Hope Goddard Iselin Nature Preserve

Jinx Thinks: 

I really liked walking through the woods here, the meadow was fun too! Since most of the trails here are pretty tight I didn’t get to go on the long leash, but I still had a good time!

Our Thoughts:

When you first arrive, be sure to grab one of the brochures. This is an interpretive trail, with facts to read at each trail marker about the plants you’re looking at. It’s a gorgeous preserve, and it seems like there is work being done there to keep it in great shape. The trail markers seem pretty new, and the land was definitely being worked on while we were there.  You feel very secluded in the trees, it’s a small preserve, but it makes you feel like you’re way out in the woods somewhere. It’s perfect for when you’re short on time, the longest loop took us about 30-45 minutes.

The only major downside that we could see is that you are GUARANTEED to get ticks, which is why our overall rating is a bit lower than you’d expect for such a nice park. We had some on us, and Jinx (even while wearing the Seresto collar), had 10 on him that we picked off before getting in the car. 

Fun Facts & Sights to See:

• Be sure to take in the sights at each trail marker, the brochures are full of info on the preserve and the foliage growing there
• Know Before You Go: the parking lot here is TINY, it only fits about 4 cars. There are no garbage cans, the park is carry in carry out.
• Natural History: in the middle of the forest you’ll spot a massive, seemingly out of place boulder.  It is actually a glacial erratic, which was carried here by the glacier that formed Long Island!
• Local History: the preserve contains two former fields that were farmed by the Youngs Family. 
• The preserve is named after Edith Hope Goddard Iselin, who was a sportswoman who was the first American woman to compete in the America’s Cup yacht race. She was a philanthropist and was very devoted to nature. She passed away at the age of 102 in 1970