Cranberry Lake Preserve in Westchester County

Although comprising only 165 acres, Cranberry Lake Preserve is surrounded on several sides by watershed lands. It is a quiet oasis in the midst of suburban Westchester County, and offers a pleasant walk around a tranquil lake.

After obtaining a map at the Nature Center, proceed south on a wide yellow-blazed path. At a blue sign to the "Lake," turn left and follow an orange-blazed trail downhill to the shore of Cranberry Lake, then turn right onto a blue-blazed trail. After briefly following the lake shore, the blue trail climbs to ledges that overlook the lake, continuing to parallel it. It crosses a boardwalk and arrives at a junction with a wide path - the route of yellow and red trails.

Turn left onto this wide path, briefly following blue, yellow and red blazes, then turn left at the next junction, immediately crossing the Bent Bridge over a bog. The orange-blazed trail you are following goes through an attractive evergreen grove and runs along old stone walls and the stone foundations of a former farmhouse. At the T-intersection at the end of the orange trail, turn right on a wide, yellow-blazed path and follow it to a Y-intersection, with a sign for the New York City Watershed on a tree.

Bear left here, now following the red-blazed trail known as "The Long Way." This trail, which circles the park, will be your route for most of the remainder of the hike. To the right, marking the boundary between the park and New York City Watershed lands, is an expertly-laid dry stone wall, built over a century ago and still in nearly perfect condition today (except where damaged by fallen trees). Soon, the trail bears left and heads south, continuing to follow the wall. At a fork just beyond a right turn in the wall, bear right and continue to follow the red trail, as an orange-blazed trail proceeds ahead.

At the southern end of the park, with private homes visible ahead, the red trail turns left and begins to head east. Bear right at the next two intersections (with orange- and yellow-blazed trails) and head downhill toward Hidden Pond, continuing to follow the red trail. Cross the outlet of the pond on logs, bear left (north), and soon begin to parallel a wetland on the left. You'll join a yellow-blazed trail and continue along an old, level road, with cliffs to the right.

Soon, the cliffs are supplanted by a crumbling concrete wall. This wall is a remnant of a facility built about 1912 to crush stone that was quarried just to the east of the trail and used for the construction of the Kensico Reservoir. Just beyond, you'll see a wooden observation platform to the left, which affords a view over South Pond. To the west, a boardwalk leads through dense aquatic vegetation. This is a good place to take a break and enjoy the tranquil setting.

When you're ready to continue, return to the main trail and turn left (north), now following yellow, blue and red blazes. Soon, you'll reach a pleasant cascade, with a bench for those who wish to contemplate this beautiful spot. Turn right here, leaving the wide road, and cross the stream on a wooden footbridge, now following blue and red blazes. At the next fork, bear right, as indicated by an arrow with a blue background, and proceed along the red trail through a mountain laurel thicket. After a short climb, you'll emerge onto a small grassy area which overlooks Cranberry Lake.

The trail now descends rather steeply. At the base of the descent, the blue trail joins from the left, and the joint blue-and-red trail crosses a boardwalk. Just beyond, the trails again split. Bear right, continuing to follow the red trail, which crosses another boardwalk and then proceeds along stump slices. Cranberry Lake is visible below to the left.

Passing the northern end of the lake, the red trail continues through the woods and bends to the left. The red blazes are now joined by green blazes. At a T-intersection, the red trail turns right, but you should turn left, following the green blazes. The green blazes are now joined by orange ones. At the next junction, bear left, continuing to follow the orange blazes, and descend to the lake. Turn right on the blue trail, which runs close to the lake shore. When you reach the orange trail on which you descended to the lake, turn right, follow the orange trail back up to the yellow trail, and turn right on the yellow trail to return to the Nature Center where the hike began.