Rockefeller State Park has some nice walking trails. They are pretty low impact which is nice if you're not looking for something too intense. There are also beautiful views of the Hudson River. There is a small parking lot, but not too many spaces so try to come early to find a spot. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

Gorgeous mostly paved/cleared trails through the woods, where you pass cows, horses, ponds. Dog-friendly. Such a good spot to come after a day of rain since most hiking trails are rained out/muddy, but not here! Totally coming back. 5 stars!!!! read more

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Beautiful park with wide trails and scenic views We visited Rockefeller State Park Preserve on October 26, 2025 for a fall hike and foliage watching. We originally planned to do the easy Brook, David, and Swan Lake Loop (3.6 miles) starting from the Visitor Center, but due to a mis-tap on the AllTrails app, we ended up on the larger, moderate Rockefeller Park Preserve Loop :) We cut it a slightly near the end, but still got a solid 5.5-mile walk. Afterwards, we drove to Rockwood Hall entrance and walked part of the trail overlooking the Hudson River. The park is beautiful, with wide, well-groomed trails that are easy to walk and suitable for all ages. The views were gorgeous, though to our surprise, the foliage was mostly green, except for one small area at peak color - despite online reports showing the entire park at peak. Go figure. Panoramic views along the main loop and across the Hudson were still mostly green. It's unclear whether we arrived too early or if it's just the type of trees in the park. Either way, the park is fantastic for easy and moderate hikes, and we'll definitely be back. read more

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This place never fail. Perfect for bird watching. Beautiful spring or fall stroll. Pet friendly and did i say perfect for a trail run? This place is huge! Paid parking but when it full you can parpark outside for free read more

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Park was recommended by a friend, pleasantly surprise to discover this huge park with many things to offer, only 30 Min away from Us. When we arrive a park friendly personal gave us a quick orientation which was very helpful for us that day. There are also park maps & some reading materials for kids near the Art Gallery section. Bathrooms & water fountain available In the same building. First We check out the swan lake, which is about a mile of flat & relaxing walk. Next stop is Rockwood Hall. We drove here from Swan lake & used the hospital parking lot, which we were told we are allowed to do. Love the bucolic feel of this park. It overlooks the Hudson river & the Palisades. Very scenic especially if you add some birds & goats to The picture. Parking/ entrance is free with empire pass. Will definitely come back & explore more of this State Park. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve is a peaceful escape with beautiful trails, varied wildlife, and historic paths. Perfect for hiking and nature lovers, it's a gem close to NYC. Sit on 1400aces read more

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A very quiet place, full of natural energy and feeling of inner peace. Beautiful view read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

Autumn is my favourite time of the year. It is the perfect weather for me. We've only been to the Swan Lake area of Rockefeller State Park, but I truly appreciate its tranquil scenery. I just wanted to go for a nice stroll while enjoying the beauty of Fall. We came past two in the afternoon and cars were parked outside the entrance, lining up Phelps Way. However, we noticed that there were still some parking spaces free inside. The Swan Lake is a short loop, but has so many angles for photo-ops. Artists who loves to sketch autumn foliage have a spot here. They have a tiny art gallery that feature different artists. This time it was Joseph Keiffer and Janet Lippmann's work on exhibit. Since it's a small space, they observe social distancing. I am sure to go back here and my little pet would surely love to explore other areas of RSPP. read more

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Truly a gem of Westchester County. There are multiple hiking trails (with many different entry points) that are well maintained and offer respite from the hustle and bustle of the work week. Along the trails, you will see diverse bodies of water, foliage, birds, and other woodland creatures who might pop out to say hello. It seems that most trails are dog friendly, making it a good activity for the entire family. Parking is easily accessible as well and, depending on where you park, may be an additional cost ($6 or so). read more

Beautiful hiking trail away from the city. There are several hiking trails from 2 to 8 miles...maybe more. Came early at 7 am, barely anyone was there but they had maps to help you out on your trip. There are gorgeous scenes that are breathtaking. There is a $6 day charge to park your car. read more

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This park has 45 miles or so of scenic trails made of crushed stone. This is a popular place for locals to go walking, horseback riding and jogging. There are lots of natural and historical features, such as Swan Lake, the Pocantico River along with the many wood & stone bridges, old colonial stone walls and stone scapes. They say there are over 200 species of birds that inhabit this area. If birdwatching is your thing, this place is a must. On the other side of Rt 9 is the continuation of Rockefeller State Park known as Rockwood Hall. Here you can get scenic views of the Hudson River, The TZ Bridge and the Nyacks. If you happen to be in the preserve, be sure to stop in the Preserve's Gallery where they have many exhibits which feature contemporary art and natural history. read more

