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Places We Protect

Moss Lake Preserve

New York

Moss Lake geese on a calm day at Moss Lake © Charles Gleberman Photography

Discover the world of bog plants along this 1-mile loop trail.

Viewing

Overview

Description

Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973 by the Department of the Interior, the most outstanding feature of Moss Lake Preserve is its 15-acre bog lake. As the last continental glacier retreated some 15,000 years ago, a large block of ice was surrounded or buried by gravel carried by the glacier. The ice melted, leaving behind a water-filled depression. Eventually, sphagnum moss mat grew over much of the open water, thus giving it the name Moss Lake.  

Before you visit, download the new map. 

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Hours

Open year-round from dawn until dusk

Highlights

Parking Spaces: 10 parking spaces, 1 van accessible parking space; Facilities: None

Size

75 acres

Resources

Explore our work in this region

PLEASE NOTE: Moss Lake is open during hunting season. Hunting is not allowed at Moss Lake.

Tread lightly on this fragile ecosystem while you enjoy the boardwalk and woodland trails. Please do not walk on the sphagnum moss or feed the bullhead fish.

Hours of visitation

Moss Lake Preserve is open to the public from dawn to dusk.

What to See

At least 75 species of birds have been seen at the preserve, including waterfowl such as wood duck, canvasback, redhead, and horned- and pied-billed grebe. Waders include great blue and green herons and raptors include red-tailed hawk, northern harrier and osprey. In spring, up to 17 species of warblers can be seen foraging for insects. Upland wildlife includes deer, chipmunks, gray squirrels and woodchucks.

A boardwalk over the mat enables visitors to enjoy the bog's unusual flora: bog laurel, carnivorous round-leaved and spatulate-leaved sundew and pitcher plants, leatherleaf, cranberries and bog club moss. Insectivorous bladderwort can be seen in full yellow bloom in July.

Guidelines

To help ensure that this special place can be enjoyed for future generations, please leave no trace and carry out what you carry in. Camping, littering, hunting, fires, or removal or destruction of plants or animals are prohibited. See our full preserve visitation guidelines for more information.

Trail Map
Trail Map

DOWNLOAD

Moss Lake Loop Trail

This 1.1 mile trail starts from the Moss Lake parking lot and loops back around to the lot at the end of your hike. From the parking lot, wheelchair accessible trail (approximately 0.3 miles long) made up of crushed stone can take visitors down to the picnic area (featuring a wheelchair accessible picnic bench) or through a hemlock forest over to the boardwalk, a 150-foot accessible walkway featuring a beautiful viewing spot of the lake, perfect for birdwatchers or bog plant enthusiasts. The trail width for the accessible portion of the trail is 36”, while the remainder of the soil trail averages approximately 24” to 32” wide. The accessible portion of the trail has an average slope and cross-slope of less than 5%. The remaining soil trail features gradients steeper than 5%, but is generally less than 10%.