PROTECTED HABITAT AREAS

WLC protects hundreds of acres of land throughout the eastern Catksills area. While we are pleased to steward five preserves with public trails, we also steward lands that are either limited in terms of public access due to parking challenges or available to the public due to a variety of limitations. We're still proud to ensure these land remain preserved forever. Here are a few of those special habitats.

AREAS WITH LIMITED PARKING
Sawkill Bend off West Ohayo Mountain Road (Bearsville)
Donated to WLC in 2006, this 7-acre property features rugged woodland and sensitive Sawkill River streambanks, across from the town water supply wellheads at Mallory Grove.

Ludins Field, Chestnut Hill Road (Woodstock)
First placed under easement and then given to WLC as an outright gift in 1995 by the renowned Woodstock artist
Eugene Ludins. This 6-acre property has an open meadow offering a direct view of Overlook Mountain.

PRIVATE LANDS OWNED BY WLC
Forestland on Mount Guardian
WLC’s protection of this scenic and ecological gem began in 2000 with the outright gift of two ridgeline parcels
totaling 18 acres. WLC has since added six more parcels, totaling nearly 110 acres. Besides safeguarding views of
one of Woodstock's most iconic ridgelines, this preserve meets habitat conservation goals, connecting valley
bottoms to mountainsides and peaks, creating habitat corridors for diverse or threatened natural species and
protecting Mt. Guardian's mixed hardwood and coniferous forest ecosystem and the critters that thrive there.

Forestland in Saugerties
WLC owns 75 acres of undeveloped forest land in the Town of Saugerties which protects part of a large and intact forest ecosystem designated as a Globally Important Forest Block. Areas such as these have the potential to support wide ranging as well as area sensitive species, especially those which require interior forest habitat. Globally Important forests are large enough to support genetic diversity over several generations and are more resilient and better adapted to the changing climate.

65 Acres on Mt. Tobias (Woodstock)
Thanks to our incredible supporters, we secured the funding needed to close on this property in May 2025.