A property that conservation advocates describe as a critical link on New York’s Shawangunk Ridge is now protected, and it will likely soon be open to hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing.
The Open Space Institute (OSI) recently announced it has purchased 89 acres at the southern end of the Shawangunk Ridge in Sullivan County, New York. The property is located between Wurtsboro Ridge and Roosa Gap State Forests, closing a critical conservation gap between the two conserved areas.
OSI has directly protected more than 40,000 acres along the Shawangunk Ridge, a 50-mile corridor stretching from the New Jersey border to Ulster County.
OSI officials said the purchase allows an opportunity to create new trail alignments and connections, adding to the growing network of publicly available lands that have made the Shawangunk Ridge a popular recreational destination.
Additionally, the Long Path and the Shawangunk Ridge Trail meet and pass through the property, and the historic alignment of the O&W Railroad and the D&H Canal is less than a quarter mile from the tract.
The property features wetlands, seasonal vernal pools, and a small stream that flows into the Basher Kill and onward to the Neversink and Delaware Rivers—watersheds that provide drinking water for millions of people, including residents of northeastern Pennsylvania, Trenton, Philadelphia, New York City, and beyond.
OSI purchased the land from the Tuxedo Sportsmen’s Association for $375,000 and intends to transfer the property to DEC as a new addition to Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest.
Once transferred to DEC, the property will be open for public recreation for activities outlined in the site’s management plan. Permitted uses may include hiking, hunting, cross-country skiing, and camping. During OSI’s ownership, the property will not be open to the public.