I have to admit...I'm still kinda shocked at how close this Preserve is to my side of White Plains. With no plans at all to hike or run, we decided to see what Rockefeller has to offer and strolled the grounds a bit on a gorgeous Memorial Day. There's only a $6 parking fee and after that, roam all you want! I honestly don't know how long Rockefeller trails are- but paths are easy to trek on and didn't come across any steep inclines. Then again...this is a big park- so who knows what else is out here. And if you wanna take a break, just sit on the side of a path and enjoy the breeze with Swan Lake in front of you (depending where you're at in Rockefeller). Truthfully, I don't even know if there's a Café or vending machines. But if you're feening for something to eat after your trek, Tarrytown isn't that far off. What I do know is- bicycles aren't allowed and you're on foot the entire time. Dogs however, are allowed and must be leashed. There's so much Tranquility and Beauty here- I was stunned. We were pleasantly surprised our walk through Rockefeller was more fun than we thought it would be and made perfect sense we'd visit again. read more

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Rockefeller is one of my absolute favorite spots to escape for a morning run or a weekend hike. From Stone Barns to Swan Lake, it's easily accessible and perfect for everything from a 30-minute walk to a day trip. I've been running in the park for about four years, and here is what I've learned: Download the map. You find an online map here: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/rockefeller/details.aspx. Or here: https://parks.ny.gov/documents/parks/RockefellerTrailMap.pdf. Trails are usually well marked within the park. Park for free. You'll pay $6 to park in the main visitor lot from April-October. The park also is limiting capacity in its main lot at the moment to allow park-goers to maintain social distancing, so it might fill up more quickly than you'd expect. I've never actually paid for parking, however, because you also can enter the park for free from Sleepy Hollow Rd., Gory Brook Rd., and various points along Bedford Rd. Do not, however, park along 117. It will end with a ticket. Bring a mask. The park's trails are generally wide enough to maintain good social distancing, but there's enough of a crowd -- especially near the entrances -- where you'll need to have a mask as well. The park is well used by both hikers and runners, so just be aware of your space on the trail and make room for people passing by. Connect the trails. There are nearly infinite combinations of loops within the park's trail system, and I still manage to string together new routes. So download the map, bring water, and don't be afraid to try a new path. The Old Croton Aqueduct and North County Trail also both connect to Rockefeller. Just be aware that while you can bike the OCA and North County, you cannot take them into Rockefeller. Seek solitude. The park is well-trafficked throughout, but in my experience the trails are more crowded nearest to Swan Lake, Stone Barns, and Rockwood Hall. The areas east of Bedford Rd. and west of Sleepy Hollow Rd. (along the Pocantico River) tend to offer a little more peace and quiet. More generally, you're never actually that far from civilization in Rockefeller. But the trails are so winding and the foliage so thick that you often wouldn't know that you were just 50 yards from a road. That's part of what makes the park such a natural escape. Find the water. Rockwood Hall offers sweeping views of the Hudson, and Swan Lake is super popular, but my favorite trails to see water are the Pocantico River, Witch's Spring, and 13 Bridges trails. Mind the beasties (including your own). I've seen deer, coyotes, foxes, turtles, snakes, and turkeys in the park, as well as livestock from Stone Barns like cattle, goats, chickens, pigs, and yet more turkeys. There's also the odd pair of horses pulling a carriage. Enjoy their beauty but keep your distance - the park is constantly having to remind visitors that it is not a petting zoo. Actually, the only animals that have ever given me a problem are unleashed dogs. So please keep them on their tether. Follow the park's Facebook feed. The Rockefeller State Park Preserve has an active feed that offers regular updates about events and policies, as well as educational media about the park's flora and fauna. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Swan Lake - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

We decided to check out this park on a day trip to Sleepy Hollow on the day before Halloween. This place is beautiful! The fall vibes were immaculate on this mid-autumn day. Gorgeous foliage to admire along the way and long trails for walking, running, and biking. We came across a beautiful stone bridge running over a flowing river that made for a picturesque landscape. It even gave off a bit of a spooky feel (it was the day before Halloween after all!) with the bare trees bustling in the wind on a somewhat overcast day, which just added to my experience -- just hoping we didn't run into the Headless Horseman ;) We only saw a fraction of the park due to a time constraint, however I would love to come back and do more exploring. It was so peaceful and quiet. read more

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Beautiful park with facilities like toilets and paved gravel roads. Excellent for kids- the swan lake loop using brothers path was an easy walk for my kids. Connects to stone barns but you need to book in advance to eat at their restaurant read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Map - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

