Taconic State Park

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Taconic State Park
NY 344, sign at the park entrance

NY 344, sign at the park entrance

location Columbia County (New York) , Dutchess County , New York (State) , United States
Geographical location 42 ° 7 ′  N , 73 ° 31 ′  W Coordinates: 42 ° 7 ′ 14 "  N , 73 ° 31 ′ 9"  W
Taconic State Park (New York)
Taconic State Park
Setup date 1983
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Taconic State Park is a state park in the Columbia County and Dutchess Counties area of the US state of New York . It consists of three non-contiguous areas: Copake Falls Area , the northernmost of the areas in Copake Falls ; Rudd Pond Area , the southernmost area in the North East and an unnamed third area in Ancram . Together with other protected areas, it forms the Appalachian Trail Corridor, one of the largest contiguous forest areas between Virginia and Maine. The Nature Conservancy calls the area one of America's “Last Great Places”.

geography

Together with Mount Everett State Reservation , Bash Bish Falls State Park , Mount Washington State Forest , Mount Riga Forest Preserve , Mount Riga State Park , Taconic State Park forms a connected network of protected areas with a total area of ​​14,400 acres (5800 hectares). (5.8 mi and 9 km × 11 mi and 16 km, respectively) in southwest Massachusetts , northwest Connecticut, and the adjoining areas on the eastern border of New York. The areas are administered by various organizations: The Nature Conservancy, New York – New Jersey Trail Conference , Berkshire Natural Resources Council . The 15.7 mi (25.3 km) South Taconic Trail and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail (15 mi / 24 km) run through the park. Bash Bish Falls , Massachusetts' most famous waterfall, is a short walk from the park area.

The three parcels of Taconic State Park are located on the western slope of the South Taconic Range in the Taconic Mountains and also include the peaks of Brace Mountain (2,311 / 2,304 ft - 704/702 m, ⊙ ), the western slope of Alander Mountain ( ⊙ ), Sunset Rock ( ⊙ ), and Mount Fray ( ⊙ ).

The three parcels of the park are not directly connected, but are all closed off by the eastern border of the state and are connected by other protected areas in the area of ​​Massachusetts and New York in the system of protected areas. The eastern border therefore runs straight from north to south , except for the corner of Boston Corner . In the east, the parcels border (from N to S) directly on the protected areas Mount Washington State Forest (with Cattleshed Field ), Bash Bish Falls State Park, Mount Everett State Reservation in Massachusetts and Mount Riga State Park in Connecticut. Other nearby sanctuaries are in the west: New Forge State Forest , Lake Taghkanic State Park , Drowned Lands Swamp Conservation Area , Round Ball Mountain Public Conservation Area and a little further afield in the southwest (approx. 9 km): Buttercup Farm Audubon Sanctuary .

Well-known waters are Roeliff Jansen Kill , Bash Bish Brook with the tributary Noster Kill (from l, S) and Webatuck Creek .

The Copake Falls Area and the Ancram area is in Columbia County, New York , while the Rudd Pond Area is in the northeast corner of Dutchess County .

Copake Falls Area

Copake Falls Area is the northernmost parcel. The New York State Route 344 leads directly into the park area and also on the Massachusetts side as Falls Road through Bash Bish State Park, to the northwest the park area is bounded by Mountain Road and later Breezy Hill Road , which goes from Copake Falls to Run northeast. The Sunset Rock Road , which leads to the rock of the same name , also leaves the Mountain Road . In this area there is also a campsite and a holiday hut, and there is also access to the nearby ski areas.

Ancram site

The unnamed area in Ancram forms the center piece of the park and stretches along the border to the south, always along the slope of the Berkshire Taconics and over Boston Corner , the triangle between Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York ( ⊙ ).

Rudd Pond Area

Rudd Pond Area is located in the northeast corner of Dutchess County in the area of ​​"Town" North East, north of the village of Millerton . The parcel is named after the lake of the same name ( ⊙ ), which lies at the foot of the Berkshire Taconics in a valley that runs parallel to the valley of the Webatuck River. Another pond is the deep Ore Pit Pond (Old Iron Ore Mine Pit), the name of which suggests its earlier use for iron ore mining. There are also other mining monuments in the area, as well as several ponds and the historic The Watershed Center and the Iron Works Museum .

Rudd Pond at night as seen from Rudd Pond Road.

Freetime activities

In the parcels of the park, camping opportunities are offered in the Copake Falls Area and in the Rudd Pond Area, as well as log cabins. Lifeguards are on duty in summer and there are guided tours. You can also go skiing and ice skating in winter and hunting, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities all year round. There are entry points to the hiking trails on Rudd Pond Road , Quarry Hill Road - where the South Taconic Trail in North East begins; on Undermountain Road in Ancram, on Falls Road , Valley Road and Sunset Rocks Road in Copake Falls. Bash Bish Falls is a short walk from Massachusetts.

The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is a paved cycle and pedestrian path that should lead over from Wassaic to Chatham, New York . The route should ultimately be 46 mi (74 km) long.

The South Taconic Trail runs along the western edge of the South Taconic Range, parallel to the Appalachian Trail , which runs along the east edge. In this course, the Appalachian Bald offers particularly good vantage points with a view of the Hudson River Valley . The South Taconic Trail also leads to the Bash Bish falls. Mount Frissell , the highest point in Connecticut , is accessible via the Appalachian Trail from an entrance to the Ancram trail. The Alander Mountain Trail and Mount Frissel Trail connect the Appalachian Trail with the campsites of Copake Falls Campground and with the South Taconic Trail.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  2. ^ Taconic State Park – Copake Falls Area. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 2016-04-02.
  3. ^ Friends of Taconic State Park .
  4. ↑ Harlem Valley Trail.
  5. ↑ http://www.nynjtc.org/content/south-taconic-trail-extension

Web links