Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve — Attraction in Town of Clifton Park

I discovered this gem of a preserve during the pandemic when I was working remotely from the Capital Region. I had never been before, and on my first or second visit on a chilly, overcast February day I was strolling along the birdwatching trail loop, with my headphones on, when I nearly bumped into a female barred owl just hanging out on a tree branch over the trail, presumably scanning for prey. I had never seen an owl so close up before, and never one with such gorgeous, haunting eyes. I kept a respectful distance and took as many photos as I could. She tolerated me for about 30-60 seconds before slowly turning around and diving off into flight. It was February, so there were no leaves to hide her progress through the silent wood, and her wings made no sound at all. I had never seen a wingspan so big, and the fact that she made no sound at all filled me with a real sense of humility and awe. I had no idea we had such things living amongst us in this area. Needless to say, the experience turned me into a birder for life. Since then, I have been back several times a year to go birding. I've seen Belted Kingfishers and Great Egrets up close, observed beaver on the ice making their homes, and observed snakes and turtles of various kinds in abundance nearly every time I go. Highly recommended for birders, nature enthusiasts, or anyone who just wants to "get away from it all"...

This is a very unique type of nature preserve. It has gravel trails that are well-maintained, which run through many areas of the preserve, which are very suitable for bike riding. If you like to bike ride, you can easily reverse this nature preserve in about an hour and see many different types of habitats and flora. The air is very fresh here. This is something I noticed right away. There is also a canoe and kayak launch, which is gives anyone direct access into the river that borders the nature preserve. You can bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one. In that same area is a place to barbecue and also sit down on very nice chairs. Personally, I took my bike around the trails and had a good time. You can actually go quite fast on these trails if you want to, they are flat and well-maintained. There are also going to be people walking so be careful if you bike ride. Definitely worth checking out - the fresh air combined with the various habitats and wildlife are definitely worth experiencing. I suggest bike riding rather than walking since it is a very large place and you can cover nearly the entire property...

Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve is a great place to take a hike or walk. Altogether there are over 700 acres of wetlands and floodplain that is preserved. The old canal bridge, near the parking lot, is one of the oldest roads in the town of Clifton Park. It is very easy to see wildlife here including birds, deer, beavers, fish, and amphibians. The park connects to the Mohawk Towpath. On the towpath it is possible to walk or bike as far as Glenville or Waterford. On the path there are many local historical sites to be enjoyed. Most of the trails are fairly flat and along the side of a river or a canal. The parking lot here fills up quickly. Be sure to get here to enjoy the wildlife, scenery, and historic sites. If you're going on a longer hike here be sure to have a trail map. They're available online. There are picnic tables along the trails and near the trailhead. This is a perfect destination for a...