The Lisha Kill Preserve is a beautiful place, and echoes the feeling I had while traipsing though the Black Forest in Germany.  The forests here consist of tall, dark trees and soft pine needles trail riddled with roots to walk on.   It’s simply magical.

The Lisha Kill Preserve

Located in Niskayuna, New York, the Lisha Kill Preserve contains approximately 40 acres of old-growth forests that surround the Lisha Kill.  It is under the management of the Nature Conservancy with 108 preserved acres in total.  There is an Eastern hemlock and Eastern white pine forest that provide habitat for a diverse ecosystem native to Upstate New York.  It was formed in 1963 by local residents after being threatened by highway construction.  Today, this popular place is frequented by hikers, nature lovers, and dog walkers.

Trails

There is a small network of trails available to hike that meander through the forests.  The three trails add up to over 2 miles of trails.  Red, yellow, and blue marks the different trails each named after different benefactors.  You can find a copy of the trail map here.

Unlike other nature walks, this one sports some initial steep descents (that are steep ascents on the way out).  These trails are not just nature preserve paths.

Lisha Kill

The trails skirt and cross over the Lisha Kill.  Beautiful boardwalks take you over the water and wetter areas. You can see the snaking that the creek has carved into the earth over time.

Forests

These forests do have a magical old feeling to them.  If you listen carefully, you can hear woodpeckers or owls. It’s quite wonderful to pass from forest to forest.  When you walk from the lush deciduous into quiet evergreens, you can’t help but feel as if you are entering a fairy tale.

Where is it located?

The Lisha Kill Preserve is located just off of Rosendale Road in Niskayuna, New York.  The sign on the road is a very inconspicuous, small, white sign which is easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled.

Map

A map of the trails at Lisha Kill Preserve can be found at the Nature Conservancy page.

For other great Nature Conservancy hikes, visit my pages on the Stewart Preserve and the Lewis A. Swyer Preserve.