How You Can Help Join the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and help us keep the Adirondack region protected for nature and for people. Clintonville Fast Facts Location: Clintonville, north of Ausable Forks, in the northeastern part of the Adirondack Park.  Find out how to visit! Size: 900 acres What We Do: Preserving biodiversity in the pine barrens requires the ecological process of fire. The Nature Conservancy manages this preserve utilizing small controlled burns that maintain the fire-adapted barrens community. Prescribed burns are performed by experienced "burn crews," and will actually help reduce the risk of wildfires. Spotted wintergreen is a perennial, evergreen herb native to North America.  The nearly pinkish, round flowers, which appear in late July to early August, are found on top of tall stalks. Take a Quiz! Test your knowledge of the Adirondack Park with our interactive quiz.  Find out if you're an intern, an apprentice, or a true Adirondack conservationist! Contact Us For more information, please contact: The Adirondack Chapter 8 Nature Way Keene Valley, NY 12943 (518) 576-2082 adirondacks@tnc.org

The Clintonville pitch pine-heath barrens sit on a sand delta deposited 12,000 years ago by glacial melt water. The sandy, well-drained soil gives life to the unique pine barrens natural community.

Why We Work Here

This is one of the best examples of a pitch pine-heath barrens community in New York.  It provides habitat to rare plants including the prairie redroot, and two rare moths - the pine pinion moth and the Acadian swordgrass moth. It is this combination that makes the site of particular interest to The Nature Conservancy.

What to See

Animals: Two species that are present that you probably won't see are the pine pinion moth and the Acadian swordgrass moth. These moths are active at night and are sensitive to light. This may be the only site in New York where the pine pinion moth is found.

Plants: Many of the plant species at Clintonville actually require fire in order to reproduce or survive competition from non-fire-adapted species. This is especially true of pitch pine trees. Fire burns the pines' fallen needles and debris, releasing nutrients that prepare a seedbed for the regeneration of the forest, and it provides the heat necessary to open the cones and release seeds. Pitch pine is also capable of sprouting needles from buds underneath the thick bark after exposure to fire.

Other trees on the preserve include maples and oaks. You will also find numerous plants and shrubs including blueberry, huckleberry, sheep laurel, sweet fern, bearberry, wintergreen, and pipsissewa.

What to Expect

The preserve is open to the public for hiking, cross-country skiing, and nature study. A preserve guide is available from the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Adirondack Land Trust office and at the trail register.

How to Visit

To prepare for your visit, please read our Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

Directions:  Click here for an interactive map and driving directions.

From the north:

• Take Northway (I-87) exit 34 toward Ausable Forks.
• At the blinking light in Ausable Forks, turn right onto North Main Street.
• At the four-way stop, go straight on Golf Course Road for approximately two miles to the intersection with Dry Bridge Road (formerly Palmer Hill Road).
• Turn right and go 1/4 mile to Buck Hill Road on the left.
• Proceed along Buck Hill Road ½ mile.
• Preserve trailhead is on the left.

From the south:

• Take Northway Exit 30 toward Keene Valley.
• Follow Route 9 through Upper Jay and Jay to Ausable Forks.
• At the blinking light, stay straight on North Main.
• At the four-way stop, go straight on Golf Course Road for approximately two miles to the intersection with Dry Bridge Road (formerly Palmer Hill Road).
• Turn right and go 1/4 mile to Buck Hill Road on the left.
• Proceed along Buck Hill Road ½ mile.
• Preserve trailhead is on the left.

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Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © The Nature Conservancy (Pine barrens); Photo © Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org (pipsissewa); Photo © James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org (wintergreen).