Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station

It’s the weekend. You want to get out of the city. You decide to go to Thatcher Park for the afternoon. When you arrive, you realize that the views are the same as the last dozen times you visited. Then you see all of the cars and the people. You hear radios and children screaming. You see crushed beer cans in the parking area. You wish for something different.
A short twenty minute drive from Thatcher Park, the Huyck Preserve offers everything you want in an escape from the city. It starts with the absence of noise, other than those created naturally by your surroundings. A short walk from the small parking area, near to the visitor center, you encounter a vision of beauty in the form of the gently cascading Rensselaerville Falls. A narrow wooden bridge across the water allows for remarkable views and endless picture-​taking opportunities. Once you pass the bridge, you have some big decisions to make, as trails break off into multiple directions. Be sure to consult a map before choosing your path. On our inaugural visit, we chose the Lake Trail West, which brought us on an expertly cultivated trail to the top of the Falls and around the absolutely tranquil Lake Myosotis. I suggest taking your time at the preserve. Stop frequently. Breathe the air. Let the sun touch your face as it beams in from above the trees. Reflect. Enjoy the moment.
I could go on writing about all of the beauty that we encountered at this magical place, but text on a webpage can’t begin to do it justice. You must visit the Huyck Preserve. It is, without question, the most peaceful location in the Capital Region.

This is one of the best hiking trails in a nature preserve you can imagine. Mind blowingly gorgeous. We plan to come back later in the season when it’s warm enough to swim, because that waterfall is too tempting for words. We even already booked a local farmhouse to rent for the trip (Full Moon Farm). I can’t say how stunning it is here. The preserve is in the Helderbergs, just at the top of the escarpment. That’s outdoorsy talk for high and rugged, so it is not a hike I’d recommend for a beginner. Also, you’ll need ankle support boots for this one, it’s steep. One more thing, you should bring lunch and snacks, because there’s only one restaurant on Main Street and it seems to only be open for dinner and brunch.

After years of having the Huyck Preserve on my list of places to go I finally made the trip this past Saturday. I wish I’d gone years ago.
The Edmond Huyck Preserves sits at the top of the Helderberg Escarpment in the town of Rensselaerville. If you aren’t looking for it you will probably miss it. The preserve encompasses over 2000 acres, with a lake with a swimming beach, a pond, miles of trails, a nature center, an environmental research center and a 60 foot high waterfall.
Due to all the rain from Irene and Lee the falls were roaring. They were incredibly beautiful and a little scary at the same time. There were two bridges over the falls but the upper one washed totally away 2 weeks ago and the bottom one is closed because of damage to the bridge support. I hope they have the funds to replace them.
It’s a beautiful gem of a place and only about 45 minutes from Albany. I can’t wait to go back when the leaves are changing and then again when there’s snow on the ground for snowshoeing.