Access

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There is no unattended public access permitted. Open access is limited to researchers, SUNY faculty and their students and DEC personnel. The mission of Greenwoods is to remain a diverse habitat for multiple species of plants and animals and to be a controlled research site for university level studies. It is critical that human intrusion be at a minimum particularly during the mating, fledging and juvenile periods of the various species.

There is access to the public on several or more times during the year when individuals may participate in docent led walks or by joining in with previously sanctioned hiking groups. Both the Alpine Walking Club and the Adirondack Hiking Club schedule two or more hikes each year and the Otsego Land Trust, the Butternut Valley Association, the Delaware / Otsego Audubon Society, the SUNY biological Field Station, and others sponsor docent led walks on a variety of botanical, forestry, wildlife, avian and outdoor subjects. Parking is at the Greenwoods Learning Center, 800 Zachow Road and all activities begin and finish at that site. There is a public restroom located there.

A calendar of scheduled events is maintained on this website along with a contact person for each sponsoring organization. Each group is independent of the other and each does their own scheduling.

There are more than fifteen miles of interconnected trails and pathways that traverse a wide variety of habitats and can accommodate any level of endurance. Most routes are considered easy to moderately difficult. Changes in elevation may exceed 400-500 feet.

The rules are simple. Remain on the trails and there is no collecting of any plant specimens, artifacts, fossils, or fungi permitted. There is no hunting, swimming, fishing, boating, horseback riding, or cycling permitted.

The Cranberry Bog Road and State Land Road extend several miles through the heart of the conservancy. They are both public roads and are classified as seasonal roads that are not maintained between Nov.1 through April 1.  Many people cycle, hike, run, ride horses, snowshoe and x-country ski on these quiet roads that adjoin the Hartwick State Forest and that interconnect to other rural roads. Groomed snowmobile trails are signed and maintained by two local snowmobile clubs and they interconnect with an area wide snowmobile network.

Our only request is that you drive slowly, enjoy the views, and watch out for wildlife on the roads.