PLACES TO EXPLORE
Joseph A. Blake Wildlife Sanctuary
Town of Rutland, Jefferson County, New York
Acreage: 142
# of Trails: 6
Miles of Trails: ~ 2.5
Address: 31241 Middle Road, Rutland, NY
Trail Loop/ Stretch surface and slope info:Trail loop slopes up and down throughout, rugged at certain points but not steep
What you can do there:Hiking, bird watching/wildlife viewing, environmental education programs, mountain biking, dog walking (on leash), and snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
Amenities:This site has a Porta-John
Site use guidelines:
- Stay on Marked Trails
- Trails are for non-motorized day use only.
- If you carry it in, carry it out.
- Take only pictures. Leave what you find.
- Respect wildlife. Keep your distance. Never feed wild animals.
- Leashed dogs are welcome. Please bag waste and take home for disposal.
- No horses, pack animals, camping, fireworks, alcohol, or drugs are allowed.
Habitat:There is hardwood swamp, mature northern hardwood forest, and open wetland on the property. The site provides important habitat to white-tailed deer, snakes, resident and migratory birds, and more.
History:In 1874, the land was cleared for agricultural use, but the farm was abandoned after 1961, allowing the natural forest to recover on the site. The property passed through several hands before being acquired by the North Country Bird Club, which had the most previous ownership of the land. The club maintained the site for birding while not heavily manipulating the land.
In 2012, ownership was transferred to Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust in an effort to ensure the property would be maintained and utilized as both an educational and recreational tool.
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