We’ve been having some really beautiful and warm fall days this year here in Upstate New York. As a person who tends to hibernate all winter, this extension of summer, as my husband calls it, is allowing us a bit more time to wear shorts and tromp through the woods. We spent a beautiful morning hiking along the Vlomankill Trail at Five Rivers and have some pictures to prove it!
Five Rivers
Located in Delmar in upstate New York is the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. This park encompasses over 450 acres giving those who live in the Capital Region a nice playground in which to breath. There are about 10 miles of trails that go through a variety of habitats (ponds, creeks, woodland, fields) and a visitors center that provides hands on information about the park and the fauna and flora within it. This really is a great place for any age group no matter how young (or old!).
Hiking
We love to return here as there is so much to see and do and there is no way to take it all in just one visit. There are a myriad of nature trails, from ¼ mile to a 2 mile loop, and all which are relatively easy with little incline. You just choose the length of walk you want and go from there. A great description of all the trails can be found here.
Vlomankill Trail
The Vlomankill Trail is a 1.2 mile loop that goes up then down the ravine of the Vlomankill creek. This is a less traveled part of the the Five Rivers Center and is our favorite hiking trail here (which is saying a lot!). It makes for a nice private walk and our son loves the easy access to the creek. The trail crosses several wooden bridges as it crosses the Vlomankill. One of them asks visitors to text in what the water level is that day allowing visitors to participate in the continuing research done at this education center.
Wooden benches dot the trail allowing visitors a nice place for a respite. We stopped for a few moments to enjoy some light snacks with our 2 year old son. The soundtrack of the babbling creek made it idyllic.
The Vlomankill Trail has a lot of exposed rock along the creek edge giving visitors a glimpse of how volatile our geological history really is. Here, the sedimentary rock is folded up, revealing the angular unconformity between rocks of different time periods.
Where is it Located?
Five Rivers is located at 56 Game Farm Road just a few turns off of NY Route 443/Delaware Avenue in the town of Delmar, NY. The Vlomankill Trail can be accessed from the administrative road just northwest of the Five Rivers Visitor Center.
Maps
There is a great trail map found at the DEC’s Five Rivers website right here.
