The nonprofit land trust, the
Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC), welcomes you to Drowned Lands Swamp in Dutchess County, NY.
This walking tour takes you along 1.5 miles of trails through a 114-acre conservation preserve. The trail passes through woodlands, a small meadow, and around the Drowned Lands Swamp wetlands.
Drowned Lands Swamp is an excellent place for hiking, birdwatching, or dog walking. The trails are easy to moderate.
You can choose to climb up a 350-foot knoll known locally as “Cold Croken” on the Summit Trail. If you decide to hike up the hill, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Berkshires, Taconic, Catskill Mountains, and Copake Valley.
As you hike, you will learn about local folklore associated with this site, including tales of stills operating during prohibition.
You will hear stories about the regional ecology, natural and cultural history, and the impact this preserve has had on the local watershed. Keep your eyes out for birds, flowers, and learn how to identify native species such as the snapping turtle.
Please note the site can be very buggy, and you may wish to avoid visiting Drowned Lands during black fly season (June – July).
Tour Sponsors In 1995, the Salisbury Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut generously donated approximately 100 acres of land to CLC, establishing the Drowned Lands Swamp. CLC enlarged the area in 2000 through an additional acquisition.
The CLC works to conserve the farmland, forests, wildlife habitat, and rural character of Dutchess County and Columbia County, New York. They strive to strengthen the connections between people and the land.
Since its founding in 1986, the Columbia Land Conservancy has collaborated with partners to preserve the County’s vibrant rural character. It has conserved more than 30,000 acres of farmland, forests, and wildlife habitat to ensure clean air and water, healthy ecosystems, a robust agricultural sector, and a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
CLC cultivates connection to the land by
providing outdoor and education activities at
10 Public Conservation Areas, supporting agriculture by ensuring prime farmland continues to be available to the next generation of farmers, and promoting land protection and smart land use planning.
Find More Tours Near You If you enjoy this tour, check out all ten audio tours presented by The Columbia Land Conservancy:
Overmountain Fox Hill,
High Falls,
Overmountain Gazebo,
Siegel-Kline Kill,
Ooms,
Schor,
Harris,
Drowned Lands Swamp,
Greenport, and
Hand Hollow.
In addition, you can find other tours in New York State or wherever your travels may take you at
TravelStorys.com. Every place has a story.
Location: New York
Travel Type: Walking
Tour Duration: 30 minutes
Language:
