The 30 Best Turtles in New York City, New York

Welcome to Sagg Swamp Preserve, a hidden gem located at Sagaponack Road in Sagaponack, New York, at the southern end of the Long Pond Greenbelt. As both a park and a tourist attraction, Sagg Swamp offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore one of the largest and most diverse red maple swamps on Long Island’s South Fork. Spanning over 105 acres, this preserve is a haven for nature enthusiasts, botanists, and bird watchers alike. At the heart of Sagg Swamp, a freshwater stream bisects the wild swamp and tangled woodland, creating a picturesque landscape with stunted red maples and lush carpets of sphagnum moss. This unique habitat, once home to historic gristmills and a brewery in the 1600s to 1800s, has since returned to its natural state, offering a rich tapestry of history and ecology.

Welcome to Lake Julia Preserve, a serene haven for nature enthusiasts nestled in the foothills of the western Adirondack Mountains in Remsen, New York. Located on Roberts Road, this stunning park and tourist attraction offers a unique opportunity to explore a rich tapestry of mature northern hardwood forests, pristine streams, and sparkling lakes. Managed by The Nature Conservancy, the preserve is a living classroom for ecological teaching and research, frequented by faculty and students from Utica College's Department of Biology. Established in 1976 through the generous donation of Cynthia Anne Gibson, whose family cherished this land since the late 1800s, Lake Julia Preserve has continued to evolve. In 2008, a dedicated Eagle Scout developed a two-mile loop trail, enhancing accessibility and offering visitors a more immersive experience in nature. This trail, open year-round from dawn to dusk, is perfect for hiking, bird watching, nature study, and cross-country skiing.