Preserves, Parks, Wildlife Areas, Natural Spaces

Reserves and outdoor recreation

The town of Rensselaerville is fortunate to have a number of natural areas and outdoor recreation opportunities to give reasons for folks to come visit and enjoy.

Reserves

• Rensselaerville State Forest - Also known as the Cheese Hill area, this location near the hamlet of Rensselaerville is outstanding for its extensive pine forest glades that are sufficiently open so that one can ski through them with no need for a trail. These glades generally parallel the Department truck trail that traverses the area. There are about 4 miles of Nordic skiing opportunities in this area.
• Catskill Creek is a waterway with tributaries; Scrub Creek, Ten Mile Creek, Eight Mile Creek and Willow Brook in Rensselaerville.
• The Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station's mission is to protect the natural beauty of the Rensselaerville Falls, the watershed of Lake Myosotis and surrounding lands, to conduct long-term research on natural systems as part of a global effort to understand and preserve the Earth's biodiversity, and to increase appreciation of this effort through innovative, field-based educational programs for students, teachers and the community.
• Other Hilltown Trails.

Water recreation

• Ten Mile Creek in Rensselaerville has Brown Trout and some Rainbow Trout; it is not stocked - the trout population is naturally maintained.

DEC access:

- In back of Jenkins Homestead in the Rensselaerville hamlet.

- Near the Town barn at the junction of CR 357 and North Rd., Medusa.

- There may be another one on Willsey Rd. near McCullough Cross?

• Non-motorized water craft may be launched on Lake Myosotis in the Huyck Preserve outside the swimming area, regardless of Huyck Preserve membership status. (Although membership is certainly appreciated for this worthy organization!!!)