Tag Archives: nature

Park History, Park Projects, Park Volunteers, Stewardship

Restoring the Cornell Mine Trail at Bear Mountain State Park

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With nearly 450 miles of blazed trails crisscrossing almost 130,000 acres of publicly accessible open space, the Palisades region’s hiking system is among the most expansive in New York State. The region hosts the oldest section of the Appalachian Trail running through Bear Mountain State Park and Trailside Museums and Zoo, an extensive section of the Long Path, approximately 50 miles of carriage roads in Minnewaska, and dozens of other well-loved trails that bring the region’s 7 million annual visitors to waterfalls, wetlands, streams, lakes and forests.

A historical black and white photograph of a man standing on a frozen lake, wearing a suit and a hat, with trees in the background.
A vintage black and white photograph of a man in formal attire standing confidently on a large rock, looking into the distance while shielding his eyes from the sun. The surrounding landscape is rocky and barren, with patches of snow visible.
The original parkfluencer? William T. Howell was an avid hiker and photojournalist whose images were crucial in persuading the public to conserve the lands that are today known as Bear Mountain and Harriman State Parks. And he did it all while wearing a suit and tie. From the collections of the Palisades Interstate Parks Commission.

All of these trails require ongoing maintenance and protection, and we take pride in keeping them safe and traversable for all visitors.

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Family Fun, Fun & Games, Historic Sites, Visitor Gratitude, Wellness

Be Kind, Rewind: Looking Back at State Parks and Historic Sites in 2025

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The Centennial celebration of 2024 was a tough act to follow! We launched the second century of Parks and Historic Sites by meeting the moment and building towards the future, and even welcoming the entire golfing world to Bethpage State Park for the Ryder Cup. Let’s take a look back at the year that was!

New Yorkers took on the Wellness Challenge by completing missions at their favorite parks and historic sites, engaging their minds and bodies and building community. Some of them even shared pictures!
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Flora & Fauna, Park Projects, Research, Stewardship

A Year in the Field With the NY Natural Heritage Program

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Established in 1985, the New York Natural Heritage Program is a partnership between the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The program’s mission is to determine the location and status of New York’s plants, animals, and ecological communities and provide this information to public agencies and scientific and educational institutions to facilitate conservation. Today, they count multiple non-profits, local governments, federal institutions, and state agencies among their partners — including New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites. You may have heard about their long-term firefly study at several of our parks. Ecologist Julie Lundgren shares more highlights from their year of work in New York State Parks.

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Cool Science, Flora & Fauna

Bark, Buds and Beyond: A Guide to Identifying Winter Trees  

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When the weather turns brisk and the leaves have dropped, tree identification can feel like a puzzle with missing pieces. But winter reveals its own set of clues — bark, buds, branch patterns, fruit and leaf scars. By learning to read these signs, you’ll see your winter woods in a new light. 

Bark: The Tree’s First Impression 

Bark is often the first clue you’ll notice. Some trees have such distinctive bark that once you have learned to recognize it, you can spot it instantly.  

Image showing the bark textures of five different tree species: American Beech, Shagbark Hickory, Sycamore, Black Cherry, and Yellow Birch.
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Flora & Fauna, Stewardship

Protecting Rare Species in New York’s State Parks

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What do a bare-cheeked bumblefly, a brown bog sedge, and a Blanding’s turtle have in common?

Not only are they living organisms that start with the letter B, but more importantly, they are all considered to be rare species in New York State. What does it mean to be a “rare species,” exactly? Rare species are uncommon or few in number and as a result, at a greater risk of extinction than common species. This is because small populations are more susceptible to environmental changes, like flooding or wildfires, and to genetic issues. Some rare species—like the bald eagle, still listed as threatened in New York despite its inspiring national comeback—might be familiar. Others—like the globe-fruited seed-box, grass-leaved ladies’ tresses, hairy-necked tiger beetle, Nuttall’s milkwort, southern pygmy clubtail, or wavy-rayed lampmussel—sound more like they are from a fantasy novel than from New York’s natural areas.

Though you may not see them, our parks and historic sites harbor some of the state’s most imperiled and significant natural assets, supporting 192 species of rare animals and 290 species of rare plants. In some cases, these sites support the only occurrences of a rare species in the state, or even in the world! Read on to learn about a few examples of rare species.

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