ballston creek preserve

The ~33 acre Ballston Creek Preserve in the Town of Ballston contains approximately 1 mile of rugged trails, and is best known for its incredible views overlooking a Great Blue Heron rookery.

In 2005, the Peterson family donated this preserve to Saratoga PLAN so that the land would always remain a sanctuary for wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts alike. The Petersons cared for the property since 1955, and used the land solely for passive recreation. Prior to 1955, the property had been an active farm with fields used for both crops and grazing.

These old farm fields have now re-grown into a beautiful mixed forest of conifer and hardwoods, while occasional older growth trees can still be found along several old rock walls that cross the property. The land is mostly flat, with a total change in elevation of about 30 feet.

This property is an important link in the Ballston Creek Valley Greenway and Wildlife Corridor, and lies just northwest of Shenentaha Park in the Town of Malta. Shenentaha Park not only provides parking areas for those interested in visiting the Ballston Creek Preserve, but also offers a great connection point to the countywide multi-use Zim Smith Trail.

The trails at the Ballston Creek Preserve can get fairly wet, especially in early spring, and appropriate footwear is recommended.

Preserve Rules:

This preserve is open to the public for nature study, walking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Please carry out all your trash and leave only footprints. Dogs must be leashed and under control at all times; please clean up after your pet.

The following activities are NOT permitted on the preserve:

• Cutting, digging, removing, or damaging any tree, shrub, flower, or plant;
• Hunting, trapping, removing, harassing, touching or feeding wildlife;
• Use of firearms, paint ball devices, or artificial light;
• Bicycles, horses, or motorized vehicles, snowmobiles, ATVs, etc.;
• Alcohol or illegal substances; and
• Camping or igniting fires.

Please follow the rules so that this resource can continue to be accessible to the community.

Directions

From Saratoga Springs: Take Route 50 south (Ballston Ave.) toward Ballston Spa for about 6 miles.  Go through the village and turn left at the top of the hill onto East High Street (NY-67).  Go about 1 mile, through the stoplight, and turn right onto East Line Road (aka Route 82).

Continue on East Line for about ½ mile, and park at Shenentaha Park. Cross the road, and walk North (back towards Route 67 intersection/Stewart’s) to the entrance just 22 yards up Eastline Rd – you will see a Saratoga P.L.A.N. sign. (There is a snowmobile trail entrance almost across from Shenantaha, but that is not the entrance to the Ballston Creek Preserve. The Preserve trailhead is right about at the sign that indicates Shenantaha Park 500 feet ahead.)

From I-87: Take Exit 12. From 87 North, turn right onto Route 67. From 87 South, turn left.  Drive approximately 1.5 miles and turn left onto Eastline Road (aka Route 82). Follow directions above from here.

Google Maps here!