A Peaceful Meadow Alive with Pollinators and Native Plants

Overview

This gently sloping, 9-acre preserve features an open meadow full of native grasses and sedges, rushes, wildflowers, and shrubs. The landscape is actively managed to promote biodiversity.

Ecology

In late summer and early fall, various species of goldenrod and other wildflowers attract thousands of insects—from beetles, bees, and wasps to dragonflies and butterflies. Monarchs, tiger swallowtails, and orange fritillaries dance among the blooming wildflowers.

The preserve also supports one of the region’s last remaining colonies of the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, whose population is in steep decline. The Baltimore Checkerspot’s host plant, white turtlehead, is heavily grazed by deer and outcompeted by invasive species, so Westchester Land Trust is reestablishing stands of this native perennial in the wetter areas of the preserve.

A small stream bisects the preserve, and a small wooden footbridge crosses the water. The preserves edges include old field and forest habitat, scattered shrubs, and a small wetland. Raptor sightings—especially red-tailed hawks and American kestrels—are common overhead, while bluebirds and red-wing blackbirds offer fascinating sights and sounds.

The meadow is mowed in spring to manage woody vegetation, mile-a-minute, and invasive shrubs, and encourage wildflower blooms. Spring mowing allows important pollinators to overwinter in hollow stems and other vegetative litter and emerge as temperatures rise in early spring. Westchester Land Trust is also managing emerging invasives like cutleaf blackberry, which can pose a threat to the shrubland and old field habitats.

History

This preserve lies within the traditional territories of the Lenape people, and their culture and traditions live on today.

From 1935 to 1960, the preserve was part of the Pine Croft Farm, where cows grazed and corn and hay were grown. Earl and Kathryn Smith owned the farm, and their daughter, Susan Henry, was a founding Board Member of Westchester Land Trust.

Westchester Land Trust now owns and stewards the land thanks to a gift from the Katzenbach family in honor of L. Emery Katzenbach.

Bedford Audubon Society holds a conservation easement on the preserve.

Know Before You Go

Pine Croft Meadow Preserve welcomes visitors of all abilities. The following trail information is provided to help all visitors, including those using mobility devices or with other disabilities, plan their visit.

 

Map of Pine Croft Meadow Preserve in Waccabuc, NY showing the trail, habitat type, and elevation.

Download Trail Map

The Entrance Trail is 0.14 miles with a gravel surface and a grassy median and edges that are generally firm and stable under dry conditions but may become soft or slippery after heavy or persistent rain, which may affect traction for mobility devices.

TRAIL SURFACE: Gravel with grassy median and edges. TREAD OBSTACLES: Small rocks, grass clippings. WIDTH: The trail at its narrowest is 7 feet wide and is typically 7 feet wide. RUNNING SLOPE: The maximum running slope is 10 percent, and the average slope is 4 percent. CROSS SLOPE: The maximum cross slope is 1 percent, and the average cross slope is 1 percent. BRIDGE: The Entrance Trail crosses a small wood bridge (8,000-pound weight limit, 26 feet long, 12 feet wide). The ends of the bridge are on grade with the trail, with no appreciable lip. The wood surface is rough, with little to no gaps between boards. There is a handrail on both sides.

After the bridge, the Entrance Trail connects to the Meadow Trail is 0.19 miles mowed grass loop over a gentle slope through the meadow. The trail is generally firm and stable under dry conditions; after rainfall the grass may become soft or slippery, which may impact the traction for walkers and mobility device users. Watch for occasional rodent tunnels, which may create soft or unstable patches. Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility devices, or other adaptive equipment should use caution in these areas.

TRAIL SURFACE: Mowed grass. TREAD OBSTACLES: Rodent tunnels, protruding roots, fallen branches. WIDTH: The trail at its narrowest is 6 feet, with an average width of 7 feet. RUNNING SLOPE: The maximum running slope is 8 percent and the average slope is 4.5 percent. CROSS SLOPE: The maximum cross slope is 9 percent and the average cross slope is 4 percent. BENCH: A metal bench with a backrest sits under a tree at the top of the meadow, offering shade and a scenic pause.

There are no restroom facilities. Please keep our preserves safe by respecting the land, wildlife, and people.

If you have questions about accessibility, adaptive use of the trail, or need specific information to plan your visit, please contact us at 914-234-6992 or info@westchesterlandtrust.org.

Wooden bridge crossing a stream at Pine Croft Meadow Preserve.

Conservation Values

This preserve is one of the actively managed meadows in the 22,000-acre Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor, a region recognized for its exceptional native biodiversity.

Pine Croft Meadow Preserve is in the Waccabuc River and Cross River Reservoir watershed, which supplies water to more than 9 million people in New York City and Westchester County.

  • Drinking water protection
  • Meadow, old field, and shrubland habitat
  • Wetland habitat
  • Biodiversity

Activities

Activities appropriate for this preserve include walking, including adaptive hiking and mobility devices; birding; nature study; and photography.

 

Directions and Parking

Pine Croft Meadow Preserve is located at 100 Mead Street, just past Waccabuc Country Club on Route 35 in Waccabuc.

After turning into the preserve entrance, park in the gravel lot on the right. One designated parking space (ADA-compliant) is marked with blue traffic whiskers and is located closest to the preserve trail entrance.

Please do not block the gravel lane, which is a shared driveway with a private landowner.

The preserve’s kiosk is approximately 0.1 miles from the parking area.