Hart’s Brook Park & Preserve
Welcome to the Hart’s Brook Nature Preserve! The preserve features woodlands and wetlands, a master garden and hiking trails. Prior to becoming a preserve the property was known as the Gaisman Estate and was owned by the inventor of the famous Gillette safety razor blade Henry Gaisman. In 1957, Gaisman passed the title of the estate to the New York Archdiocese. In later years, Marion Woods Convent took ownership of 11.5 acres of the estate. The remaining acreage was purchased by the State of New York (who retains 50% ownership of the property) Westchester County and the Town of Greenburgh in 1999.
Hart’s Brook Nature Preserve
Virtual Hike
Harts Brook Nature Preserve Trail Map
Welcome to our virtual hike! Today we are going to cross brooks, pass interesting rock outcroppings and walk around 2 miles on 5 different trails! Our guide will be the trail map shown above.
Red Trail Meadow
Ready to start? From the parking area, let’s head west briefly entering the forest on the red trail. Paralleling Ridge Road, the Red Trail leaves the forest and walks through an open meadow flanked by enormous Norway Spruce trees.
Norway Spruce Red Trail
As we walk past the Norway Spruce trees we pass a spur of the red trail to our left which leads back to the parking lot. Deciduous wooded wetlands are appearing to our right as we leave the meadow and re-enter the woods. Wait! What’s that sound? Spring Peepers! Spring Peepers are a small frog common in wetlands and are among the first frogs to call out in early spring. Thus, Spring Peepers are a true harbinger of spring! Their Latin name (Pseudacris Crucifer) is named because of a dark cross which forms an “x” on the frog’s dorsa. Because of their size, Spring Peepers are difficult to locate and we do not see any today.
Green Trail Blaze
Continuing south we have come to the end of the red trail and are at an intersection with the green trail. According to our trail map we will come to a pond if we head east on the Green Trail.
Going to the Pond
Let’s go east on the green trail and check it out. After only a few minutes of walking we’ve found that we have left the green trail and are now on the yellow trail. The flora is quickly changing from deciduous forest to evergreens consisting of stately Eastern Hemlocks and Rosebay Rhododendron the closer we get to the pond.
Eastern Hemlock
The Hemlocks have an overall healthy appearance with very little die-back from the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is an exotic pest from Asia accidently introduced to North America circa 1924 and is currently established in eleven states ranging from Georgia to Massachusetts. It is estimated that 50% of the geographical range of the Eastern Hemlock has been affected by the adelgid. Biological control (i.e. using adelgid predators to control infestations) has been the major emphasis of control since 1997.
Yellow Trail Bridge
Crossing a wooden bridge over Harts Brook we come to a bench overlooking the pond and its outflow dam.
Yellow Trail Bench with view of Pond
Let’s pause for a few moments and take in the beauty of our surroundings.
Hart’s Brook Park Pond
After taking in the view of the pond we’re going to continue northeast on the yellow trail following the shore of the pond. As we walk we pass several Wood Duck nesting boxes.
Wood Duck Box GNC
The nesting boxes were placed here by the nearby Greenburgh Nature Center to provide nesting habitat for Wood Ducks.
Stone Warming House
As we continue walking on the yellow trial we pass an old stone warming house which was part of the original Gaisman Estate. Leaving the stone warming house, the yellow trail is taking us east back to a branch of the green trail.
Orange Trail
Heading south on the green trail we find ourselves on an orange blaze trail heading east.
Rock Outcrop Orange Trail
An interesting large rock outcrop appears to our left as we slightly climb on the orange trail.
Blue Trail
We are now at an intersection with the blue blazed trail and it sounds like we are hearing more music of spring!
American Robins
American Robins are searching for lunch and making sure we know they are present.
Blue Trail Stream Crossing
Heading east on the blue trail we find ourselves crossing a brook.
Pine Grove Blue Trail
Passing close to private residences the blue trail turns northeast and slightly climbs through a grove of White Pine trees.
Blue Trail Seasonal View of Hartsdale Lake
Looking east we can see views of Hartsdale Lake (part of Scarsdale Country Golf Club).
Blue Trail Asphalt Path
As we pass a spur of the blue trail on the left the trail now becomes an asphalt path as we come close to the Maple Avenue entrance to the preserve. From here we follow the blue trail west back to the orange trail.
Blue Trail Stream Crossing as seen from Orange Trail
The stream crossing we did earlier on the blue trail is visible to our left.
Green Trail
We are now back at the Green Trail we left a while back. Let’s head north which will take us back to the yellow trail.
Master Gardening
After only a short distance on the yellow trail we have just stepped out of the woods and are by the master garden area of the preserve. We are now back at the parking lot where we began. Thank you for joining me today on this virtual hike! I hope it has inspired you to check out Hartsbrook Nature Preserve for yourself!
The preserve is located at 156 Ridge Road, Hartsdale, NY. Click here for directions!
Check below for additional information!
1. The Nature of New York – An Environmental History of the Empire State – This work offers a sweeping environmental history of New York State
Click here for more information!
2. Eastern Deciduous Forest Ecology and Wildlife Conservation – This book is a useful tool for anyone who wants know or hopes to help one of North America’s great natural resources!
Click here for more information!
Feel free to e-mail NJUrbanForest at NJUrbanForest@gmail.com with any comments, memories or suggestion! Thank you and have fun exploring!
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