On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) invites families, friends, and outdoor enthusiasts to join us for our annual community hike to Hawk Rock and the old Mead Farm ruins — one of Kent’s most beautiful and historically rich landmarks.

While it’s a wonderful way to spend time with mom, you don’t need to bring your mom or be a mom to enjoy this special day outdoors. Everyone is welcome to come out, connect with nature, and experience the local history and beauty of this treasured trail.

Click for hike location on Google Maps or on Apple Maps

When the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age they left behind many large boulders that many times settled in interesting positions as the ice melted, looking almost like they were placed there. One of these glacial erratics is known as Hawk Rock. This glacial erratic is in the shape of a hawk’s wing when viewed from the correct angle and has an image of a turtle carved into the stone. According to local lore, Native Americans once gathered at this site, making it a place steeped in legend and natural beauty.

The land where the Hawk Rock/Tom Morgan Trail and this glacial erratic sits is part of the New York City watershed and is open for recreational use. Horse Pound Brook runs alongside the Hawk Rock trail, drains the wooded valley, and is an important part of New York City’s water shed. The trail to Hawk Rock offers a moderate, well marked, family-friendly 3-mile round trip hike through the lush, wooded landscape of the New York City watershed. Along the way, you’ll encounter wildflowers, birds, and the quiet remnants of old farm life at the Mead Farm ruins.

The trail, which includes some moderate slopes, rocks, and occasional mud, was formally blazed and marked as part of a Carmel Troop #1 Eagle Scout project.

What to bring:

• Wear sturdy hiking boots or shoes
• Insect repellent if you need it (ticks and black flies)
• Water, snacks and a packed lunch for everyone in your group (we’ll stop and eat at Hawk Rock)
• A sense of adventure and curiosity!

Note: Heavy rain will cancel the hike. For more information, contact us at:

• email: cac@townofkentny.gov
• Phone: 914-671-2764

Check for updates on this hike and our other events on our Facebook page.

Join the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) for our annual Autumn hike up Nimham Mountain to the 1940 fire lookout tower to see the fall foliage from atop the tallest standing historic fire lookout tower in New York State.

When: Saturday, October 15, 2023 at 10 AM
Location: Mount Nimham Fire Tower, Mount Nimham Court, Carmel, NY 10512
Approximate duration: 2.5 to 3 hr (allowing plenty of time up and back)
Directions:https://docs.kentcac.info/mngateparking

We will meet at the parking area on Mount Nimham Court at 10 AM for a ramble up a woodland trail past farm ruins, and stone shelters, through a peaceful forest. The climb up the mountain is mirrored in the subtle changes in vegetation. We’ll see the woodlands carpeted by ferns of different hues with an abundance of nuts. We will stop at points on our hike up the mountain to demonstrate how this old forest is recovering from the tornado damage and blow-downs from 2018 and what this has provided for wildlife living here, as well as explore and understand the heavy tree nut production this year. Keep your eyes open for any wildlife that may be nearby, harvesting acorns or hickory nuts for their winter storage!

Once at the top, we’ll take time to enjoy the view from the historic fire lookout tower, built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in 1940 and last used as a forest fire lookout post by NYS forest rangers in 1978. The fire tower was restored by dedicated volunteers in 2004 and continues to be maintained through donations to our Kent Conservation Foundation, which now maintains the stewardship as for the Nimham fire lookout tower. To learn more about the Kent Conservation Foundation or help maintain the historic fire tower with a donation, please visit the Foundation’s web page.

The return route will be along the blue trail or via the gravel access road, both of which to the parking area, completing the walk in approximately two miles. No one is left behind and frequent stops will allow everyone to keep together.

Heavy rain cancels. If the weather gets iffy, please the hike page at the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee information website, the Nimham Mountain Fire Tower page on Facebook, or call 914-671-2764.

