HUYCK PRESERVE hiking & cross-country skiing
The Huyck Preserve is a non-profit research organization located in the scenic hamlet of Rensselaerville. The preserve's 12 miles of trails are spread out over 2,055 acres and lie between 1,600' and 1,900' in elevation. An excellent map can be found on their website (huyckpreserve.org) or picked up at the visitor center on weekdays.
The best starting-off point for the skier is at a small parking area and kiosk on Pond Hill Road across the street from Lincoln Pond. From there, it is a short walk to the beginning of the Wheeler-Watson Trail which climbs away from the road and soon reaches a 19th century cemetery. On a clear day, you may get a view to the Catskills before reaching the flat Race Track, an old horse-racing oval. The Partridge Path's 3 loops are the preserve's newest trails and are ideal for skiing with plenty of ups and downs through open hardwoods with little understory I especially love skiing the glade on the southwest side of Loop 2. The drop down the connector to Loop 3 can seem steep to some folks but there is plenty of space between trees to run out or cheat on the downhill run – advanced skiers may want to execute some telemark turns through here. After crossing Ten Mile Creek on a good bridge, Loop 3 follows a scenic tributary for a time, crosses a power line and passes another possible access point (in winter, park at the junction of Peasley and Wood Roads and ski 200 yards on unplowed Wood Road to the trailhead). If you do all 3 loops, you will likely travel over 8 miles on the day. Whitetail deer are often seen bounding through the trees; I've also seen otter tracks and springtails (snow fleas) on warmer days.
Another option from the Pond Hill Road parking area is to ski the West Lake Trail which will take you down the west side of Lake Myosotis – this is novice terrain as long as there is over a foot of snow to cover up some rough spots A 0.3 mile spur trail will take you to the lake's rock dam and spillway. The Falls Trail will get you to the top (the Waldron Overlook) and foot of the spectacular Rensselaerville Falls but is very steep in spots and not recommended for skiing except for possibly expert skiers in the best conditions when there is well over a foot of snow. The 60' falls are a must-see but it is best to approach them from the visitor center on Route 85 on foot (or snowshoes if there is over 6” of snow) before or after your ski tour.
Feb 11, 2017 - HUYCK PRESERVE, from Pond Hill Rd. Very good skiing on 10" of powder on good base with a hint of wetness. Started out on the Wheeler-Watson Trail going past a 19th century cemetery. A glimpse of the Catskills. Partridge Path trail. Long side of Loop 1. Short side of Loop 2, stopped for lunch & some fun yo-yoing in the glades. Steep drop to bridge & Loop 3. Up alongside 10-Mile Creek. Cut loop short by skiing the power line. More glade skiing. We had to break trail the whole way, where is everybody? Whitetail deer. Elevations 1,600'-1,800'. 9.2 miles, 5 hours. Drove to other side of the preserve & took a short walk to Rensselaerville Falls.
Dec 15, 2014 - HUYCK PRESERVE. Wheeler-Watson trail to Partridge Path trails. Surprised to find minimal use since the storm 5 days ago - trail broken to Loop 1 but we ended having to break trail on Loops ! & 2, slowed us down. Yoyoed a couple of times at glade on SW part of Loop 2. Steep drop thru open woods to Loop 3, glad to see some old ski tracks there. Cut Loop 3 short by skiing down the powerline. Hilly terrain, 1,600' to 1,900' elevation. 15" dense snow, temp in mid 30s, somewhat sticky & had to reapply Maxiglide a couple of times. Billions of snow fleas (springtails) - don't remember ever seeing them in December before, usually a late winter phenomenon. 6.3 miles, 4.8 hours.
Mar 10, 2014 - HUYCK PRESERVE from jctn of Woods & Peasley Roads. 200 yd ski on unplowed Woods Rd to the preserve. Temp rising thru the 30s - fair skiing on breakable icy crust in the morning, good skiing as the surface softened up in the afternoon. Loop 3 counterclockwise; loops 2, 1 & Race Track clockwise. Some snowshoe use but best to stay on untracked areas. Lots of open woods with little understory. Spent some time playing on "the glade" on W side of Loop 2 - practicing my parallelamark, snowplowamark & fake-a-mark :) - climbing was easy in the warm snow so didn't mind yoyoing a bit. 4.3 hours.
Feb 10, 2014 - HUYCK PRESERVE from Pond Hill Rd by Lincoln Pond in Rensselaerville. 15" mostly powder, very nice skiing. Wheeler-Watson trail past an old cemetary to Race Track then N on the Partridge Path. Loop 1 counterclockwise, southern part of Loop 2 with glade skiing en route, all of Loop 3 (the longest at 2.7 miles) clockwise - breaking trail on 1 & 3. Lots of lovely open hardwoods & fun hills. Bare-booters had walked in our tracks from start of Loop 1 back to start! 5.5 hours.
