Sam's Point Preserve
Ellenville, Ulster Co.
Considered a National Natural Landmark, one of the Earth's Last Great Places, and an Important Bird Area, this awe inspiring preserve along the Shawangunk Ridge is a great place to view a wide variety of raptors and high elevation forest birds, among other wildlife. Sam's Point Preserve features waterfalls, crystalline streams, high-altitude "sky" lakes, dense forests, and sheer cliffs with ledges that open to spectacular views, all within a 90-minute drive of New York City.
Wildlife to Watch
- Sharp-shinned hawks, turkey and black vultures, along with bald eagles and several other species of migrating hawks and falcons.
- Black-billed cuckoos, northern flickers, eastern wood-peewees, least flycatchers, yellow-throated vireos, common ravens, and a variety of warblers and other forest bird species.
- Coyotes, black bears, bobcats, porcupines, white-tailed deer, snowshoe hares, fishers, red foxes and long-tailed weasels.
- Timber rattlesnakes and spotted salamanders.
Where to Watch
- High elevation oak-heath woodlands
- Dwarf pitch pine barrens
- Ridge-top lake
- Ice caves
Recreational Opportunities
- Accessible visitors center (daily parking fee; buses and motor homes accommodated)
- Nature trails, with brochures, lookouts and interpretive signs
- Hunting
- Birdwatching
- Snowshoeing
Size
5,400 acres
Closest Town
Ellenville
Directions
See Google Maps and enter your address for step by step directions to Sam's Point Preserve (This link will open a page outside of the DEC website. Hold Shift down while clicking on the link to open it in a new window.)
Contact Information
Telephone: 845-647-7989
Address: 400 Sam's Point Road, Cragsmoor, NY 12420
Website: Sam's Point Preserve (This link leaves DEC's website)
Photo Credits: Gary Gleason, NYSDEC, Cara Lee