Virtually all of the Preserve is accessible via a 7-mile network of trails that the Land Trust has cleared and improved over the last year. The Land Trust gratefully acknowledges the work of Virginia Ruhland Mauhs in mapping the existing trail network, marking out an important access route (the “Connecting Trail”), arranging for Adirondack Mountain Club Trail Crew members to perform technical trail work in certain steep areas, assisting the Trail Crew, and developing the final trail map for the Preserve.

                                                                    Photo by Steve Swenson

The Preserve can be reached via Old Smokey Hollow Road (OSHR)off Settles Mountain Road (see map).  This is the main entrance to the Preserve.  A parking area is available along OSHR approximately 300 yards from the intersection with Settles Mountain Rd.—a donation from local contractor and Preserve neighbor Andre Nadeau.  Additional parking is also available through the good graces of neighbor Keith Bavolar in his shale bank located on the south side of OSHR approximately 50 yards west of the intersection with Settles Mountain Road. (The “No Trespassing” sign at the entrance does not apply to Preserve visitors.) The portion of OSHR from the temporary parking lot to the entrance of the Preserve, a distance of about ¼ mi., is marked with red trail markers. Please be respectful of Mr. Bavolar’s generosity and the goodwill of the other neighbors by studiously avoiding any litter on in the parking lot or on OSHR.

The Settles Mountain Nature Preserve may also be reached by hiking the public trail network maintained by SUNY Cobleskill on land it owns behind the Frederick Bennett Ski Area. SUNY’s trail system starts at the ski lodge parking lot off of Nassau Avenue in the Town of Cobleskill. This access is steep and could be challenging for many hikers. Public parking at this location, as well as hiking on college property, are subject to SUNY Cobleskill regulations. Note that SUNY Cobleskill’s practice is to lock the gate to the parking area at sunset.

The Settles Mountain Nature Preserve is open to the public for non-motorized recreation. This includes hiking, trail running, snowshoeing, picnicking and birdwatching. Mountain bicycling and horseback riding are currently permitted from access points other than the SUNY Cobleskill property. Cross-country skiing is also permitted through the OSHR access point, although there are no current plans to clear OSHR of snow in winter for access to either the temporary or the permanent parking lot. Hunting is currently prohibited in the Preserve, although the Land Trust may permit hunting in future years for purposes of herd management. Camping is permitted with the express written permission of the Schoharie Land Trust. Motorized recreation, such as ATVs and snowmobiles, are prohibited, although the Land Trust may issue permits for ATV use to those with disabilities. Littering, loud noise, the harassing of wildlife and other behavior inappropriate for a nature preserve are also prohibited. The permitted activities on the Settles Mountain Nature Preserve are subject to change, regulation and outright prohibition at any time. For questions relating to permitted activities on the Preserve, please contact Land Trust Board Member Fred Mauhs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Visitors to the Preserve should obtain a trail map before venturing onto the trails. A trail map is available here or by emailing Fred Mauhs.

The Settles Mountain Nature Preserve is a “Carry In—Carry Out” facility. This means there are no trash receptacles in the Preserve. Please leave the Preserve in the same pristine condition in which Mr. Norton donated it to the public, and carry out all of your trash.