JOHN BURROUGHS NATURE SANCTUARY AND SLABSIDES

The miles of marked hiking trails traversing the beautiful and varied terrain of this often overlooked 185-acre sanctuary are a well-kept secret. If the Burroughs Sanctuary is too confining for you, it does adjoin many hundreds of acres of New York State Forest Lands and
Scenic Hudson lands you can explore as well. Let’s keep the secret – don’t tell anyone about this hidden gem.

If you go, be sure not to miss Sanctuary Pond with its unique peninsula with rocky cliffs jutting out into its center. The Peninsula Trail will lead you out to perfect spots for a picnic. Of course, the name-sake feature of this place is “Slabsides” – the rustic cabin built by famed naturalist and author John Burroughs in 1895. The cabin is a time-capsule to the time of Burrough’s death in 1921 is open to the public a few times a year. In 1968 it was designated as a registered National Historic Landmark. Although the Nature Sanctuary is often overlooked, there are enough of us in on the secret to fill the two small parking areas. If it’s a nice day, go early.

WHERE: Trailhead parking areas are located at 500 Burroughs Drive and around the corner at 261 Floyd Ackert Road, both in West Park in the southern end of the Town of Esopus.

For more information: http://www.johnburroughsassociation.org/

Sights you’ll see

Directions