Hand Hollow

Sponsored by Columbia Land Conservancy

• Location: New York
• Travel Type: Walking
• Trip Time: 30 minutes
• Language:

The nonprofit land trust, the Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC), welcomes you to Hand Hollow in Columbia County, NY.

This audio walking tour takes you along 2.8 miles of trails through a 447-acre conservation preserve. The route will take you through a white pine forest, a meadow, a wetland, and a woodland with access to Meizinger Lake.

Hand Hollow is an excellent place for hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and picnicking. You can also enjoy kayaking and canoeing on the Lake. In the winter, the preserve is open to cross-country skiing. The trails are easy to moderate and may be muddy after rain. If you are going to fish, make sure to get your New York State fishing license and local fishing permit.

This audio tour allows you to learn about the natural and cultural history of the preserve while you hike and recreate.

You will learn about the history of Samuel Hand, from whom the preserve gets its name. And the other former small family properties that make up the area.

You will hear stories about the regional ecology and the impact this preserve has on the local watershed. As you keep your eyes out for beavers, otters, herons, and different tree species, you will learn about their importance to the local ecosystem.

Tour Sponsors
Hand Hollow Conservation Area was made possible through the vision and generosity of families who understood the importance of protecting open space and wildlife habitat for future generations.

The CLC sponsored this tour. The CLC works to conserve the farmland, forests, wildlife habitat, and rural character of Dutchess County and Columbia County, New York. They strive to strengthen the connections between people and the land.

Since its founding in 1986, it has collaborated with partners to preserve the County’s vibrant rural character. It has conserved more than 30,000 acres of farmland, forests, and wildlife habitat to ensure clean air and water, healthy ecosystems, a robust agricultural sector, and a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.

CLC cultivates connection to the land by providing outdoor and education activities at 10 Public Conservation Areas, supporting agriculture by ensuring prime farmland continues to be available to the next generation of farmers, and promoting land protection and smart land use planning.

Find More Tours Near You
If you enjoy this tour, check out all ten audio tours presented by The Columbia Land Conservancy: Overmountain Fox Hill, High Falls, Overmountain Gazebo, Siegel-Kline Kill, Ooms, Schor, Harris, Drowned Lands Swamp, Greenport, and Hand Hollow.

In addition, you can find other tours in New York State or wherever your travels may take you at TravelStorys.com. Every place has a story.