Partridge Run

From Albany Hilltowns

Contents 1 Description 2 Improvements 3 Cross Country Skiing 4 Management 5 Location 6 Hiking 7 While in the Area 7.1 Sights to see 7.2 Cemeteries 7.3 Visitor Facilities 8 Additional Media

Description

Partridge Run State Wildlife Management Area consists of 4594 acres of former abandoned upland farms.

Improvements

Partridge Run SWMA has been improved with hiking trails, and parking lots and is available for birdwatching, cross-county skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing and trapping. Over 40 miles of old CCC fire roads, single track and double track trails. Hunting is allowed here in all seasons for different species of game, check with the NYSDEC (518-357-2067) for seasons and dates. Take a GPS along here, since the network of trails here is not well marked and it is a very large area to cover.

Cross Country Skiing

At an elevation of 1800-2000 feet Partridge Run tends to get more snow and hold it longer than in Albany which is at about 300 feet. There's a very nice 7-8 mile ski loop with some challenging hills. Nothing is groomed here and it's more like back country skiing

Management

Partridge Run and Cole Hill State Forest are units in the Helderbergs Management Area of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Location

This WMA is located on West Mountain in the Town of Berne.

• From Rensselaerville take NYS Route 85 north one mile, turn left on County Route 6, go 3 miles to state land.
• From Albany take Route 85 (New Scotland Avenue) west to Route 443. Continue west on Route 443 through the hamlet of Berne, then make a left onto Canaday Hill Road. Turn left onto Switzkill Road. Follow this road south, then bear right onto Ravine Road. Follow Ravine Road until you see a parking area on your left at the intersection of Sickle Hill Road. This is one of many parking areas throughout Partridge Run, but it is the closest starting point from Albany.

Hiking

Fawn Lake to White Birch Pond by Andy Arthrur, March 14, 2009.

While in the Area

Nearby places to visit while in the area:

Sights to see

• Huntersland
• Rensselaerville hamlet

Rensselaerville Grist Mill

Cemeteries

In the 19th and first couple of decades of the 20th Century, West Mountain was heavily settled. Here are some easily accessible historic cemeteries within or near the boundaries of Partridge Run that folks might want to visit while they are in the vicinity:

• Baptist Church Burying Ground - Seven Revolutionary War soldiers and a daughter of a Lord Mayor of London are buried here.
• Huntersland Christian Cemetery - Still an active cemetery, the earliest burial was 1844.
• Turner Burial Ground - The earliest known burial was 1812; last was 1937. It seems to have been a community burying ground from the beginning, as there are many different names of early farming families who lived in the immediate vicinity.
• West Mountain Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery - The earliest stone is dated 1816. The adjoining West Mountain Methodist Episcopal Church flourished during the second half of the 19th century.

Visitor Facilities

Farms, natural areas, outdoor recreation opportunities, and visitor facilities in adjoining hill towns:

• Berne visitor attractions and facilities
• Rensselaerville visitor attractions and facilities
• Westerlo visitor attractions and facilities

Additional Media

High Point Road Charles Sloger, Oct. 2008

Sunset woods Andy Arthur, Mar. 2009