Albany Pine Bush Preserve/Kings Highway

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Photo by Trish Ellis

Pine barrens landscape.

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The 3,350+ - acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APBP), located in New York's Capital District, protects one of the best remaining inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens in the world. This extraordinary fire-dependent ecosystem provides habitat for many plants and animals, including more than 20 percent of New York State's wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need, such as the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The APBP is a National Natural Landmark, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Site, National Recreation Trail, a New York State Unique Area and Bird Conservation Area, and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Characterized by rolling sand dunes and over 20 miles of trails, the APBP offers visitors many recreational opportunities including hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and canoeing. Most trails are considered easy to moderate and vary from wide open sandy trails to narrow grass woodland paths. The topography gradually slopes up and down the dunes.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is a public-private partnership created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the APBP and provide the public with educational and recreational opportunities. The Management Plan for the APBP guides all aspects of expanding and managing the preserve. The Commission's goal is a preserve of 5,380 acres.

As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road, Albany, is a"green" certified interpretive center where visitors come to understand why the Pine Bush is rare and special. A visit to this unique destination is an exciting exploration where learning comes naturally through interactive exhibits, an outdoor Discovery Trail, and numerous programs on the ecology, natural history, cultural history, and management of the Pine Bush. Admission to the Discovery Center is free (there is a fee for some programs). The Center is open daily weekdays 9am-4pm, weekends 10am-4pm. For more information, visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.

Reviews

Patricia Ellis

Aug 18, 2024

Unique ecosystem, well-maintained trails

One forgets one is in the middle of a major inland city while walking amidst these beautifully preserved and rare inland pine barrens. This kind of landscape is usually found on the coast in places such as Long Island and Cape Cod. The trails are well-maintained, and even though you are right by I-90, you feel like you are deep in the wilderness. A truly beautiful way to spend a day or two. There are trails of various lengths and a Discovery Center, so the preserve is a fine place for both novice and advanced hikers of all ages. This is a real gem. Look at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve website to read about how this unique area was formed and the large variety of species this ecosystem supports. Hiked August 17 and 18, 2024. Patricia Ellis (formerly “Janie Walker”)

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Allowed Uses:

Other Activities

• Fishing
• Hunting
• Snow, snow play general
• Wildlife viewing / observation

• Certified as an NRT
  Sep 10, 1985