Cornwall – Nature Trails, Forest and History

Cornwall offers various ways to enjoy nature and history during a trip. The Outdoor Discovery Campus features hiking trails, a restored wetland and Grasshopper Grove, a nature play area. Black Rock Forest is known for its forest landscape, with lakes and streams; Storm King State Park has a hiking trail of a known length. Nearby Cornwall, you can also find kayaking opportunities on the Hudson River. The Sands-Ring Homestead adds a historical dimension. When planning your trip, you can consider whether nature and play, forest, hiking, water or history should be your main focus.

Hiking Trails and Nature at the Outdoor Discovery Campus

The Outdoor Discovery Campus has 10 miles of hiking trails and a five-acre restored wetland. The trails are open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset. These hours provide a specific timeframe for planning a visit to the trails; they apply to the hiking trails. Grasshopper Grove is a nature play area on the campus, adding a dedicated play space to its nature attractions. This allows families to accommodate different interests: a hike, a look at a restored wetland or the nature play area. Each feature offers a different way to engage with the campus landscape.

Forest Landscape and a Trail of a Specified Length

Black Rock Forest covers 3,920 acres. Its landscape includes dramatic topography, numerous lakes and streams, and a wide diversity of species and habitats. The forest is open to the public each year and welcomes more than 8,000 students, from elementary through college level. This place combines a forest landscape with a wide range of habitats and an educational dimension. If you are especially interested in forests, waterways and natural diversity when planning your trip, you will find a different focus here than at the campus, with its hiking trails, wetland and Grasshopper Grove.

Another specific option is the Highlands Trail in Storm King State Park. It is 5.47 miles long. This distance makes it easier to include a hiking route of a specified length in your plans. It describes the length of the trail; no other characteristics of the route are implied.

The Old Homestead as a Historical Point of Interest

The Sands-Ring Homestead, also known as the Old Homestead, dates back to the 18th century and is one of the oldest buildings in Cornwall. The Old Homestead is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For anyone interested in the history of a place as well as nature and activities, the homestead offers a distinct focus. Its historical significance sets it apart from the nature experiences at the campus and in Black Rock Forest.

Kayaking Nearby

Donahue Memorial Park is located nearby, on the banks of the Hudson River. The park has a boat launch, and kayaking is also available there from Mountain Valley Guides and Storm King Adventure Tours. This adds a water-based activity to the hiking and forest attractions. If kayaking is a key part of your trip, you can consider Donahue Memorial Park as a point of reference for this focus. These activities add an option on the Hudson River to the selection of nature and outdoor pursuits.

When looking for a holiday rental in Cornwall, you can start by weighing up what you want your trip to include: a nature play area and wetland, forest and waterways, a hiking trail of a known length, kayaking nearby or a historic site. If you are traveling with children, Grasshopper Grove may be a special point of interest; the other attractions offer further options for shared interests.

Discover More Places

If you’d like to browse more destination pages: Cornwall-On-Hudson, Middletown, New Hampton, Montgomery, Newburgh, Florida, West Point and Walden.

For the main travel overview: Orange.