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    Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary

    4.4 (9 reviews)

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    Giselle N.

    I really enjoyed this hidden treasure hard to believe this beauty is tucked away behind playland. Make sure to wear bug spray. I would definitely recommend and go back soon. The trails are smooth. I must say I was worried since coyotes have been seen here. But we didn't see any. We did see a bunny some birds, butterflies, and deers that ran away when they heard us. Such a peaceful and graceful place. A true nature lover will love it. Also visit the nature center!

    Bamboo grove
    Helen Y.

    If the chorus of hundreds of screaming kids sounds more like cacophony than symphony, never be an elementary school teacher and skip Playland Amusement Park the next time you are in Rye. Rather, come to the Edith G. Read Sanctuary, an unspoiled 179 acre preserve located along Long Island Sound. Along a migratory flyway, this is indeed sanctuary for your ears and soul. Hike one of the trails by the magnificent 85 acre lake, host to many types of waterfowl, or choose one of the paths that lead you to the ballpark, the bamboo grove or the chimney, a real stone chimney peering out from tall grasses. The trails, while not well marked, are not particularly difficult to figure out at all. The trek isn't over hilly terrain either but roots and tree stumps necessitate some caution. I felt quite privileged when I spotted a group of wild turkey or pheasant, then became quite humbled when I stumbled over a tree stump. By the entrance there's a nature center that has bathrooms, a water cooler, a nifty bee exhibit where you can use the supplied magnifying glass to watch live bees behind glass busily building honeycombs. The humming they make is nature's music. The center has a bird observation window with binoculars you can borrow. They rely on the honor system here, so please do just borrow. Shelves with books you can also peruse to identify birds and marshlife are also available. I heard a staffer but never saw anyone in the center. There are some tables by the center with chairs for you to sit and eat? or chill. Tips: The trails by the lake are much prettier, though longer. The beach one brings you to a narrow rocky strip that isn't too long because you won't have access to protected areas in the marsh. On the day I went, I spotted some people fishing illegally so promptly reported them to a ranger who passed me on a small motorized car. The view of the water is pretty but the beach isn't that interesting. If you go and have a plastic bag with you, do pick up some of the garbage on the beach. You'd be amazed at how quickly your bag fills up. The trails by the lake bring you to gorgeous views though at some points, you can not only see Playland Park but hear the happy shrieking of children on rides during the times the park is open. If you run out of water, don't get it at the Playland vending machines where a bottle of water costs $3. Get it at the nature center if open where you can refill your water bottle, donate the suggested $2 to visit the place(it's free!) and still come out ahead. Or donate more and you get some karma points, along with the satisfaction of not being ripped off for water. NY'ers who don't drive can get here via MetroNorth and take the buses at the Rye Station when Playland is open. 13 and 75 get you here and Beeline buses take Metrocard. This is Westchester and occasionally a bus won't come. Which sucks since the scheduled bus service here is like half an hour between buses or longer. If your wait is long, walk past the car dealer and visit the town of Rye, which has many charming boutiques and eateries. Do not miss a visit to Cafe Salzburg. If you come by train, take the train one stop heading toward New Haven to Port Chester after your visit for some of the best Mexican food in New York.

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    5 months ago

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    6 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    6 years ago

    I love this peaceful and harmonious scenery. Each time I feel a deep sense of soul cleansing. This is my precious sanctuary.

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    This is a great place to walk with really grand vistas. My wife and I walk the trails every weekend.

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    Kensico Dam - Aerik Von

    Kensico Dam

    4.7(93 reviews)
    9.0 mi

    I visited the Kenisco Dam for the first time today and had such a nice time! The dam itself is very…read morebeautiful. I love that there's lots of green space to sit and relax and also a small playground for children. Taking the stairs up was more intense than I expected, but it's definitely worth the hike! The views from the top are beautiful! They also had a few pop up vendors which was nice too. Parking was easy and free, so you can't beat that.

