Winifred Matthews Holt Preserve

You Folks are going to LOVE this one! We will explore the miles of trails in the Mohawk Hudson’s Winifred Matthews Holt Preserve. From the top of Copeland Hill the view are spectacular! So let’s hope for a crisp high pressure day so we have a clear view of the Catskills in the south, Helderbergs to the west and on the approach road a splendid vista of our fair city of Albany and its surrounds. This is an easy walk in the woods on well-maintained loop trails. I’d say we’ll be out for a couple two/three hours, the trails are such that we can make it as long or as short as we want. A really nice walk through a mix of different environments.

A little about the preserve; Winifred Matthews Holt Preserve is a 148-acre property on the western face of Copeland Hill in the Town of New Scotland. The preserve is visible from Route 32 and from neighboring hills. The preserve rises at the edge of the flat area known as Indian Fields. Dr. William Holt and Winifred Matthews Holt donated this hillside to the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy in 1994. The Preserve contains remnants of dwellings and it is believed that the land was once used as sheep pasture. Dr. Holt reforested open areas with 23,000 pine (red, Austrian, scotch, white), white spruce, Douglas fir and larch and he managed these plantations for wildlife habitat. To increase the land's value for wildlife, the Holts built the pond, which is probably fed by a spring.

This hike starts at 10:00 AM and we will meet at the upper trail head on Appleby Rd.

Minimum age is 8 (8-15 yrs must have a participating adult with them, 16-17 yrs must have a parent/guardian sign participant agreement but do not need to attend)

•please be dressed for the weather, we will go rain or shine
•Dress in layers
•wear appropriate hiking footwear
•please bring water, snacks and any personal medicines you may need as well as sunscreen, rain gear, day pack.
•camera and/or binoculars if you have them

Directions: From Albany take Route 32 south to Meads Corners, (Tavern on right)

· Take a left onto Cedargrove Rd (County Route 301)

· After 2.3 miles take a right onto Upper Copeland Hill Rd (CR 108)

· After .9 miles take a right onto Appleby Rd, see sign for Holt Preserve on post (small)

· Follow stone road for .8 miles to trail head. Road bears left at pond; do not head straight to private residence.

There is cell service at this location and you can call either Betsy @ 203-249-2138 or Karen @ 518-773-3158 if you are having problems. I don’t have GPS coordinates as I don’t have a GPS and my smart phone only has an Associates Degree. I Hope to see you there.