Plotter Kill Preserve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Plotter Kill Nature Reserve
Trail entrance sign
Length	3 miles circular (4 miles total)
Location	Rotterdam (town), New York, USA
Use	Recreation and Natural History
Difficulty	Easy
Season	All year round
Sights	Variety of birds and other wildlife
Hazards	High unstable cliff edges

The Almy D. Coggleshall Plotter Kill Preserve is a 632-acre (256 ha) nature reserve and hiking area. It is located on Route 159 in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, New York State. This preserve is a great place to explore nature and go for a hike.

What's in a Name? The Plotter Kill Story

The name "Plotter Kill" might sound a bit unusual! It probably comes from "platte kill." "Platte" is a Dutch word that means "flat." The word "kill" means a stream or creek. So, "Plotter Kill" likely means "flat creek."

The preserve is named after Almy D. Coggleshall. He was very important in creating the trails here. He was part of the Schenectady County Environmental Advisory Council. In 1990, the preserve was renamed in his honor.

Exploring the Plotter Kill Gorge and Waterfalls

The Plotter Kill Preserve is mostly a forest. It has a mix of hardwood and conifer trees. But the most exciting part is the Plotter Kill gorge! A gorge is a deep, narrow valley, usually with a stream flowing through it.

This gorge was carved out by melting ice. This happened at the end of the ice ages, about 10,000 years ago. The Plotter Kill is a small river that flows into the Mohawk River. It runs for about 3.5 miles (5.6 km). Along its path, it drops 900 feet (270 m) in height.

You can find three amazing waterfalls in the preserve. These are the Upper, the Lower, and the Rynex Creek Falls. The Upper Falls has a 60-foot (18 m) drop. The Lower and Rynex Creek falls each drop about 40 feet (12 m). They are beautiful sights to see!

Discovering Ancient Rocks and Diverse Plants

The flat rock layers you see in the preserve are very old. Water flow and erosion have exposed them over the last 20,000 years. These rocks first formed about 450 million years ago. This was during a time called the Ordovician period. They often look like rectangular blocks.

The Plotter Kill Preserve is perfect for studying nature. Local schools and Boy Scout groups often visit. The preserve has many native trees. These include hardwoods like oak, birch, and maple. It also has conifers, like different kinds of pine trees.

Over 600 types of plants have been found here! You might spot colorful trilliums, violets, and lilies. There are also many ferns and club mosses.

Wildlife You Might See at Plotter Kill

The preserve is home to lots of animals and birds. Keep an eye out for garter snakes and chipmunks. You might also see amphibians like frogs and salamanders.

There are also many different kinds of fungi here. These include various toadstools. It's a great place to observe nature and learn about different living things.

How to Get to the Plotter Kill Preserve

The main entrance and parking area are on Mariaville Road (Route 159).

To get there:

• Leave Interstate I890 at exit 2A (Campbell Road).
• Follow signs for Rotterdam Square Mall.
• Opposite the mall entrance, turn right onto Putnam Road.
• After about 2 miles (3.2 km), turn right when you reach Route 159.
• The parking area for the preserve is on your right. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) after turning onto Route 159.

Images for kids

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  Sign in the Parking Lot of the Copland Road entrance.

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  View of the Upper Falls

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  View of Upper Falls in winter

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  View of the Upper Falls from the Blue Trail

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  View of Second Fall during the Summer.

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  View of the renovated trail in 2010.