This is a beautiful piece of land, at least the part that I traversed with my girlfriends during one of our weekday forest runs. We like to meet up at new spot to change up the scenery and despite living in Westchester for a decade, I've never been to the RSPP. We got a little lost trying to find the parking lot but with a little ingenuity, we navigated our way to the appropriate entrance. My girlfriend had visited once before when there was staff at the information booth. Unfortunately, on this day, no one was there so we grabbed a map and paid attention to our running app to make sure we didn't get lost. We ran a nice little 3 mile loop and it was really beautiful and peaceful. There are plenty of people out and about with their pups, jogging, hiking and taking in all the surrounding nature. I would definitely suggest running with a buddy for safety. This is not by any means, a paved trail, so there is definitely a risk of injury by falling or tripping. I would suggest that you at least tell people where you are headed. There are markers along the routes that direct you to where you want to go and we used those as well as our running app map to make sure we stayed on our loop. There are significant changed in elevation. This is a great place to run for training. I wish we had a chance to see the water feature but that will be saved for next time. The bathrooms are interesting. They don't use conventional plumbing. You basically go to the bathroom in a hole that goes very deep. You won't realise it until you actually look at the signage. There are multiple stalls as with any other restroom but the toilet seats must be kept down because of the methane gas. You must not light a fire in the bathroom because of this. Your poop is helping to power the preserve through the composting! It's pretty ingenious and very progressive. In the winter months, they turn off the water so you won't be able to wash your hands but they have plenty of Purell. I also travel with lysol hand wipes because I'm a germaphobe. This was a great outing and I'd definitely make a trip back up to this preserve. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Nature run - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

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Unfortunately I don't get to this park for a hike as often as I'd like but the times that I have made it, I absolutely LOVED it! My hubby & I went for a hike back in late May for the first time in a while & I was reminded of why this would be my go to for hikes if I had my way. We normally always stick to the trail around the lake. We've always had a peaceful experience while getting some much needed exercise in. There are usually just a handful of people we've encountered on our many visits over the past several years. There are other trails that branch off. We tried one a few years back but the walk around the lake is a nice flat simple trail & it provides us everything we need to be happy & feel good by the time we're finished! There is a nice sized parking lot. I can't remember paying a fee in the past but this year they're charging $6. We paid thru one of the automated machines. There is a booth upon entering for an attendant but I'm not sure if that's still in use at certain times or not. Also there's access to restrooms before hitting the trails located where the parking lot is. Oh, last thing - ROAD APPLES ALERT!! Watch your step around the lake trail. Horses get to use it too ;-) read more

One of the best parks that's a short drive from New York City. It's absolutely perfect for if you want a leisurely walk around a beautiful lake, or if you want to up the heart rate a bit by strolling through some hilly trails. The vibe is nice, a healthy mix of families and people hiking. In about two hours of walking around we saw some cool wildlife including deer, turtles, and rabbits. I'll be back, as the park is stunning. read more

Had a lovely afternoon walking some trails and paddle boating , the mom was a little freaked out by the sheer velocity of said boats, which can be described as 5mph at best. But we had a grand old time with the niece and nephew, looking for whales and such, and mostly finding enchanted sea turtles (leaves). Anywho, the grounds are lovely, and we saw many a person having bbq, picnics, holding hands and the like. Lovely. I think once the weather takes a turn for the better, we'll be joining said folk for a bbq of our own. read more

I'm convinced that the big man upstairs has a sick sense of humor. How else to explain why I have the only kid in NYC who hates living here. Or so it seems. But anyway, it gets worse. You see, my kid is convinced that if we move to a suburb in Westchester, his life will be complete. And in an effort to toss him a bone, we wound up here. Besides, hiking has recently inched its way to the top of our favorite family activity list: So yeah... Hubby, kid and I walked the trail that ends at Stone Barns, which I'd highly recommend so you can undo all your well-intentioned efforts to burn off calories with a snack from its Cafe & Grain Bar. LOL (an acronym I NEVER use, but it seems to work so perfectly here). At any rate, even on the freakishly warm January day that we were here, the grounds projected a desolate charm. So I can only imagine how lovely it is here in the fall or spring. The trail that we took was clearly marked and easy to follow, plus I loved that it took us around part of the perimeter of a lake. Swan Lake, to be exact. Hey, do you have a sudden impulse to go the ballet, or is it just me? As others have mentioned, parking is $6, though be warned that the lot is small, so am sure it fills up fast on good weather days. Other Random Thoughts: Be sure to stop at the Visitor's Center, where you'll find plenty of maps and a real live human to answer any questions you may have. Restrooms are NOT gender neutral. The Women's building, which houses a handful of stalls, looks perfectly nondescript from the outside, while inside you'll find toilets that rely on composting. I am a porta potty phobe, so this gave me some very bad flashbacks. That being said, these were some of the cleanest public restrooms I've encountered in a while. I'm all for tranquil respites from NYC that don't require more than a two hour drive. And this was well under that. Actually, if all of Westchester is like this, the kid may be on to something.:) read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - I can't seem to think of a caption for this pic. I'm Stumped! - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