    This is just a beautiful spot to spend a couple of hours on a mild summer day. Our grandson had…read moreheard about it last year and wanted to check it out, so we got a Zipcar and drove up. Hiked up and across, ate the lunch we'd brought at one of the umbrella'ed tables near the playground, and then the skies opened up; drove back to Manhattan on an almost flooded Bronx River Parkway. Grandson back for a visit this year, wanted to go back! Zipcar got more expensive, so I followed the directions on their website using public transportation. DON'T! The website says take Metronorth to White Plains and then a Bee-line bus, #6, to the Dam Plaza. We found the bus stop, and the schedule said 11:43. Perfect, right? Not. 12:43 came and went. Other buses came and went. The #6 never showed up, so finally we took a taxi for $20.00. Took 10 minutes to get there. Better to take a train to Valhalla and walk the less than a mile or Uber for 8.95 or something like that. Watch the schedule for going back to Grand Central, because in the afternoon it seems to run just once an hour. Plan accordingly. Otherwise we had a good time.

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    Kensico Dam - Valhalla, New York // Aerik Von

    Valhalla, New York // Aerik Von

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    Pepsi Gardens - Visitors Parking Lot

    Pepsi Gardens

    4.7(41 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $

    This is a hidden gem. PepsiCo headquarters are surrounded by a beautiful sculpture garden that is…read moreopen to public on weekends and is free. This is a great way to spend 1-1.5 hrs walking around meticulously landscaped garden with some nice sculptures. About half the sculptures are modern art which i don't care about. But plenty are actually pleasant to look at. Totems were great looking. Some sculptures are funny like Personage ( aka ET with erection) Overall very enjoyable afternoon here

    The sculpture gardens are free and open to the public. When you arrive at the PepsiCo campus, you…read morehave to give your name and phone number to security and then they direct you to the parking area, which is also free. There was a food truck in the parking lot with Pepsi themed dishes. They closed at 2pm on a Saturday, so we didn't try anything. The grounds are well maintained and easy to walk. The main path through the sculpture gardens has gravel. We had no issues pushing a stroller. The grass is lush and immaculately mowed. It's perfect for laying out a blanket. The sculptures are unique and eye catching. The printed map doesn't have much detail about the art beyond the name of each piece and the sculptor. There are no placards with information either, so it's not very educational. Some of the trees and plants are labeled, so you get a bit of a botanical gardens experience as well. There were a few benches along the path, but most were not shaded. Great place for a stroll. You can easily get through it in an hour.

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    Bruce Park - Daffodils in bloom

    Bruce Park

    4.8(20 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    My wife and I start our day by visiting Bruce Park every single morning with our fur babies, and…read morehonestly, it's become an essential ritual for us. There is something incredibly grounding about catching the park early in the morning, especially when there's a blanket of fog hovering right over the Duck Pond. We use this time to soak in the serenity and wonder of nature, establishing peace with ourselves before we have to give the rest of our day to others. As the oldest coastal public park in Greenwich (Robert Moffat Bruce donated the 100-acre estate back in 1908), it's just a beautiful, historic piece of land. It is always incredibly clean and impeccably well-maintained. The landscape transitions seamlessly from open wooded areas to tranquil ponds with benches and scenic salt marshes. If you are into photography, this place is an absolute goldmine for flowers and wildlife. It's a diverse sanctuary for both resident and migratory birds. Depending on the season, I've been able to photograph everything from Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Mute Swans, and Double-crested Cormorants to Raptors like Red-tailed Hawks, Ospreys, and even wintering Bald Eagles. The songbirds (like Carolina Wrens and Tufted Titmice) and winter visitors like Buffleheads and Wood Ducks make it a birdwatcher's paradise. Beyond the wildlife and walking/jogging paths, the park has a ton of amenities--a great children's playground, gazebos, picnic areas, and scattered public art and sculptures. For sports, they have baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, and even a lawn bowling and croquet court. Public restrooms are also available and kept clean. Whether you're looking for a vigorous morning jog, a spot to bring the family, or just a quiet place to sit on a bench and watch the ospreys dive, Bruce Park is a local gem. Highly recommend an early morning visit!

    Lovely and well maintained park…read more Lots of parking available surrounding the ponds along the park paths. Lots of walking/running paths throughout the park. A few benches around the park. The large sundial sculpture is an interesting attraction. There is a little diagram nearby explaining how the sundial works. There are also a few sculptures there as well. Very safe with lots of friendly park-goers. Public welcome...no town/county/state restrictions to my knowledge.

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    Bruce Park
    Bruce Park - Flowers

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    Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary - hiking - Updated September 2026

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