Snake Hill – Currently closed to public

Saratoga PLAN held an informational Zoom meeting on the future management of Snake Hill on Wednesday, February 26th. Thank you to those who attended!

Topics covered:

Introduction to PLAN
Snake Hill’s Protection
Community Benefits
What We Heard
Future Management
Questions & Discussion

For those unable to attend, the recorded meeting and slide deck are now available:

Recorded Zoom Meeting

Slide Deck

Our Management Approach to Snake Hill

FOCUS: Education and resource protection using an adaptive management approach

Provide the public an opportunity to experience Snake Hill with small groups of visitors

Maintain a wild place that can be seen from many locations along Saratoga Lake

Make sure that Snake Hill visitors, neighbors, and surrounding communities can safely access, park, and enjoy Snake Hill

Ensure Saratoga PLAN and its partners have the capacity and appropriate programming for public access

Snake Hill is a 30-acre forested dome located in the Town of Stillwater that prominently stands on the eastern side of Saratoga Lake. Its 200 foot rise over the lakeshore makes it one of the most iconic landmark properties on Saratoga Lake that can be seen for miles.

A major conservation milestone was achieved with the $1 million acquisition of Snake Hill, Saratoga Lake’s largest unprotected shoreline, in 2023. Funding from New York State enabled Saratoga PLAN to secure the property from Stewart’s Shops.

“Protect Snake Hill Forever” Fundraising Campaign

Thanks to more than 90 individuals, the $50,000 challenge match was met by the December 31st deadline! This match was made possible by the generosity of Michelle and Walt Borisenok.

With these funds, Saratoga PLAN will be able to dedicate the resources and staff time needed to steward Snake Hill and continue our critical mission of conserving special places throughout the Saratoga region.

In total, $233,000 has been raised. We are so grateful to the generous new and longtime donors who contributed to this campaign.

The Snake Hill Formation holds a unique distinction as a remnant of the Taconic Mountain lowlands, dating back 450 million years and boasting trees that have stood for over two centuries. According to Nathaniel Sylvester who collected Native stories about the Saratoga Region in 1884, Snake Hill’s Native name Tor-war-loon-da, means “hill of storms” and has historical significance.

Snake Hill will remain closed to the public for the time being.

Snake Hill’s preservation benefits the community by:

• Protecting shoreline, wetlands, and forest in the Saratoga Lake Watershed, within the second fastest growing county in NYS.
• Preventing pollution which would otherwise deteriorate water quality and foster the growth of harmful algal blooms (HABs), already detected in Saratoga Lake.
• Providing natural climate solutions to weather-related events such as flooding.
• Protecting biodiversity by preventing wildlife habitat loss.

To make a non-cash donation, such as gifts of appreciated stock, click here.

Banner images from left to right: Postcard published by J.S. Wooley, Still by Ryan Campbell of Saratoga Drone, Photo by Michael Gaige, Lithograph by Isidore Laurent Deroy (Yale University Art Gallery)