Within Landis Arboretum are 30 acres of old-growth forest whose trees range from 150-300 years old. The Ancient Forest Trail is home to many white and red oaks, yellow birch, sugar maple, eastern hemlock, American beech, black birch, hop hornbeam, American basswood, bitternut hickory, and paper birch. The oldest trees along this trail are eastern hemlocks at 200-300 years old. The Woodland Trail is dominated by eastern hemlock, white and red oaks, yellow birch, sugar maple, American beech, black birch, hop hornbeam, and American basswood. It is notable for its massive, old oaks estimated to be 250-300 years old and is a good example of a northeastern old-growth forest.
Pam and I decided to take the drive to Esperance, NY – it was a longer drive than we usually take for a morning hike, but it was well worth it!
Along the way we certainly say all the old growth trees, but we also saw some amazing flowers and some lizards and caterpillars that lived at our feet.
We discovered a trail to a waterfall that was listed as 7 miles round trip. It had us fairly excited for a return trip to see it, however we found that it needs a lot more water than we had today – it was only a “trickle falls”.
Directions:
From Route 30, take Route 20 west. As you enter Esperance, you will cross the Schoharie Creek. Make your first right at the Town Hall onto Charleston Street (There is a green sign for Landis at this intersection). Follow Charleston Street for 1 mile as it turns into Conover Road and bears right 90 degrees. Then turn right onto Lape Road, marked by a Landis Arboretum sign and a Dead End sign. Our main parking lot is 1 mile ahead on your left. You may access both the Woodland Trail and the Willow Pond Trail from the main parking lot. https://goo.gl/maps/PBfyy3XmqKgT2e739