It is such a treat to discover local preserves. Little treasures close enough, small enough, that you can you can run to after work for some nature therapy. Schiffendecker Farm Preserve [Bender Lane, Glenmont, NY 12077] is one of those special places. Just down the road in Glenmont nestled right into a residential block, don’t drive to fast or you’ll miss the tiny gravel lot, and the wooden stairs leading into the preserve.
Looking at the trail map you’ll notice the park has less than a mile of trails. I don’t usually hike alone. It has to be a place I am very comfortable with, close to home, a loop, an out an back, or something small enough where I couldn’t possibly fudge it up and get lost. Schiffendecker fell under this category for me. I was at ease visiting the park by myself on a fall day. Trails were obvious, marked, and well maintained. Some bouts of elevation gain were welcomed to get my heart beat pumping, but nothing too serious.
I saw only one other person, a runner on my visit, probably from a neighboring house. What a lovely route to jog. There are little bridges crossing streams, I stopped to observe one and noticed tiny footprints in the mud.
I saw elusive woodpeckers that weren’t into the paparazzi, and a tiny ham of a spider climbing up a tree.
When I got to the end of the road, the red loop, I decided to do the loop a few times. It is a .25 mile loop and it added mileage and duration to my visit. This is the highest elevation in the preserve and you are afforded some partial views here both into the woods and town.
I know we’ve had a warm and wonderful winter thus far and I am grateful, but boy do I miss warmth, color, and leaves! I took this walk slow and so enjoyed the vibrant late fall foliage.
Winter berries popping up, flowers taking new forms.
A completely serene, undisturbed nature walk, just a few minutes down the road.