Christiana Natural Area, Schenectady NY

The trails are overgrown, markers lacking in some places, and difficult to follow. Ideal if you are looking for a short, flat, but relatively wild hike. The marshy meadows are beautiful and lightly visited in all seasons. The preserve is quite nice in the winter after a deep freeze that makes the wet sections more passable. Ideal if you can follow the tracks through some spots.

Take tick prevention precautions. Would not recommend taking children under 5.

This is very much a natural area. If you are expecting nice, well maintained trails, you won't find them here! If you want to hike in here, prepare for strenuous hiking with poorly marked "trails". Bring a compass if you do not have a good sense of direction, or a gps. Expect ticks. That being said, I had a big adventure in here. After the first bridge, the trail basically turned into a herd path through the bushes. After coming to the marsh area on the left, the trail continues around it. I came to an spot where the stream was quite deep, so I went to the right to go around. I followed deer trails and came back around into a clearing where I found a blue trail marker. The trail quickly turned back into marsh bushwhacking. I came across another bridge that "crossed" the Indian kill. It was more like a bridge in the middle of a pond. Not wanting to turn around, I continued on through the marsh near the property line marked with posted signs. After getting back into the woods, I turned southwest again and found yellow trail markers. I followed a vague trail until it came out at the junction of the blue trail near the entrance. I wore muck boots, but in one spot the water was up to my knees. I did spot many birds, frogs, snakes, deer and flowers. It was an adventure to be sure! I would not recommend this for children or physically unfit people. I am not very fit and barely made it!