The Huyck Preserve has 12 miles of trails open to the public daily dawn to dusk. Trails snake along the Rensselaerville falls, meander through peaceful old-growth forests, circumvent both Lake Myosotis and Lincoln Pond, and wind through several 80+ year old pine and spruce plantations. From the trails you can explore and experience the forests, lakes, and streams of the Huyck Preserve and view a variety of wildlife. The main trailhead begins at the Visitors' Center located on Main Street in the town of Rensselaerville but there is access to trails from the Eldridge Research Center and Lake Myosotis beach area, both off Pond Hill Road. Trails are marked with red and yellow Huyck Preserve Trail Markers and colored paint blazes.
Limited parking is available at the Huyck Preserve for visitors wishing to enjoy our lake program or hiking trails. Visitor parking is available at the Visitors' Center, Eldridge Research Center, and Lake Myosotis Beach and Kayak area. Please contact the Visitors Center (518-797-3440) with any questions about parking, the lake program, or our trail system.
Admission is free to hike the trails, picnic, fish and boat (non-motorized) on Lake Myosotis. This special place is available because of the tremendous generosity of the members who support the Preserve. Please consider becoming a member and supporting our mission of connecting people to nature through conservation, education, research, and recreation.
Organized groups are welcome at public events, but please call us at 518-797-3440 to let us know you're coming. We have limited parking and space and appreciate knowing when large organized groups will be attending.
Limited parking is available at the Huyck Preserve for visitors wishing to enjoy our lake program or hiking trails. Visitor parking is available at the Visitors' Center, Eldridge Research Center, and Lake Myosotis Beach and Kayak area. Please contact the Visitors Center (518-797-3440) with any questions about parking, the lake program, or our trail system.
Admission is free to hike the trails, picnic, fish and boat (non-motorized) on Lake Myosotis. This special place is available because of the tremendous generosity of the members who support the Preserve. Please consider becoming a member and supporting our mission of connecting people to nature through conservation, education, research, and recreation.
Organized groups are welcome at public events, but please call us at 518-797-3440 to let us know you're coming. We have limited parking and space and appreciate knowing when large organized groups will be attending.
Preserve Rules
- Trails are open dawn-to-dusk, year round.
- Please stay on trails at all times! As a field station, there is on-going research near trails, which you may ruin if you leave the trail, along with damaging the habitat and ecosystem which you are visiting.
- Huyck Preserve is a carry-in carry-out nature preserve, please take all your trash with you and do not litter!
- Public picnic benches are available near the beach and kayak areas on Lake Myosotis's shore.
- No fires are allowed except in Huyck Preserve grills when they are available at the Lake Myosotis beach and boat launch.
- No recreational drones are permitted on Preserve property.
- No geocaching is permitted on Preserve property.
- Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing are allowed on trails.
- Collection of specimens is prohibited - this includes plants, animals (except fish by NYS license holders in Lake Myosotis), and non-living materials (e.g. rocks, soil).
- No hunting or trapping is permitted on Preserve property.
- Dogs are allowed on Preserve trails, but not at the beach (due to public swimming site rules). Dogs must be leashed at all times and picked up after!
- Fishing and ice fishing allowed at Lake Myosotis only, with valid NYS permits. Ice fishing holes can be dug with hand-powered augurs only, gas augurs NOT permitted. For current ice conditions, please check our social media pages. Fishing is prohibited at all other Huyck Preserve locations.
- Kayaking and canoeing are allowed on Lake Myosotis only. Canoe/Kayak racks available to rent at the launch site for members only.
- Swimming is allowed in the lake ONLY at the beach, when a lifeguard is on duty, and only to those who have purchased beach passes.
- Motorized vehicles are NOT permitted on trails.
- Mountains bikes or other bikes NOT permitted on trails.
- Horses are NOT permitted on trails.
- Swimming and climbing at the Rensselaerville Falls is prohibited. Rocks are slippery and dangerous, and walking in the falls can damage this sensitive ecological community.
