Ferncliff Forest

View of the Catskill Escarpment, the Kingston–Rhinecliff Bridge and the Hudson River from a tower at the Ferncliff Forest preserve

Ferncliff Forest is a 200-acre (0.81 km2) old-growth forest preserve of deciduous and hemlock trees located in Rhinebeck, a town in the northern part of Dutchess County, New York, US.[1] The property had been bought in 1900 by John Jacob Astor IV and remained in the Astor family until 1964, when it was donated as a forest preserve and game refuge.[2]

The preserve is maintained by a private nonprofit organization. Observation towers on the property were used for map-making, surveillance for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's home during World War II, and recreational sight-seeing.[3] Visitors can camp and hike the four miles (6.4 km) of trails free-of-charge.

The most recently built observation tower in Ferncliff Forest measures 80 feet (24 m) tall, with 109 steps. It was erected in 2007, the first since 1941 in New York. In 1942, during World War II, the observation towers in Ferncliff Forest were manned by soldiers from the United States Army Air Forces 24 hours a day. The newest tower was constructed as a gift to the community for recreational purposes including hiking and mountain biking with an intricate trail system.[4]

  1. ^ "THE 12534: Ferncliff Forest Game Refuge and Forest Preserve". www.the12534.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  2. ^ Buff, Sheila (March 25, 2009). "A Look-Out Falls in Ferncliff Forest" (PDF). About Town. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  3. ^ "Rhinebeck NY - Ferncliff Forest". www.ferncliffforest.org. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  4. ^ Ferncliff Forest 2, retrieved 2015-10-15