Drowned Lands Conservation Area - Columbia Land Conservancy
DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 42.05588, -73.57021
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| Drowned Lands Conservation Area Parking |
TRAIL MAP:
Drowned Lands Swamp Conservation Area Map (black and white map) - Columbia Land Conservancy
Drowned Lands Swamp Conservation Area Brochure (older version showing colors of trails but also a trail that no longer exists) - Columbia Land Conservancy
HIKE DISTANCE: 1.8 miles (would have been 1.5 but went back to look for a trail that no longer exists)
Hiked together with:
Overmountain Conservation Area (5 minutes away) - 9.9 miles
Buttercup Farm Audubon Sanctuary (20 minutes away) - 3.7 miles
THE HIKE:
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| From the parking lot ... |
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| ... towards the kiosk ... |
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| ... then right to the summit trail. |
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| Passing by the swamp trail on the left. We would go that way after the summit. |
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| The climb up is pretty steep at times but once there ... |
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| ... the views made the climb worthwhile. |
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| Heading back down. |
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| Right on the swamp trail. |
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| This trail is flat until ... |
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| ... a little bit of a climb on a trail to the right to ... |
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| ... an overlook of the swamp. |
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| Continuing on the swamp trail to ... |
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| ... swamp views at the end. |
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| Now straight back all the way to the kiosk. |
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| I had the older version of the map with me and it showed another overlook off of the summit trail that I did not see so I went back up to look for it. It was nowhere to be found. When I later looked at the newer black and white map that trail was no long shown so it must have been eliminated. |
You found another well-hidden open space! There used to be a flagpole at the summit of that hill but I didn't see it in your picture so I guess it's finally been removed.
ReplyDeleteNo, didn't see a flagpole. You are lucky to have lived to close. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive for me but that is one of my favorite areas. I have hiked all of the Taconic trails already so I was glad to find more trails in the vicinity.
DeleteI was in Putnam County for near 20 years so the Hudson and Harlem Valleys and the Catskills were all within an hour or so. When I lived down on LI it was always a four hour slog through traffic to get up there so I'd go but it was always an overnight trip. Once I moved to Putnam it was 45 minutes to New Paltz.
DeleteFour hours! That is painful. One of the reasons I leave insanely early in the morning is so I at least have no traffic getting there. Getting home is a whole other story but I have learned how to get around most of it over the years.
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