The Plotter Kill Preserve
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The Almy D. Coggleshall Plotter Kill Preserve is a 632-acre nature reserve and hiking area located on Route 159 in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, New York State.
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Description
The Almy D. Coggleshall Plotter Kill Preserve is a 632-acre nature reserve and hiking area located on Route 159 in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, New York State.
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The Plotter Kill Preserve is a nice place to take a hike in the Capital Region. The trails are maintained and easy to follow. Fencing can be found near the areas where there is a risk of a fall. There is a great deal of signage on the trails to direct you where to go. The views of the waterfalls are very good. There are nice viewing platforms to get a glimpse of the different waterfalls. A few trails run parallel to the stream and these are very nice. The trails are well shaded and this is a good place to go when it is warmer. There are some steep spots on the trails, so you have to watch your footing. Cell service in the area is good. At the parking areas they ask you to take a picture of the trail map for safety. It would be good if they offered paper trail maps or you could download them to your phone. Definitely, a hidden gem in the area. If you’re up for a nice hike to catch a glimpse of some nice waterfalls this hike is for you.
Ryan MazierskiRyan Mazierski
00
One of the best trails in the area, however there is much potential for injury and in some cases, fatality. Many of the trails border along steep ledges; this combined with muddy trails and roots/rocks coming up out of the ground makes it somewhat perilous. There are a few spots to check out the falls from right on top of it, but they too are dangerous and should be enjoyed with caution. Other than the potentially dangerous situations, this is a beautiful place. Glad to see they put some work into it since the last time I visited, especially the large ropes around the steep edges. I took my son here, who is 11, and we had a blast. It was also a great learning experience for him, as self-awareness is key in traversing some of the offbeat trails. Stay mindful of your surroundings and you will have a great time!
Richard LymanRichard Lyman
00
These photos are from 2016. The waterfall at this preserve is gorgeous. An easy trail to navigate as well. The Almy D. Coggleshall Plotter Kill Preserve is a 632-acre (256 ha) nature reserve and hiking area located on Route 159 in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, New York State. The preserve is named after Almy D. Coggleshall, who was central in creating the trail at Plotter Kill while a member of the Schenectady County Environmental Advisory Council. In 1990 the preserve was renamed in his honor.[2] While the preserve is a forest containing a mixture of hardwood and conifers, its main feature is the Plotter Kill gorge. The gorge was cut by melt waters at the close of the ice ages approximately 10,000 years ago.
Adam G.Adam G.
30
Update 2022. Expanded parking area. New trail access added. Easy walk in for all trails now and great access for emergency responders. Fencing added to keep you from slippery trail edges. Great preserve. 4 waterfalls and some really nice hiking. 2 entrances, one on Mariaville Rd, the other on Coplon Rd. If you want to get to the top quick go from Mariaville Rd. If you want to see the bottom of the falls, go from Coplon Rd. Lots of small creeks and pools to explore with the kids. Find salamanders, frogs, crayfish and little fish with the little ones. Dog friendly but there are a good number of them so keep them leashed!
Joseph StaceyJoseph Stacey
80
This spot is right outside of Schenectady, and it is a great place for a nature walk. If you do the full loop around the gorge you get a decent workout and walk through pretty woods and some clearings. There are some spots where it is easy to lose the trail, so it helps to use the Alltrails app to make sure you're in the right place. The falls are gorgeous but can be dangerous if you aren't careful. Because of its proximity to the city, there will be a lot of people out on a nice day. It's great to see people utilizing the place, but we spotted a bit of litter, which is unfortunate.
Summer WilberSummer Wilber
20
I have been coming to this trail for over 20 years. At first, I thought that the improvements made for vehicle/ambulance accessibility because of the recent accident there would take away from the natural beauty of the preserve and cut you off from the scenery, but I was so wrong! The parking is tripled, the beginning trails have been groomed, some barriers have placed in the most dangerous areas, but mostly, they left everything accessible and let you make your own decisions. Beautiful waterfalls, views, wildlife and trails!
Christie TorresChristie Torres
30
Reviews
Overview
4.6
(363 reviews)
Phone
(518) 386-2225
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Deep Dive
A deep dive into The Plotter Kill Preserve
