A gorgeous Thursday was in the forecast with nearly 100% sun and temps climbing through the 50's and into the low 60's. Drove out to Glenridge, which is about 5 miles north of Schenectady and visited the 100 acre Indian Kill Preserve, which is owned and managed by the Schenectady County Nature and Historic Preserve.
The preserve is a narrow strip of land that follows the banks and bluffs of the stream. A foot bridge over a small dam that was used to impound water for the former Glenridge Hospital.
A blue and red trail follow the banks of the Indian Kill for most of the way. There are several sections of fast flowing water interchanged with calm, quiet sections.
Several very small cascades flow over rocks.
A small bluff provides this view down over the stream.
The first waterfall you come to is a very pretty falls, roughly 4-5 feet in height, with a small pool below.
You can step out onto for a closer look, on the dry shale and limestone which also make up the creek bed here.
The smaller cascades just above the bigger falls.
Continuing upstream the creek continues to ramble along.
A beautiful morning along the creek.
The first mill on the Indian Kill dates back prior to 1800 and was more than likely a carding mill.
The second falls is a larger waterfall at well over 6 feet and has many ledges near the top. Unfortunately due to some lingering ice and higher water, the best look I could obtain was from the bluffs above.
The stream flows for 15 miles total, before meeting up with the Alpaus Kill and eventually emptying into the Mohawk River.
Much of the trail is at the base of the steep bluffs, and can be muddy especially in the springtime.
The preserve has a trail on the opposite side of the creek that can be accessed at low water levels during the summer. Today, however the water levels were too high to cross so walked about 2 miles total RT. After visiting with my girlfriend for an hour or so, I headed back out to Duanesburg and the Christman Sanctuary, a Nature Conservancy property.
The trail heads through open fields and on into the woods from there. Temperatures had really jumped up through the afternoon along with a stiff breeze, making for a pleasant walk.
Once into the woods and after a stream crossing, the trail passes through a young forest on its way to the Bozen Kill.
An interesting section of trail along the banks of the Bozen Kill near the lower falls.
The lower falls(just below the main falls) is a beautiful spot.
A closer look at the stunning waterfall.
Interesting ice formations on the extremely steep bluffs over the creek.
A very nice lean to can be found near the bottom of the main waterfall.
An area of swift moving water just below the main falls and pool.
The main falls at the preserve are very picturesque, dropping into a large pool below.
It is said that these falls from the top are up to 30 feet high.
The preserve is centered around the Bozen Kill, a beautiful stream of rocky sandstone and crumbling shale.
Many smaller cascades and swift moving water can be enjoyed on the trail.
A pretty falls further downstream dropping several feet along this ledge.
There are many cascades and falls along much of the creek at the preserve.
Several robust falls in close proximity to each other make for a very scenic walk.
Even in the woods, small streams were flowing down the hillsides with their own small cascades, due to recent snow melt.
A puncheon through a typically soggy area of the trail.
I saw several others on the trail, out soaking in the springtime warmth on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. Overall, it was a fantastic spring day and hiked a total of about 3.5 miles total for the day.
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