A warm fall means lots of outdoor time and this time round, we went to the Schiffendecker Farm Preserve in Bethlehem, New York. We got to traverse over several small bridges, see some water rush by, hear the birds, and spot an old apple orchard. Overall, we had a lovely time, and we were wearing shorts in October; a relatively new phenomenon for us here in upstate New York.

Schiffendecker Farm Preserve

The Schiffendecker Farm Preserve is a nature preserve currently maintained by the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy.  This 39 acre parcel was recently acquired in 2007 from the Nigro Corportation of Albany, New York who gave it to the Mohawk Hudson as part of an agreement for their commercialization within the local town. The land was used prior for farming and pasture.  It was owned by the Schiffendecker Family back in the 1800s who’s farmhouse was only relatively recently removed during the construction of the nearby Walmart on Route 9W.

Small streams that are part of the larger Normans Kill system pass through the property.  Bridges take visitors over these streams.

Trails

There is one main trail, the yellow trail, that takes visitors up in elevation to the top of a small hill.  A red trail loops you around the hill, allowing you to take the yellow trail back to the parking area. A small blue trail acts as an offshoot of yellow, just giving you something new to explore.  We followed this on our way back down.  Overall, there is just over 1 miles of trails.

Where is it Located?

The Schiffendecker Farm Preserve is located off Bender Lane in Glenmont, New York, approximately 0.8 miles east of NY Route 32.  There is a small parking area located on the north side of the road.

Maps

I can not speak highly enough of the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, the work that they do, and the maps that they provide.  From touring many small nature preserves throughout the area, I can attest to the quality of the Mohawk Hudson’s maps. A map of the trails at the Schiffendecker Farm Preserve can be found here.