In the stream, you’ll find trout, pickerel, or bullhead (fishing
is allowed with a permit). Along the banks, you may see
rare, threatened, and endangered species like swamp birch,
handsome sedge, marsh valerian, and bog turtles.
Drowned Lands Swamp
654 County Route 3
Ancram, NY 12502
site history and animals
site history and animals
In the meadows, you can spot a number of different flowers,
such as a beardtongue, blue-stem goldenrod, thimbleweed, wild
ginger, wild geranium, and white wood aster.
In the forest, listen for the sounds of birds. Drowned Lands
is home to swamp sparrows, a variety of herons, kingbirds,
wrens, downy woodpeckers, palm warblers, and black-capped
chickadees.
Bog Turtle
Site History
Sixty-two of this site are part of the Drowned Lands Swamp
complex, one of the largest wetlands in New York. Local
folklore recounts stills operating during Prohibition, either on
the property or across the road. Reportedly, still operators used
the flagpole at the top of Old Croken to notify potential buyers
when batches were ready.
Project History
In 1995, the Salisbury Bank and Trust Company of
Connecticut generously donated approximately 100 acres of
land to CLC, establishing what is now the Drowned Lands
Swamp Conservation Area. CLC enlarged the area in 2000
through an additional acquisition. We thank the Salisbury
Bank and Trust Company, the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, the
Prospect Hill Foundation, New York State Senator Stephen
Saland, and numerous private donors and volunteers. CLC
would also like to thank our conservation partners American
Farmland Trust, The Nature Conservancy, the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation, Trout Unlimited,
the Wellspring Foundation, and the Columbia County
Sportsmen’s Federation.
Wild Geranium
Get in Touch
Columbia Land Conservancy
49 Main Street
Chatham, NY 12037
518.392.5252
[email protected]
www.clctrust.org
The Columbia Land Conservancy
works with the community to conserve
the farmland, forests, wildlife habitat,
and rural character of Columbia
County, strengthening connections
between people and the land.
All donations are tax-deductible to the
fullest extent of the law.
Green Heron
Image Lynne Harding
Public Conservation Area
Trail Guide & Map
Drowned Lands Swamp
Getting There
Natural Communities
Enjoy Your Day,
Respect the Setting.
Drowned Lands Swamp
Conservation Area
Ancram, New York
114 acres, 1.5 miles of trails, easy to strenuous hiking
Drowned Lands Swamp encompasses
114 acres, and boasts a meadow,
wetlands, a stream, and a 350-foot
knoll with expansive views of the full
Drowned Lands Swamp complex and
nearby protected farmland.
0
0.0275 0.055
0.11
0.165
• Pets. All dogs must be on a leash and
owners must remove dog waste.
3
ute
o
yR
t
un
Co
• Hours and fees. Drowned Lands is open
dawn to dusk. Admission is free.
Miles
0.22
• Trash. No receptacles are located onsite. Please take your trash with you.
Blue/Swamp Trail
0.5 miles, 15 minutes
The Swamp Trail is a relatively flat trail
that skirts the edge of the Drowned Lands
Swamp and the base of the knoll known
locally as Old Croken. The proximity to
the wetland provides for great wildlife
viewing.
P
Sw
?
am
• Cars and parking. Park only in the
designated parking area.
Cros
pT
ra
il
• Respect the site and its visitors. Audio
equipment and radio use is allowed with
earphones only. Please respect the plants,
animals, and artifacts at the site, as they
are part of what makes these properties
special.
s Tra
il
Punch Brook
I
Green/Summit Trail
0.4 miles, 25 minutes
This steep hike ascends 350 feet up forested
slopes to the northern face of Old Croken.
The peak has spectacular views of the
Berkshire-Taconic Mountains, Catskill
Mountains, and a number of working
farms.
ra
il
• Hunting and fishing are by permit only.
Call CLC to find out more.
Su
mm
it T
Love it Here?
Help Protect this Special Place!
• Volunteer. Help with trail maintenance,
events, and office tasks.
Red/Trail Spurs
There are several short spurs that connect
the Summit and Swamp Trails or lead to
additional viewpoints. One of these trails is
the Cross Trail, the others are un-named.
I
750 feet
Legend
I
CLC Property
0f
ee
t
CLC Trail
Stream
50
850 feet
P
Parking
?
Information Kiosk
I
Point of Interest
• Make a donation. More than 96% of
CLC’s budget comes from grants and
donations from people like you.