Go here to purchase tickets for our August fundraiser.
We hope to see you at our August fundraiser!
Thanks for supporting the Catskill Water Discovery Center.
As if summer could get any more exquisitely beautiful here at the East Branch Nature Preserve, but now the historic train runs alongside the trail.
On Saturdays throughout July and August, The Delaware & Ulster Railroad operates scenic train rides out of the Arkville Depot, making for a picturesque sight at the trailhead four times a day.
So now we have two spectacular vistas to enjoy: one on land, and one on water to accompany the hiker on this gentle trail.
On Saturday July 4th, as the vivid green leaves wavedly lazilly overhead, protecting the trail from the heat of the scorching summer sun, the large engine Delaware & Ulster train trundled past the trail at the trailhead. First you hear a gentle whistle in the distance, then comes a series of frequent dings, and chugging of the engine as the train approaches the entrance to the preserve. The train runs backwards on the return journey and when it does this, you will hear two long whistles and a series of shorter whistles until the train passes.
It’s a little magical, slice of charming heaven, especially when a sea of shining faces are all smiling at you as they glide by, waving.
Go to their website to book tickets. The train runs north-south from Arkville to Route 30 and then returns to Arkville and goes on for two miles towards Fleischmanns and back.
The cost of tickets goes towards necessary repairs to the track. Once these repairs are made, the DURR can conduct longer tours that go to the historic depot in Roxbury. Please support our local scenic treasures. Go here to book tickets.
Find more images and video on our Instagram page.
We are roughly one month into spring, with the spring ephemerals surviving despite the snow flurries and low temperatures yesterday. We have a patch of trout lilies, a little wilted but hanging in there:
This week board members walked the trail with a representative from the Catskills Forest Association and found out that we have several serviceberry trees on the trail, including one in bloom.
We found one ironwood with hanging catkins:
(more…)
The East Branch Nature Preserve is special for many reasons, but one of them is that the western part of the trail is adjacent to the East Branch of the Delaware River. There’s nothing more calming for the spirit than walking past the river to the sound of rushing water and spring birdsong. The second reason is that fly fishing is permitted in the river from April 1st to October 15th. All visitors to the Preserve have permission to fly fish here. Go here to find out how to get your NYC fishing permit, which is very easy. Anglers are permitted up to five trout to take home and enjoy.
Today, the river was high due to last night’s epic storm that saw tornado warnings and a solid half hour of extraordinarily lively lightning that ushered in torrential rain. This morning it was humid and still, with a high temperature of 59F. At least one trout was spotted by the banks of the river.
See you on the trail!
Friday March 20th was the first day of spring and a collective sigh of relief was heard across the Catskills after this long, particularly arduous winter. Too many to count was the number of days that it was so dangerously cold that a hike was inadvisable even at low elevations.
At the East Branch Nature Preserve, wrinkled crab apples hang in the trees like forgotten Christmas ornaments and brilliant red leaves flicker in the wind beneath misty, rainy skies and a flock of geese were observed flying overhead.
Stay tuned this week to hear about what you can expect to forage on the trail this spring. Board member Jenny is excited to report back from the trial this coming week.
See you on the trails!
Recent Comments