Cranberry Lake Preserve

Located in Westchester County, New York, with parking on-site and restrooms, this half-day hiking adventure features different levels of trails to hike, picnic areas, wildlife to photograph, and views of stunning lakes, even if you choose the easiest trail!

For this experience, don't forget to wear long socks and a generous amount of bug spray.

Ticks may be found in this area, and like in any other natural environment, tons of flying bugs. I always avoid wearing perfume when going on a nature walk since it tends to attract them.

Skip the perfume and instead do not forget that bug spray, nature lovers!

Restrooms onsite! Although they're not luxurious, it's more private than the path.

Monday - Sunday, the entrance gate is open from 9:30AM - 4PM.

There are quite a few picnic tables at this site where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or early dinner with family or friends.

Ken is never hike-ready without first eating a hearty sandwich so we were excited to see a nice area for him to enjoy his meal. 10/10

For hiking information, you'll find maps right at the trailhead. We're so used to trailheads having only one map on display that you can’t take with you, so we usually snap a photos just in case we get lost, but at this site, they provide maps if you want to bring one along with you! I doubt you’ll get lost here though since the trail markers are everywhere.

The easiest trails are the Yellow or Blue Loop. Each is about a mile long and great for a walk in nature. It was our first visit to Cranberry Lake Preserve so we followed the yellow trail markers which were easy to follow along the way.

Although you get stunning views, and a good amount of time in nature, we felt the Yellow Loop was not enough of a hike if you're a more experienced hiker, or looking for a workout.

While walking we heard a lot of rustling sounds from the bushes and leaves. We both heard it at one point and were surprised to see a black snake quickly crossing through a leafy area. It wasn't a large one, but it still made us hyper-aware that we were in a natural environment, and not in the city.. there's tons of wildlife in this area!

We saw a few gray, black, and red squirrels, many little chipmunks, the cutest tiny baby rabbit, all different kinds of birds, and lots of spiders and bugs. The Yellow Loop thankfully had areas where you walk on planks to avoid the leafy grounds that I'm sure the snakes love...

Before wrapping up any nature adventure, try not to forget to check your clothing and skin for ticks and tick bites, and if found, carefully remove any attached ticks immediately.

Address: 1609 Old Orchard St, West Harrison, NY 10604

https://parks.westchestergov.com/cranberry-lake

Photographs taken by Mandy Lopata at Cranberry Lake Preserve 07/24/2022.