ROBERT'S REFUGE
NOTE: Robert’s Refuge is CLOSED through hunting season
Robert’s Refuge in Hyde Park, New York
In 2022, a generous donation of 218 acres of forest and wetland by local landowners to Winnakee Land Trust was a huge step forward in our vision of protecting and enhancing forested lands in our community. The preserve, named Robert’s Refuge in honor of the donor and his love for the land, is located in both Clinton and Hyde Park.
New trails for the community
In 2026, Winnakee opened a new 0.3-mile trail, which volunteers are now working to extend. (The trail is closed during hunting season.) The growing trail network will provide much-needed outdoor recreation for residents of northeastern Hyde Park, Staatsburg, Clinton, and Rhinebeck. Its design reflects the donating landowners’ vision of the site as a sanctuary for wildlife and “a quiet place for human visitors to enjoy.”
Once complete, the first loop will run approximately one mile, passing vernal pools and striking rock formations before climbing to a healthy hemlock forest with views of the Shawangunk Mountains (pictured above left). For more details to become a volunteer trail builder – click here. Winnakee hopes to add more hiking and mountain biking trails throughout the preserve.
The Town of Hyde Park as well as Hyde Park Trails Committee is very excited about the news of trails project at Robert’s Refuge. We are pleased to hear Winnakee Land Trust will be adding a little over two miles of hiking trails to Robert’s Refuge. This project will be a nice addition to the current 34 miles of hike trails throughout the Town of Hyde Park. We thank Robert Davis, Jen Adams and the whole team at Winnakee Land Trust for their continuing efforts to grow the amount of hiking trails the town residents can enjoy.
Rob Pollard, Hyde Park Recreation Director and Coordinator for the Hyde Park Trails partnership
Protecting a significant regional forest
Robert’s Refuge reflects an important land protection effort in our region as a large parcel of contiguous, unfragmented forest of an ecologically significant size, both from a conservation perspective and as a relatively rare large parcel in this part of Dutchess County. The NYS DEC ranked the site in the top 5% for local connectivity of Core Forest in a Forest Linkage Zone. It is also designated as a Significant Biodiversity Area and includes the headwaters of the Fall Kill, a 38-mile long tributary of the Hudson River.
However, like many regional forests, Robert’s Refuge also faces challenges. The local deer population has caused widespread destruction to native tree seedlings, stunting forest regeneration. The property is leased annually to a local hunting group to try to reduce the local deer populations and mitigate their harmful impacts on the forest. During hunting season, the preserve will be closed to the public to ensure safety of both hunters and hikers.
Additionally, the property, which was an agricultural site and red pine plantation 60 years ago, has naturally reforested over recent decades. The even-aged forest stand with significant areas of dead red pine has led to an overall decline in ecosystem health, including lack of understory and midstory habitat for species that depend on it, such as songbirds. The generous donation of this land to Winnakee came with the intent for Winnakee to implement critically needed active management strategies to address the major environmental challenges that the land faces.
Active stewardship underway
Winnakee has several forest restoration projects underway at Robert’s Refuge, including a woodland pollinator habitat area and an oak / hickory silviculture demonstration area. Read more about these restoration projects at Robert’s Refuge here.
Getting there
Kyle Fried, grandson of Robert, for whom Robert’s Refuge is named, with his wife, Tina, and son, Milo, at the opening of the new trail!
Kick-off public hike at the September 2026 trail opening!
NYS DEC ranked the site in the top 5% for local connectivity of Core Forest in a Forest Linkage Zone.
Area of past red pine plantation