Out and About 
Favorite Summertime Walks

– By Paul Hicks –

When “Out and About” first appeared in The Rye Record (February 1998 issue), it contained a promise that “a sampling of prime walking places within easy reach of Rye will be featured from time to time in this column.” Drawn from more than 50 places featured since then, here is a sampling of some favorite summertime walks.

Babcock Preserve

The largest of the Greenwich Town parks, Babcock has an extensive system of trails that are identified on a large map in the parking area. Within its 300 acres of woodland, there is a wide variety of native trees and plants, including an abundance of wild rhododendrons. From exit 31 off the Merritt, turn right on North Street and look for the entrance sign on the left just past the reservoir.

Beaver Dam Sanctuary

This 220-acre preserve in the Town of Bedford includes a number of wide trails maintained by the Bedford Riding Lanes Association. To reach the sanctuary, take the Cross River exit off I-684, turn right on Route 35 and right again on Route 22. In 1.4 miles, make another right on Beaver Dam Road and park just past the bridge. Walk back over the bridge for about 50 yards and look for a sign on the right marking the trailhead.

When the trail reaches some fields, head right into a hemlock grove and down the hill to the Beaver Dam River. Shaded by tall sugar maples and tulip poplars, the trail continues for almost a mile along the river before you have to retrace your steps. It is a very tranquil place.

Hart's Brook Park & Preserve

New York State, Westchester County and the Town of Greenburgh jointly own this 124-acre property in Hartsdale. It can be reached by taking the exit for Route 100A off I-287 and heading for Hartsdale. Turn right on Ridge Road and look for the entrance on the left in about half a mile. From the parking area, where maps are usually available, head straight past the greenhouse and gardens towards the woodland. The trails have color-coded blazes and are easy to follow. Despite the park's location in central Westchester, remarkably few people walk here at any time of year.

Kitchawan Preserve

One of the appeals of Kitchawan is the wide diversity of habitats within its 208 acres. The preserve, which is now owned by Westchester County, was previously used as a research station by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The main trail from the parking area heads across meadows and through the woods to the edge of the Croton Reservoir.

Take the Ossining exit off the Taconic and head east on Route 134 about 1.5 miles to the entrance on the left. A useful map is available on the Hudson River Audubon Society website, www.hras.org/wtobird/kitchawa.html.

Eugene and Agnes Meyer Nature Preserve

The 247 acres of this preserve, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), are divided into two distinct parcels connected by a dirt road. The trails in the eastern part run over rock outcrops, and one borders a falling stream that flows into a red maple swamp. In the western parcel, the main trail makes a large loop through a series of meadows and a pine forest, descending through fields of native grasses and wild flowers back to the starting point.

For directions to both parts and additional information, go to the TNC website (www.nature.org) and search for Meyer Preserve on the top of the home page. There are large maps posted at the kiosks near both entrances to the preserve.

PepsiCo Sculpture Gardens

Many visitors to the sculpture gardens on the grounds of PepsiCo's headquarters are not aware of the woodland trail that circles almost the entire property. You can find a map of the grounds online at http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5962/2175/1600/sg3.jpg or ask for one at the security gate.

Start at the visitor center and head across the paved road toward the pond that was formed by a dam on Blind Brook. Follow the woodland trail to the right through the woods. As shown on the map, good routes back to the sculpture garden are through the West Woodland Garden and the Stream Garden, both of which are gems. The entrance to PepsiCo's campus is on Anderson Hill Road in Purchase.

Rockefeller State Park

Nearly twenty miles of wide carriage trails were laid out by the Rockefeller family before they donated the land to New York State as parkland. Some of the trails run across land that is still owned by the Rockefellers but are open for use by walkers, joggers, horseback riders and carriage drivers. Consider combining a walk on the trails with a stop at the Blue Hill Cafe, part of the nearby Stone Barns Center, which is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Friends of Rockefeller State Park have a useful park map, directions, and other information on their website, www.friendsrock.org/parkmap.html.

As shown on the map, part of the park lies just west of Route 9. The area, which was a Rockefeller family estate called Rockwood Hall, is a great place to walk with fine views of the Hudson River. To drive there, take the Rockwood Road exit off Route 117, which leads directly to a parking area.

Westchester Wilderness Walk

This well-managed preserve in Pound Ridge has more than eight miles of trails within its 150 acres of rocky woods, streams and wetlands. It is owned by the Westchester Land Trust, which provides directions, a trail map and an introductory video on its website, www.westchesterlandtrust.org/Public-Preserves /westchesterwildnernesswalk.

For additional information about these and other areas, consult the online edition of the Environmental Directory published by the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County and found at www.fcwc.org/directory.htm. Another useful online source is “Westchester Trails,” which is maintained mostly by cross-country runners at westchestertrails.com/index.php. All the preserves that officially permit dogs require them to be on leashes.

Happy hiking!