When: Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 11:00AM

Location: Huestis Park located at 178 Farmers Mills Road, Kent Lakes, NY 10512

Click for hike location on Google Maps

Click for hike location on Apple Maps

Join the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 11:00AM for a hike through the newly completed trail system at Huestis Park for a meandering trip around the backside of this town park to explore and experience the natural mountain laurel at peak bloom. Our two naturalists who have been working for the past 3 years on a Biodiversity Inventory project and have spent a bit of time studying the flora and fauna that live in Huestis Park will lead this hike to explain the many different plants and animals they have discovered in this park during their work. The Biodiversity Inventory project is a piece of the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) that the CAC is currently working on for the Town. The NRI will document all natural resources the Town has in its boundaries along with historic artifacts that have significance to the history of this area.

Come learn about the NRI project and Biodiversity Inventory projects, history of Huestis Park and other projects the CAC is working on, including a long distance trail in conjunction with the NY/NJ Trail Conference.

This is a moderate hike of about 1.25 miles that should take 1.5-2 hours through the Red trail loop. Wear proper hiking boots or shoes and be prepared for some moderate slopes, mud, and rocks. A walking stick may be useful on the uneven terrain for this trail. Insect repellent for tick prevention is recommended. Bring water, and snacks, lunch is optional. Heavy rain cancels. For additional info email bbuck@nybg.org or call 845-225-9231.

When: Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 10AM

Location: Meet at the DEP parking area for the Hawk Rock/Tom Morgan Trailhead at the end of Whangtown Road

Click for hike location on Google Maps (ignore the fact that it says “closed”, this is a Google mistake, we are working to get this updated)

Click for hike location on Apple Maps

Join the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee for our annual hike to one of the town’s most interesting landmarks, Hawk Rock.

When the glaciers retreated northward at the end of the last ice age they left behind many large boulders that many times settled in interesting positions as the ice melted, looking almost like they were placed there. One of these glacial erratics is known as Hawk Rock. This glacial erratic is in the shape of a hawk’s wing when viewed from the correct angle and has a carving of a turtle. Local lore has it that long ago the Native Americans used the site as a meeting place and gave this huge rock its name. It is certainly a believable story; the setting is beautiful and it’s one impressive rock.

The land where the Hawk Rock/Tom Morgan Trail and this glacial erratic sits is part of the New York City watershed and is open for recreational use. Horse Pound Brook skirts the Hawk Rock trail, drains the wooded valley, and adds to New York City’s water supply. Along the way wildflowers and birdlife are abundant and old farm ruins tell the story of the Town of Kent in another time.

The Hawk Rock trail is blazed and marked, which was an Eagle Scout project completed by one of our local boy scouts from Carmel Troop #1. This is a moderate hike of about 3 miles that takes 3-4 hours round trip, including a lunch stop at Hawk Rock. Wear proper hiking boots or shoes and be prepared for some moderate slope, mud, and rocks. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Heavy rain cancels. Call 914-671-2764 for info.

No need to drive far to enjoy the best of fall colors; nothing beats seeing the brilliance of autumn from the top of Mount Nimham Fire Tower!

Join members of the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee for their annual fall foliage walk on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Meet at the parking area on Mount Nimham Court at 10 am for a ramble up a woodland trail past farm ruins, and stone shelters, through a peaceful forest. The climb up the mountain is mirrored in the subtle changes in vegetation. We’ll see the woodlands carpeted by ferns of different hues and an abundance of nuts.  Keep your eyes open for any wildlife that may be nearby. Once at the top, we’ll take time to enjoy the view from the historic fire lookout tower, last used by forest rangers in 1978. The return route will be along the blue trail or via the gravel access road, both returning to the parking area, completing the walk in approximately two miles.  

Wear good hiking shoes and bring water.  We also recommend using insect repellent for ticks.  We will take brief breaks.  No one will be left behind.  Dogs are welcome on a leash.

Heavy rain cancels. If the weather gets iffy, please check the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee webpage, the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee page on Facebook, or call 914-671-2764

When: Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 10 AM
Location: Mount Nimham Fire Tower, Mount Nimham Court, Carmel, NY 10512
Approximate duration: 2 hr 30 min
Directions: https://docs.kentcac.info/mngateparking