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This unique property is comprised of a portion of the Rockefeller family estate in Pocantico Hills, and was given to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 1983. Since the Preserve's inception, additional bequeaths have extended its size to over 1,400 acres. Approximately 30 miles from the hustle and bustle of New York City, the Preserve is an idyllic spot for strolling, jogging, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. With 180 recorded species of birds and its IBA (Important Bird Area) designation by the National Audubon Society, the Preserve is a must visit area for birders. In season, licensed anglers enjoy fishing for bass in the 22 acre Swan Lake and for brown trout in the Pocantico River. - See more at: http://nysparks.com/parks/59/details.aspx#sthash.uGNwcszD.dpuf read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - A beautiful pond on Brothers Trail - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

This beautiful park preserve is well-maintained, eco-friendly and doing a fantastic job maintaining itself throughout the pandemic. We visited twice during our "staycation" away from the city and had a wonderful time. Parking lot is at 50% capacity, and they still allow horses. It is an extremely expansive park with well-marked gravel trails that allow horses-- in fact, right of way is for them! They do have a rotating art collection (only one person allowed in at a time, and they have to be masked-- they also had hand sanitizer inside) at the gallery, and the office is also open, I believe. The parking lots have the only bathrooms in the area, but I was surprised to see how well-maintained they were, as they had composting toilets, as well as soap and automatic faucets and air drying machines to minimize contact. I also appreciated that the park is "leave no trace," which means whatever trash you make, you must bring back with you to dispose of elsewhere. This makes the park extremely clean, no matter where you go. Since it's summer and our dogs weren't feeling *super* well, we walked the Brother's Path that runs along Swan Lake and found it to be a relaxing, well-shaded walk. There are bouts of horse poop along the way, but that's to be expected given the fact that they're allowed in the park lol. The trails are also relatively well marked, but I would suggest downloaded the maps (available through an app or on their website) before going so that you're able to navigate. Dogs must be on leash because there are wild animals (it is a preserve, after all) running around, but I would highly recommend coming here. I hate that I have to admit this, but I will probably be coming here more often for how relaxing and pristine it is-- even if I live in the city! read more

Fantastic for light hiking and trail running. Everyone is friendly and the trails seem endless for City folk. Great place for pups too.

Amazing expansive network of hiking trails It could be a full day or hour hike saw group of white tail deer. . Will come back again. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

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Great park with a variety of hikes and walkes. The visitor center provides free masks and there is a picnic spot available. Loved the swan lake for fall pictures! read more

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Wow!! This place is awesome. The lake is very beautiful right now in the fall. You better hurry up and get there early in the morning before 10:15am otherwise you will end up parking on the shoulder of the highway or by the entrance. The park is very big. We spent 3 hours in the park and only explored 50% of the park. It is a very clean park. Please keep it that way and take your trash with you. We will definitely come back here next fall. read more

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Beautiful place to go for a stroll or a hike. Lots of trails and wide open paths. Tons of butterfly and bee action in the front entrance. May be an issue with mosquitos and bugs bugging you as you walk near the Swan Lake. Could spend hours easily. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

Peaceful as heck. I would come here again. Great lookout at the Hudson River, from my view. My first time to this place and it's absolutely breathtaking. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Hudson River - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

After moving to the area, one of the first things I picked up was a couple of hiking guides. One of them recommended this park as not only being a good place for a hike, but also having some historical interest. The Rockefeller this is named for (Junior) was a huge proponent of national parks, donating a lot of his money and land to form parks such as Acadia and Grand Teton, as well as this one, which was originally for his family, but later became a part of the NY State Parks. There are parking fees, even in the winter, so be prepared to have $6 (as of this review) to pay to park in the lot. There *are* other places to park outside of the lots, but those likely go fast. So, the facilities are decent, there are bathrooms at the trail head, and the trails are blazed fairly decently. There's a very nice topographical map available on the park's website, which is very useful for navigating the park. There are a *lot* of trails here, so if you like hiking, this is a good destination. We only went to one small section on our visit, mainly doing a loop on the part of the park that loops north of 117, but this is really a nice park overall, and we will definitely be back. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Glacial erratic on Nature's Way trail. - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

