Nature and walking in the woods
For all who love nature and walking in the woods, the 1,043-acre Pawling Nature
Reserve and the area’s dominant environmental feature, the 6,000-acre Great Swamp,
offer a lifetime of opportunities for hiking, canoeing and nature viewing. The visitor
or resident can walk for miles on trails through the Nature Reserve, canoe in the
Great Swamp, or join a group outing led by an expert provided by one of the area’s
several environmental organizations. Fishing and birding are other popular activities.
Oblong Trail Association and the Town trails at Murrow and Lakeside Parks offer
outdoor enthusiasts opportunities aplenty.
The Pawling Nature Reserve is in the
hills overlooking the Great Swamp and is completely natural except for the well-marked
and maintained network of walking trails running through it. The renowned Appalachian
Trail running from Georgia to Maine cross the Great Swamp on a fine boardwalk and
then goes through the Nature Reserve. The visiting hiker will often meet Appalachian
Trail hikers carrying enormous backpacks needed for their 2,000 mile adventure.