 10 (Ushers Road), and almost immediately turn left onto Pierce Road; the next right will be Kinns Road. The park is about 1.5 miles, on the left. Address: Kinns Road, Clifton Park.
Tuesday, May 26: Hop Field Trail, Thacher Park. Susan Toohey, leader. An average-paced walk Second Sunday Bird Walks through a small picnic area and up a brief incline along a fast-running stream and waterfall with wetland. Possibly muddy. Directions: Take Rt. 85 (Town of New Scotland) to Rt. 157, also known as Thacher Park Road. Hop Field is the first parking lot on the left. Look for the new visitor’s cabin.
Tuesday, June 2: Knox Park and Wetland. Deb Barnes, leader. A leisurely walk in the park, on a paved walkway; the bur oaks here are almost unique in this area. Then we take the boardwalk through the wetlands, where we can get close to wetland flora and fauna that are usually difficult to see. Directions: Located off Street Road, between Rt. 252 / Knox Cave Road and Rt. 255 / KnoxGallupville Road; there’s a small parking lot on the left behind trees. Address: Street Road, Knox.
Tuesday, June 9: Plotter Kill Preserve. Don Orr, leader. A rather rugged trail with three spectacular waterfalls. This will be a hike with some botanical observation. Directions: From Rt. 890 take exit 2A to Campbell Road (Rt. 337), in roughly 1 mile turn right onto Putnam Road, after a couple of miles turn right at the blinking light onto Mariaville Road (Rt. 159). After about 2 ½ miles the preserve parking lot is on the right. Address: Mariaville Road, Rotterdam.