Harrier Hill Park, Hudson Hike

This is no case of false advertising Harrier Hill Park [6729 Rod and Gun Road Stockport, NY 12534] is the most aptly named preserve I have ever been to!

Take a short universally accessible walk from the parking lot to the pavilion and just as you were fawning over the lovely pastoral view of the Catskills,

Bam! A Northern harrier flies onto the scene. They are quite distinctive with their long tails.

Welcome to Harrier Hill, if your visit is anything like mine, these gorgeous hawks will be popping in and out of sight ever so often. Once you are finished taking in that view, check out the trail map,

and head across the street to pick up the two mile blue blazed Stockport-Greenport trail. The trail leads into the red blazed Greenport Conservation Area if you would like to extend your hike. Your hike will take you along the edges of colorful grasslands,

a favorite spot for the harrier.

The overcast sky and intermittent sun added a unique element for the day.

Soon the trail will pass a green pond,

and head into the serene woods.

A milky iced over stream was glistening on a warm winter afternoon.

We saw many other birds in the woods, including some loud woodpeckers! We were having such a great time the trail didn’t feel like two miles, and we continued well onto the red Greenport trail. When we decided to make our way back and return to the parking lot, the sky continued to show interesting displays.

Strange clouds over the open field, we were continually awed until our final moments at this park!