Binghamton University Nature Preserve

Quick Bits

Main Activities - Hike, XC Ski,  (No mountain bikes)
Distance - total of 15 miles of trails  across 190 acres
Quiet - relatively quiet, but depends some on whether school is in session
Surface - mixture of smooth paths and more uneven areas
Elevation - mixture of relatively flat and then relatively steep sections
Pets - permitted on leash

Fall colors by the pond.

In a Nutshell

The preserve is one of BU's treasures. It has a nice variety of trails allowing for a casual walk or a steep hike up the hill. Likewise, there is diversity between the wetlands, lowlands, forested hill, and elevated shrub land. You're likely to see and hear a variety of animals and plants. At times you'll see a lot of other hikers on the lower trails. Spring time will bring a lot of mud, parts are called wetlands for a reason.

Location and Parking

The two primary places that I park are BU Lot M and the south-end of Lehigh Avenue. There is limited parking at the latter, but I've always found a spot. Note, you'll want to follow BU visitor parking restrictions if parking in Lot M. On the weekends from 4 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Monday, no parking permit is needed to park in a valid parking space. If you look for "Binghamton University Nature Preserve" on Google Maps, the pin drops inside the Preserve, but relatively close to Parking Lot M (use Binghamton University Parking Lot M in Google for better pin drop). If you use 946 Lehigh Avenue, Vestal in Google (house doesn't exist), it will take you to that "T" deadend on Lehigh.  

Parking area at south end of Lehigh Avenue

Parking area at end of Lehigh Ave

 

More details

Central to the 190-acre Nature Preserve is Harpur pond and surrounding marsh land. Going south from the pond and marsh areas, the elevation increases around 475 feet, through wooded areas. The height gained is managed on some trails with switchbacks. At the southern most part of the preserve, the highest, is shrub land. So you'll find a variety of environments and a variety of plants and animals.

I'm likely to be here once or twice a month. The Nature Preserve has a great mix of flat stable trails and much steeper trails. Several of the flat ones are also wide, lending themselves to hiking with a friend side by side. You'll see signs of beavers round the pond and marsh areas. Some of these trails get very muddy at times so leave your new white sneakers at home. The trails on the south side of the pond and marsh are often laced with roots and rocks, so watch your step. The fallen leaves in autumn may hide some of the sneakier roots. More so on the steeper sections. Some of the wettest parts have planks or boardwalks to keep you out of the mud. Just be careful as these getting slippery with rain and snow. 

Because of the steepness of some trails, it is advised to keep the XC-skiing in the lowlands. Also note that some trails are not the loops you expect. Please consult the map. The trails are marked by colors but also named. Some signs will include both which is helpful since there are four blue trails, five red trails, etc.. 

They also have many volunteer opportunities and an active Friends of the Nature Preserve group. 

The area was designated "Nature Preserve" in the fall of 1969 and with motivation from student protests about parts of the area being turned into playing fields. While Binghamton University itself expanded in may ways over the decades, so did the Nature Preserve. Major purchases of land in 1985 and 1999. Check out this BU page for more history.

Creatures I've seen or heard

Ruffed Grouse, White-tailed Deer, Porcupine, Eastern Garter Snake, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Tiger Frogs, Bull Frogs, Beaver, Turtles, and many more birds. In the spring you may notice salamanders. In fact, on some of the campus roads there are little ramps for them. 

Links of Interest

Wander & Ponder Videos Recorded Here

Taming Time (Ep. 14)
October 15, 2023