Mar 13, 2013 - HUYCK PRESERVE from Pond Hill Rd, Rensselaerville. West Lake Trail to Lake Myosotis, to the interesting rock dam, then to Waldron Overlook at top of spectacular Rensselaerville Falls. Somewhat icy at first but getting better as temp rose thru the 30s, best where sun had softened the surface - fair skiing overall. Novice in good conditions. 2.3 hours.
Feb 11, 2013 - HUYCK PRESERVE from Peasley Rd. Short ski down unplowed Wood Rd then picked up untracked Loop 3 in the preserve which we skied counterclockwise. Did Loop 2 counterclockwise, also untracked had lunch in bright sunlight & played on a hilly glade. Loop 1 had seen some light use, counterclockwise. Rained earlier so we skied in 8" of wet powder - good skiing, a bit of work breaking trail, better following the trailbreaker ;) Some nice intermediate hills & plenty of open woods. Temp got up into the low 40s. 3.4 hours.
Jan 16, 2013 - HUYCK PRESERVE from Lincoln Pond on Pond Hill Rd in Rensselaerville. I had 1st tracks on 2"+ of base with 4" new powder - very good to excellent skiing. Wheeler-Watson Trail to Partridge Path. Did Loop 2 counterclockwise & Loop 1 clockwise. Loop 2 in nice shape. SE of the junction with spur to Loop 3 there is a wonderful glade - I went off-trail, climbed the hill & made turns in & out of the trees - sweet! Loop1 could use a bit more snow but still fun. Hit some rocks; small wet spots easily avoided. Judging by the tracks I saw the otters were having just as much fun as I was in the new snow. Intermediate. 5.5 miles, 2 hours.
Jan 7, 2013 - HUYCK PRESERVE in Rensselaerville. 10"-15" - hint of iciness in snowshoe tracks otherwise good to excellent skiing. Wheeler-Watson Trail & The Racetrack well-used incl. bare-booters. Partridge Path Loop 1 had seen minimal use & we were essentially breaking trail sinking in 3-6". Loop 2 had seen no use. Loop 3 had seen some ski & snowshoe use (can be accessed from Peasley & Wood (unplowed) roads. There are some wonderful downhills here, good for tele turns - pretty woods too. 8 miles. 4 hours.
Nov 5, 2012 - HUYCK PRESERVE hike. Rensselaerville, SW Albany County. 32f when I started, never got out of the 30s, 30F in late afternoon on way home. 12 miles of well-marked trails in the preserve, new signposts at junctions; 1,700'-1,900' elevation. From Pond Hill Rd to Wheeler-Watson Trail passing an old graveyard. Partridge Path trails to new Loop Three - nice new bridge over a stream. Went clockwise. Variety of trees but I just love the large areas of open hardwoods with minimal understory. Scenic small falls & cascades on tributary to Ten-mile Creek. Around North Hill to Wood Rd, a gravel road. Across the road is a beaver pond in the Partridge Run WMA. Trail then follows Ten-mile Creek back to bridge & crosses a powerline twice. Glimpses of the Catskills. Grouse. 7.5 miles, 4.5 hours. Can't wait to ski here.
Mar 5, 2012 - HUYCK PRESERVE in Rensselaerville. Chatted with Adam the supervisor at the preserve parking area by Lincoln Pond - he was nice enough to give me his tattered map of the preserve (wasn't sure where I was going when I left home, just knew I'd be headed for somewhere in the Helderbergs) & when I got back to the Nehasanemobile after the trip there were 2 "Hike the Huyck" stickers stuck under a windshield wiper. Wheeler-Watson Trail (novice) to Loops 1 & 2 (intermediate) - Loop 1 best done clockwise, Loop 2 counterclockwise. Lots of open hardwoods with little understory; old stone walls too. Could see Catskills well beyond Myosotis Lake. 8" of dense crusty snow - good skiing (at least I could make easy turns which was a notch better than yesterday). Saw several deer. 2.7 hours.
Jan 9, 2012 - HUYCK PRESERVE hike in SW Albany County. Started out on the Wheeler-Watson Trail which soon passes an old graveyard dating to over 200 years ago. Then explored the new Partridge Path trails - got to the start of Loop 3 before reaching my turn-around time. Variety of mostly open woods; lots of rock walls. Ground frozen hard but no snow. Enough hills to make the intermediate skier happy. Trails well-marked altho signs at junctions are cute yet temporary since half have been knocked to the ground - bring the map. 4 deer. 4.8 miles, 2.2 hours.
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