Robert & Mary King Nature Preserve

Quick Bits

Main Activities - Hike
Distance - 1.25 miles of trails on 161 acres
Quiet - very
Surface - earthen trails, some mud
Elevation -  a little  steep in spots
Pets - leash
Address - Andersen Hill Road Richford, NY

In a Nutshell

This FLLT managed preserve is a gem with interesting trails, a hemlock lined creek, an old stone foundation of unknown use, and lots of quiet.

Location and Parking

More details

The remote access to this Preserve is part of its charm. Creeping along the seasonal road, watching the ground slope quickly away, and looking for the trailhead. The trail from the road follows an old farm road a short distance and then you'll see the main loop, Tom's Loop. I believe this is named for Tom Reimers, a key part of the Finger Lakes Land Trust for many decades, who passed away in 2019. The 161 acres are divided by a stream which is a tributary of the Owego Creek, entering in the northwest area and flowing out the lower east side of the Preserve. You can see some areas had been cleared at one time for farming, and other areas have thicker growth. A small pond that seems to be shrinking is near part of the trail. The upper half of the trail follows this tributary and gives wonderful view of a series of waterfalls of one to three feet drop. There is one 10-foot stretch of steep trail, which for some might be better if taking the loop in the counter-clockwise direction if you have a bit of vertigo. Smaller creeks flow into this tributary throughout the Preserve. Trains are well maintained, but expect some mud and wet spots in spring and after heavy rains.

The hike along the tributary is my favorite part. Along there, you will also see stacked stone as if for a foundation. From a FLLT newsletter article in 2001, no one seems to know exactly what this structure was. In one area it looks like water would have run through, but it doesn't seem like enough water to power a mill. It's much larger than a traditional spring house. Take a look at it and see if you have any guesses. 

To the west on Andersen Hill Road, you'll find Andersen Hill State Forest, so this is a good choice to do a two for one adventure. While not connected, they are about 500 yards apart on Andersen Hill Road. 

The Preserve is named for the Robert and Mary King who donated the land in 2001.