Pretty park but there are too many unleashed dogs on the trail I took, which was Brothers Pass (or something like that). It went around a lake. I had a small dog with me and passed about 3 or 4 unleashed dogs on New Years Day. No one from the park is patrolling and there is no one to complain to as everything has been replaced with machines. I wish the park would enforce the leash law because loose big dogs can harm small leashed dogs. I see this in many local parks around the NY area, including in Greenwich, CT. So many selfish and greedy people in the NY area. read more

Amazing place! So many trails and awesome wildlife, we saw some deer, chipmunks, frogs, and turtles. Highly recommend read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

Since meeting my wife almost 14 years ago, I have hiked around Rockefeller State Park Preserve many, many times. What really amazes me about this place is how every visit feels like a new experience. With over 20 miles of trails spanning well over 1,000 acres of beautiful land, there are so many different ways to kill a few hours here. The gorgeously lush Swan Lake feeds all sorts of running creeks, brooks, and waterfalls that hug most of the trails throughout. Wildlife of all kind are everywhere to be found. And while there are some trails have a few challenging hills here and there, most of the park can be traversed by people of all ages, sizes, and shapes with relative ease. Today my wife, her parents, and our two little kids enjoyed a wonderful 5k hike and jog through a part of the park I had never been to. My kids have never been on a true run before and absolutely loved it. I found myself struggling to keep up with them after awhile. Luckily, there are so many little nooks and crannies tucked all throughout the park that are perfect for resting, relaxing, and just taking in nature. I could easily spend an entire day here. If you ever find yourself looking for a day trip, consider taking a ride up this way and check out this park. And for a really special treat, check out nearby Blue Hill at Stone Barns for a one-of-a-kind dining experience afterward. This Jersey Boy is finally coming around on Westchester... :) read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

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Great park, I really recommend the 1 mile long trail around the pond. You can hike these trails on horseback also which is really cool. Parking is $6, but free if you enter after 4:30 (the park closes at sunset). The trails looked to be very well marked and are pretty wide due to the horses. read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

I love it here. Coming for 16 years now. Nice place to walk, hike, exercise... Dogs love it too. Thank you read more

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We love the Rockefeller State Park. Lots of hiking trails, clean, amazing view, & lots of trees. It's beautiful out here. It's a great place to walk, jog, or just to relax. The hiking trails are relatively easy. There is also a trail that can lead you to the Stone Barns.This place is so quiet & peaceful. When we were here, it wasn't crowded at all. Parking is $6 all day. It's free if you enter at 4:30pm. This park close at sunset. We will definitely go back, most likely in the fall to enjoy the fall foliage. We can just imagine how beautiful this place would be in the fall. read more

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The trails are easy and scenic, though watch out for equine and canine manure, which makes the country air smell less than fresh. We loved Swan Lake, which, sadly, had no swans, but it sure was pretty and shimmery. We didn't intend to hike into this park; we were visiting the nearby Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. A sign said Pigs this way, and we followed that trail. But instead of finding pigs, we ended up in Rockefeller State Park, mapless, after taking a wrong turn. Luckily, a nice elderly couple saw us looking confused, and gave us their extra map. So we stuck around a while. Pleasant! read more

Rockefeller State Park Preserve - Swan Lake - Parks Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

We had a really great day at the park it was a fee to get in it was definitely worth it. The children enjoyed walking around the lake we had a great view of nature and the outdoors and they were benches us to sit down. The facility seems to be doing a great job keeping everything nice and clean during Covid. read more

This place is like a fairyland wonder. I recently discovered it, and i keep wanting to go back and get lost over and over in it. Its a hidden wonder Just be careful with ticks , they are everyone on the grass area. My dog had a few read more

The place is clean and not too crowded. It also connects to Blue Hill Stone Barns. The only caveat is that you have to pay for parking, and there are no trash bins inside the park. Whatever you bring in, you have to take out....or you can trek to Blue Hill and throw out your trash there. The walking trails are relatively easy, and there are many shades due to the trees and leaves. Great way to get some fresh air. read more

Wonderful state park situated next to Stone Barns as all the hiking trails are interconnected and you can easily walk from the park to stone barns and vice versa. Lot's of trails, wonderful landscapes, and the lake offers up wildlife of ducks. Came during the autumn and it provided great foliage settings and photos. It's easy hiking trails around the lake as it's flat but the other trails that shoot off the lake can have some elevation gain. Take the hike from the park / lake to stone barns and you'll see wonderful pastures where the farm and it's animals provide roaming land. Also there are equestrian trails for horses as well. Parking is to the right once you enter the preserve and there is a parking kiosk for your parking stubs. read more