Pettus Hill Preserve

Quick Bits

Main Activities - Hike
Distance - ~ 1.8 miles of trails, 103 acres
Quiet - some distant highway sounds
Surface - good, a few rocky/rooty areas
Elevation - relatively flat, one optional steep stretch
Pets - No pets permitted
Address - 125 Abby Road, Windsor, NY

Click to go to full map from Waterman Conservation Education Center

In a Nutshell

Pettus Hill Preserve is a gift from Charles Pettus, who left the land to be "forever wild". This 103 acre preserve has a vernal pond, a mixture of hardwoods, and easy trails. One area has a nice overlook and then there is the 'pyramid' or the peak of Pettus hill. At the foot of that is a memorial for Charles "Chuck" Pettus.

Location and Parking

Pettus Hill is located in West Windsor. You'll be on true back roads, narrow, and the last stretch is fairly steep so be cautious in Winter. There is a small parking lot, some of which may be fairly soft (muddy). I recommend parking near the fence to avoid sinking in too much. Though the WCEC is working on improving the lot.

More details

Pettus Hill Preserve is named for Charles "Chuck" Pettus, who bequeathed the land to Waterman Conservation Education Center in order to keep the land "forever wild". While I don't recall ever meeting Chuck everything I've heard and read indicates he was an amazing talented, and more importantly caring individual. Amongst many talents was being a naturalist, and this preserve provided him a space to explore and learn.

Chuck had the idea of seeing if the hill could be made the highest point in Broome County. To add to the height, he took earth from a spot on the preserve known as "the bowl" as well as some earth that formed a vernal pond and deposited the dirt on the highest point. He never quite made the ultimate goal, but it's at least in the top ten of highest points in the county, at 1953 feet. The highest point is an unnamed spot in North Sanford at 2090 feet. On various lists, I've seen it anywhere from second to fifth. From GPS it appears the "pyramid" added 46 to 50 feet.

The main trail is the Pettus Memorial Pathway (Blue Trail) a pleasant walk of just over half a mile from the parking lot to the pyramid. This wide easy trail passes by a shelter, a bench, the pond, the overlook (Thunder Rocks), and ends at the summit. It's an in and out trail.

Off the Blue Trail is a jug handle trail called Cairn Trail (Red Trail). This goes along the edge of the eastern ridge and adds some variety. It's not as wide as the Blue Trail. It's just shy of 0.2 miles, and meets back up on the Blue Trail about 0.13 miles from where it left it.

Right by the parking lot, you'll see a Yellow blazed trail cross the Blue Trail. This is "Chuck's Roller Dome" loop trail. Chuck ran a roller rink in Endicott for many years where he was again a positive influence on young people. This loop trail varies a bit more in elevation than the other trails, but always with gentle slopes. The entire loop is 0.4 miles and crosses the Blue trail again about 0.15 miles from the parking lot and prior to the Red Trail.

In 2024 with assistance from the Triple Cities Hiking Club, the Orange Trail, "The Long and Winding Road", was added. This trail goes along the western side of the slope and curls around the "Bowl" (where earth was pulled to help build the pyramid) before winding back up a forest road to join the Memorial Trail.

Right by the parking lot, you'll see a Yellow blazed trail cross the Blue Trail. This is "Chuck's Roller Dome" loop trail. Chuck ran a roller rink in Endicott for many years where he was again a positive influence on young people. This loop trail varies a bit more in elevation than the other trails, but always with gentle slopes. The entire loop is 0.4 miles and crosses the Blue trail again about 0.15 miles from the parking lot and prior to the Red Trail.

More Background on Chuck Pettus from various archives

Summary from testimonies of Charles Pettus.

Links of Interest

Wander & Ponder Videos Recorded Here

Chuck Pettus, A Man of Kindness (Ep. 7)
May 7, 2023