Sam's Point Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam's Point Preserve |
|
|---|---|
Pine barrens
|
|
 Sam's Point Preserve
Location in New York
|
|
| Location | Ulster County, New York |
| Nearest city | Ellenville |
| Area | 4,600 acres (19 km2) |
Sam's Point Preserve, also known as Sam's Point Dwarf Pine Ridge Preserve, is a special natural area in Ulster County, New York. It covers about 4,600 acres (18.6 square kilometers). This preserve sits on the very highest part of the Shawangunk Ridge.
The preserve is home to unique dwarf pitch pine trees. These trees grow along the ridgetop. Inside the park, you can find Lake Maratanza, which is the highest lake on the ridge. You can also explore the amazing Ellenville Fault Ice Caves. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation now takes care of this beautiful place.
Contents
History of Sam's Point Preserve
The name "Sam's Point" comes from an old folktale. It tells the story of a Spanish settler named Samuel Gonzales. During the French and Indian War, he was being chased by Native Americans. To escape, he bravely jumped off a cliff. Luckily, trees broke his fall, and he survived!
The roads you see in the preserve today were built a long time ago. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps created them. This group of young men worked on conservation projects across the country. They built these roads to help fight fires.
Protecting the Land
The land at Sam's Point was once owned by the nearby village of Ellenville. They wanted to protect their water supply. Part of the land was also owned by a company that gave tours of the ice caves.
Later, a group called the Open Space Institute worked with The Nature Conservancy. They bought the land to keep it safe. This happened after the village thought about selling it to builders.
In 2005, the Sam’s Point Conservation Center opened. It has educational displays and a gift shop. There is a small fee to park your car when you visit.
In 2015, the preserve's management changed. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission took over. Sam's Point Preserve is now part of Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
The April 2016 Fire
In April 2016, a large wildfire burned part of the park. It covered about 2,028 acres (8.2 square kilometers). Over 300 firefighters worked for almost a week to put out the blaze. No buildings were damaged, and only minor injuries were reported.
After the fire, most of Minnewaska State Park reopened quickly. However, the Sam's Point area stayed closed longer. Only some trails were opened by Memorial Day weekend. This was to help the land recover and prevent new problems.
Sam's Point is a fire-adapted ecosystem. This means its plants are used to fires and can even benefit from them. Many plants started to grow back well after the fire. However, there was a lot of dry fuel on the ground. This made the fire very hot and fast. It didn't burn through all the old debris. This might make it harder for some of the pitch pine trees to grow back fully.
Ellenville Fault Ice Caves
The Ellenville Fault Ice Caves are a truly unique place. They are the largest open fault in the United States with ice caves. A fault is a crack in the Earth's crust.
Because of the cool air trapped inside, ice can be found here all year long! This cool climate allows special plants to grow. You can find plants like black spruce, hemlock, mountain ash, and creeping snowberry. These plants usually grow in colder, more northern areas.
The ice caves were recognized as a National Natural Landmark in 1967. This means they are a very important natural site. You can hike to the ice caves in the summer. However, you need a special permit to visit this area.
Hiking Trails at Sam's Point
Sam's Point Preserve has many great hiking trails. The Long Path, a very long hiking trail, goes through the preserve. This trail can lead you to VerKeerderkill Falls, a beautiful waterfall.
One path leads directly to Sam's Point itself. From here, you can see for many miles. On a clear day, you might even see High Point in New Jersey! Another trail takes you to the ice caves. These trails even have solar-powered lights to help you see.
To reach Sam's Point, visitors often pass through the town of Cragsmoor. The preserve is also close to the Mohonk Preserve, another wonderful natural area.
Images for kids
-
Looking down the access road, just under the Point
-
A portion of the CCC fire road
-
Hiking to the Ice Caves
-
View from the Point, looking to the southeast
-
Along the trail to the Ice Caves
-
Ice inside the Ice Caves as seen in June 2018
-
Verkeerderkill Falls
-
Abandoned berry picker cabin
