Nature Walk Schedule 2009!

Winter Ramble in Belmont Lake State Park

Sunday March 1st, 2009

Got a case of the winter blahs? Come on a Belmont Lake State Park Ramble with your friends of the Stony Brook Environmental Conservancy, this Sunday starting at 2 pm and finishing by 4 pm.

Explore the flat hiking trails, forests and the river valley which connects the park's lakes.
 Seasonal bird life is diverse on the park's four ponds. On Belmont Lake, Canada geese and mallard ducks congregate, along with canvasbacks, redheads, mergansers, green-winged teal, and northern shoveler. In the woodlands, crow "parties" can sometimes be heard making their raucous chorus. The wetter woods are dominated by red maple, sweet gum, tupelo, and high bush blueberry. Drier woods feature scarlet, white and black oaks, and an occasional pitch pine. 

The Oak Pine land in Belmont Lake State Park is amongst the best in this part of the United States. There is also an undisturbed grove of black tupelo trees in the 400-600 year class. We will also walk the delightful river valley which may be a bit muddy, so wear waterproof shoes, not sneakers.
See the South Shore Estuary Reserve council's excellent write-up at http://www.estuary.cog.ny.us/access_guide/site3.html for more information.

Directions
Exit 38 Southern State Parkway, 42 miles from Manhattan. Or, Deer Park Ave. from Babylon and Belmont Ave, from Sunrise Hwy (Route 27). We will meet west of the entrance booth near restrooms at 2 pm. Free admission.

For those coming from Stony Brook, we will meet at the NE corner of South P-lot at 1:10 pm for a 1:15 pm car-pooling departure.

Pets: Dogs only, on a leash not more than 6 feet in length. Dogs are not allowed in picnic areas, buildings or on main walkway.

History: The Park was originally part of a large estate with stately buildings, once a breeding ground for thoroughbred horses, owned by August Belmont and his actress wife Eleanor Robson Belmont. He sold part of the land to a local developer in 1925, and the remaining 158 acres were snatched up by New York State, which continued to build upon the park which now covers 459 acres.

Don't forget to look at our Photo Page to see pictures from recent hikes!

All are welcome!

For further information, contact Malcolm Bowman at 631-751-1381