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Hiking and Fishing in Wilton
Ten miles of trails are open to the public for a variety of non-motorized uses. Each location offers it's own environmental benefits for public enjoyment. Residents should feel free to explore and enjoy the many benefits of these locations.
Camp Saratoga—310 acres owned by the Town of Wilton which includes 5 miles of Trails for your Hiking Pleasure, Beautiful Delegan Pond for Fishing, Cabins and a Pavillion for Community and Group Activities.
If you would like use of Camp Saratoga for your Community Organization, please contact Paul or Linda Woschanko for reservations and detailed use information at (518) 584-4854.
From I-87 Exit 16, head east on Ballard Road. Turn right onto Edie Road. At the first intersection, turn left onto Scout Road. Continue until you see the main grounds at 90 Scout Road just before the underpass. Parking is on the left-hand side of the road.
Neilmann Parcel—140 acres also owned by the Town of Wilton and includes approximately 1.9 miles of trails for your hiking pleasure. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park will often use this parcel for educational opportunities.
Take Route 50 north from I-87 Exit 15. At approximately 3.5 miles, turn right onto King Road. At the first intersection, turn right on Ruggles Road. There is a parking area approximately 100 yards down the road on the right hand side.
Delegan Pond
Photo by Carrie Fisher |
The remaining two trailheads are not owned by the Town of Wilton, however, they are available for public use. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park offers some educational opportunities at these sites during the year.Old Gick Farm—135 acres, 1.75 miles of trail owned by NYS DEC. This trailhead is on Route 50, approximately 3.8 miles north of I-87 Exit 15. There is a sign and parking
area on your left as you head north.
Opdahl Farm—35 acres, 1 mile of
trail owned by The Nature Conservancy. This trail begins on Ballard Road, approximately 1 mile east of I-87 Exit 16. There is an access drive before the old barn on the right hand side. Parking is in a
cleared field.
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The Town of Wilton and
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park
In 1996, The Nature Conservancy and its partners established the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park as a special community based conservation program — a balance between people, community and habitat. The program's mission is to preserve the land, ensure the survival of native wildlife and natural communities, protect and provide habitat for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, create a natural area for education and recreation, and maintain the rural character of the local community.
Partners: The program represents a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Inc., the Town of Wilton, and the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. Additional partners include the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation; NY State Department of Transportation; NY State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Saratoga County; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; and private landowners and citizens.
Karner blue butterfly
© Doug Morse |
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Facts
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Location: 80 Scout Road, Town of Wilton, Saratoga County, New York; 518-450-0321
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Size: Approximately 1,600 acres; the goal is to protect 3,000 total acres.
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Plant Species: Pitch pine, little bluestem grass, wild blue lupine
- Animal Species: Eastern hognose snakes, eastern spadefoot toads, Blanding's turtles, Karner blue butterfly, and frosted elfin.
- Ecological Importance: The preserve and park support more than 120 species of birds and more than 70 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
Threats: Development and land conversion are causing habitat fragmentation and loss. Open areas are becoming reforested due to fire suppression and the decline of agriculture, which reduces available habitat for blue lupine and other plant species that provide nectar to butterflies and food for their larvae.
Conservation Targets:
- Recovery of the Karner blue butterfly is the principal focus of the project.
- The state-threatened frosted elfin is also a focus of recovery efforts.
- The project seeks to protect wetlands and vernal pools, which provide important breeding grounds and habitat for a diversity of reptiles and amphibians.
Lupine
© The Nature Conservancy |
Conservation Strategy:
The Nature Conservancy, together with local, state and federal agencies, is applying the best conservation science toward restoring and managing the Karner blue butterfly's habitat, using the following strategies.
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Clearing vegetation and natural and man-made barriers to butterfly distribution.
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Planting native flora to provide butterflies with sufficient nectar and their larvae with sufficient food.
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Identifying critical butterfly habitat using innovative science, and protecting that habitat through fee acquisition and conservation easements.
To find out more, visit the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park's website http://www.wiltonpreserve.org/
Learn more about the recent acquisition of 89 acres of prime Karner blue butterfly habitat by clicking here.
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