This is hike #23 ("Clay Pit Ponds Connector") in
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: New York City (2nd edition). Recent snowstorms sabotaged our attempts to hike for nearly two weeks, so on the verge of
going stir crazy we managed to work in this short but very enchanting hike on the way to visit relatives on Christmas Day. This area of Staten Island, which
is quite close to the water, was used in the mid 19th century as a clay mine for the bricks that went into New York city buildings. German immigrant
Balthasar Kreischer had a huge factory here that, at its peak, made 3.5 million bricks a year!
We trekked about 2.2 miles in less than 90 minutes. It was the perfect jaunt to fit into an otherwise busy day. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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Kiosk at the small parking area |
Side of park office |
Picnic pavillion |
On Abraham's Pond trail |
Stream parallel to trail |
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Boardwalk in swampy area |
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Ellis Swamp trail |
Black Oak |
Semi-petrified tree? |
Icy boardwalk |
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Sliding [photo by Laura] |
The famous clay |
Tiny cascade in Ellis Swamp |
Boardwalk back up ... |
... completes the swamp loop |
Spotless water |
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Abraham's Pond overlook |
Look at those roots! |
More clay |
Gorgeous group of beeches |
Bridle paths criss-cross with hiking trails |
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Phragmites |
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Eating phragmites [photo by Laura] |
Green trail |
A horse! |
Boardwalk at Sharrott's Pond |
Sharrott's Pond |
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[Photo by Laura] |
Brand new nature center |
Laura got a manicure |
Green trail |
Flooded livestock barrier |
Very wet green trail |
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Back to park office |
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