News from the Friends of Reinstein

DEC Celebrates Earth Day With Opening of New Trails at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve

In celebration of Earth Day, DEC Regional Director Abby Snyder announced today the opening of additional trails at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Cheektowaga.

“Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center is a designated New York State Watchable Wildlife site, where wildlife viewing opportunities abound,” said DEC Regional Director Abby Snyder. “By providing access to more trails at Reinstein Woods, we are pleased that the public will have more opportunities to view birds, mammals and other wildlife in this suburban setting. With the addition of these trails, there are now about 3.5 miles of trails available at Reinstein Woods for the public to enjoy from sunrise to sunset.”

“Our visitors have repeatedly asked for more trails to explore on their own,” said Reinstein Woods Center Director Meaghan Boice-Green. “In keeping with the property’s management plan, we are opening more of the gravel road system built by Dr. Reinstein for people to enjoy at their own pace.”

Unlike other trails open to the public at Reinstein Woods, these trails do not contain wayside signs or posts with information about the trail’s natural features. The trails provide a chance to commune with nature with fewer man-made distractions.

The new trails at Reinstein Woods total about a mile in length and open up the western end of the preserve to exploration by the public. Two trails make adjacent loops and provide views of West Pond and Lower Pond, ponds built by Dr. Victor Reinstein in the first half of the twentieth century. The trails can be reached from the north end of Hidden Pond trail, a short trail opened about two years ago, and end at an intersection near the Champion Beech tree, the largest forest-grown beech tree in New York State.

Trails at Reinstein Woods are open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve is located at 93 Honorine Drive, off of Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga. To learn more about Reinstein Woods, call 683-5959, or visit DEC’s website.