The Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve

Trails

East Parcel

• Blue Trail

  The Blue Trail is a moderate hike and is marked with blue paint blazes. The trail is 1.3 miles long and begins at the East Parcel trailhead on Oregon Rd. It is a natural soil surface trail that passes over a flowing stream, through a swamp teeming with native flora and fauna, and continues on through a deciduous forest with rugged boulder fields. The trail includes views of Byram Lake Reservoir to the east. Expect 330 feet of elevation gain and a typical trail width of 37 inches; at its narrowest, the trail is 16 inches wide. The typical grade (incline) is 6.9%, with a maximum grade of 28.3% and a typical cross slope (the incline across the trail) of 4.4%. (By comparison, an easy trail usually has less than a 5% incline, a maximum grade of 15% and a cross slope of 0). Expect small natural stream crossings, some areas of more dense plant growth, and some obstructions, such as rocks, roots and fallen trees.

• Red Trail

  The Red Trail is a moderate hike and is marked with red paint blazes. The trail is 0.9 miles long and can be accessed via the Blue Trail in a few locations. It is a natural soil surface trail that passes through rugged outcrops and boulder-strewn hills, deciduous forests, and flowing streams. Expect 378 feet of elevation gain and a typical trail width of 33 inches; at its narrowest, the trail is 17 inches wide. The typical grade (incline) is 9.5%, with a maximum grade of 40.5% and a typical cross slope (the incline across the trail) of 5.1%. Expect small natural stream crossings and some obstructions, such as rocks, roots and fallen trees.

• Orange Trail

  The Orange Trail is an easy-to-moderate hike and is marked with orange blazes. The trail is 0.5 miles long and can be accessed via the Blue Trail. It also connects with the Yellow Trail if you are walking from the West Parcel. It is a natural soil surface trail that parallels a flowing stream with some small cascades and goes on to meander through boulder-strewn hills in a deciduous forest. Expect 135 feet of elevation gain and a typical trail width of 24 inches; at its narrowest, the trail is 10 inches wide. The typical grade (incline) is 7.5%, with a maximum grade of 31% and a typical cross slope (the incline across the trail) of 13.5%, which is higher than other preserve trails due to stream bank erosion. Expect small natural stream crossings, some areas of more dense plant growth, and natural obstructions such as rocks, roots and fallen trees.

• Yellow Loop

  The Yellow Loop is a moderate hike and is marked with yellow blazes. The loop is 1.0 mile long and can be accessed via the Orange Trail. It can also be accessed from the Walking Trail if you are hiking in from the West Parcel or from Oregon Rd. It is a natural soil surface trail that passes through rugged rocky outcrops, deciduous forest, and a few small creeks. Expect 300 feet of elevation gain and a typical trail width of 27 inches; at its narrowest, the trail is 15 inches wide. The typical grade (incline) is 12.5%, with a maximum grade of 44% and a typical cross slope (the incline across the trail) of 6.5%. Expect some areas of more dense plant growth and some natural obstructions, such as rocks, roots and fallen trees.

• White Trail

  The White Trail is a 0.1-mile connector trail. This short trail connects the Orange Trail to the Red and/or Blue Trails. It can also be used to make the Blue-Red loop slightly shorter in total distance.

• Other Suggested Trails

  Blue-Red Figure 8 Loop: Start on the Blue Trail and follow it until you reach the end of the trail, where it links up with the Red Trail. Take the Red Trail back towards the trailhead, finishing out the hike on the Blue Trail. Approximately 2.5 miles. Make it slightly shorter by using the White connector trail.

  Blue-Orange-Yellow Lollipop Loop: Start on the Blue Trail, then veer left onto the Orange Trail. Cross the stream onto the Yellow Loop trail. Once the loop is complete, retrace your steps back to Orange, then Blue back to the trailhead. Approximately 2.5 miles.

West Parcel

• Red Trail

  The Red Trail is an easy hike. The trail is 1.7 miles long and begins at the West Parcel trailhead on Sarles St. The trail begins parallel to a flowing stream and continues on through a series of fields, meandering occasionally into the edge of the forest. The trail’s surface is mowed grass. Since there are not many trees, you won’t see as many painted blazes on this trail. Instead, there are directional signs installed on posts to help with navigation. Expect 250 feet of elevation gain and a typical trail width of 60 inches; at its narrowest, the trail is 30 inches wide. The typical grade (incline) is 6%, with a maximum grade of 15% and a typical cross slope (the incline across the trail) of 4%. Expect minimal obstructions, such as rocks, roots and fallen trees.

• Walking Trail

  The Walking Trail is an easy-to-moderate hike. The trail is 0.9 miles long and begins at the West Parcel trailhead on Sarles St. The Walking Trail can also be accessed at the end of Oregon Rd. It serves as a connecting trail between the East and West Parcels of Meyer Preserve. Expect 180 feet of elevation gain and a typical trail width of 60 inches; at its narrowest, the trail is 20 inches wide. The typical grade (incline) is 5%, with a maximum grade of 20% and a typical cross slope (the incline across the trail) of 3%. The trail is an old road, so it is composed of gravel mixed with firm soil. Expect minimal obstructions, such as rocks, roots and fallen trees. Please note that the Walking Trail borders private property, so be sure to stay on the trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Hours of Visitation

  Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve is open year-round from dawn until dusk.

• Parking

  Free parking is available at both entrances to the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve. The East Parcel has a parking area for 3 cars on Oregon Rd. The West Parcel has a parking area for 4 cars on Sarles St. directly across from Bretton Ridge Road.

• What To See

  In the East Parcel, discover pockets of very old and large beech trees and hemlocks, a red maple swamp, and oak-hickory forests. Hike alongside a rushing stream and through boulder fields left behind by the glaciers of the past. You may see wildflowers such as Dutchman's breeches, purple trillium, toothwort, false Solomon's seal, bloodroot, and cardinal flower.

  In the West Parcel, enjoy flatter trails through open fields that meander along the forest's edge. You may see wildflowers such as butterfly milkweed, goldenrod species, and black-eyed Susan in bloom during the summer months.

  Throughout the preserve, look and listen for birds such as wood thrushes, red-bellied woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds, veeries, worm-eating warblers, magnolia warblers, yellow-throated vireos, Baltimore orioles, blue-winged warblers, black-and-white warblers, Louisiana waterthrushes and bay-breasted warblers.

• Hunting Information

  The Eugene and Agnes Meyer Preserve is open during hunting season (Oct 1 - Dec 21, Dec 26 - Jan 1) to bow hunting only. Written permission is required to hunt on TNC lands. To learn about our hunting program or to obtain permission to hunt, please visit our New York hunting information page

• 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, unauthorized hunting, fires or removal or destruction of plants or animals are prohibited. See our full preserve visitation guidelines for more information.