Edie Road (County Forest)
Ownership
The Edie Road Forest parcels are owned by Saratoga County.
Trails
The 2.5-mile multi-use trail is open for walkers, cyclists, and even horses. The trail meanders through forest, wetlands, and past the meadow habitat of the endangered Karner blue butterfly. A popular feature of the trail is the whimsical wood carvings that were done by Charley, the former county trail steward. The trail opened in 2010 as part of the The Saratoga County Trails Committee's initiative to open county land to recreational use.
History
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is located on the ancestral homelands of the Mohican, Mohawk, and Abenaki people. The Edie Road trails are made up of three Saratoga County owned parcels, Ketchum, Hudson, and Traver. The Ketchum Lot was purchased in 1939 and the other two added in 1957. Much of these three lots was planted as red pine plantation and there have been timber harvests over the years. In 2007, some of the timber was harvested and the forest was converted into open meadows as habitat for the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The County did this in collaboration with NYS DEC and The Nature Conservancy.
Description
While there is a great deal of planted red pine, there is still much natural forest and wetland. There are some very unique red maple swamps that can be found when you enter the trail from the Edie Road Parking Lot. The trails are wide and some are converted logging roads. In the spring, there are often wet areas that cover the trails.
Uses
The Edie Road trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk. Unleashed dogs, dumping, unauthorized vehicles, fires, and camping are prohibited. The trail allows all non-motorized uses, including hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. Trail riding is also allowed. Hunting, fishing, and trapping are permitted in season in accordance with NYS DEC rules.
Directions
GPS 43°06'50.9"N 73°39'40.6"W